Special Educational Needs Report Shirestone Academy Special Educational Needs Report

At Shirestone Academy we pride ourselves that all our children achieve the best they can. We have high expectations of all our children and this includes those with Special Educational Needs. Mr Worthington the SENDCo and Inclusion Manager is responsible for monitoring the progress of children with special educational needs. He is supported by Ms Ballinger who is working as a SENDCo. They can be contacted at school on 0121675 4686 or email c.squires@shirestoneacademy.co.uk

What training do staff have in special educational needs? What training do staff have in Special Needs.

Mr Worthington has the Post Graduate Award in Special Educational Needs Coordination. Ms Ballinger will be completing the SENDCo award by 2018. Teaching Assistants have received training in supporting Mathematics and Identifying speech and language difficulties All staff have had some training in Autism Awareness. All staff have had Team Teach training and Positive Handling training ( January 2017)

What can I expect from the school if my child has special educational needs?

If your child has special educational needs we will do everything we can to make sure their needs are met. Children with special educational needs are included in all areas of school life including extra curricula activities. Work is differentiated. Appropriate interventions will be put in place and monitored for impact. Your child will have access to outside agencies that can support them. You will be supported and listened to.

What Kinds of Special Educational Needs Do we Make Provision for? We cater for a range of needs including children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder ADHD Mild Learning Difficulties Specific Learning Difficulties Diabetes Communication Difficulties

What Provision Does the School Make? For Literacy and Numeracy work children are taught in their class along side their peers but with support if needed. Small group / 1:1 intervention work takes place in the afternoons. Outside Agencies work 1:1 with children as and when necessary . All children receive 1:1 Reading weekly

How Does the school identify and assess Special Educational Needs? Identification : children will be identified Through concerns raised by Parents or teachers. At progress meetings held every half term Through looking at work in books Through observations in class By listening to what a child may tell us

Assessment Once a child has been identified as possibly having additional needs Ms Ballinger will meet with Parents to discuss the concern. Mr Worthington and Ms Ballinger will work with the child and carry out observations . A School Support Plan may be put in place with targets for the teacher or Teaching Assistant to work on. This plan will be reviewed with parents after 6 weeks. Other agencies may be involved if it is necessary. Parents will be informed at all times. School staff will support Parents if asked to at meetings with outside agencies

How does the school access more specialist support? At Shirestone Academy we have developed good working relationships with a number of outside support agencies. These include Big Community Pupil and School Support Behaviour Support Communication and Autism Team Speech and Language Team

Sensory Support Service Community Paediatric Service School Nurse Child and Adolescent Mental Health Team We can also call on the expertise of Outreach services from the local Special School

How are parents of children with Special Educational Needs involved in the education of their child? Shirestone Academy take seriously the views of Parents. Parents will be involved at every stage of their child’s education. Meetings will be held regularly but parents can come in to talk to Class Teachers , SENDCO or Principal when they wish. If they are not available an appointment can be made.

Parents may telephone the school to request an appointment with SENDCo or Principal. Parents will be invited into workshops to work along side their child. At Shirestone we fully support working in a partnership to get the best support for each child

How are pupils with Special Needs involved in their own education? The pupil voice at Shirestone Academy is very powerful and children feel comfortable talking to adults about their learning. The SENDCo will use pupil conferencing as a way of assessing how well interventions are going and how children feel about them. SENDCo and Principal will act upon pupils conversations and suggestions.

How does the school support children with special educational needs through transition. As the time for transferring to Secondary school comes nearer the SENDCo will contact the receiving school and arrange to talk to their SENDCo A meeting will then be arranged with the receiving school and Parents to discuss the best way to make transition as easy as possible for the child. The Learning Mentor may be asked to do some work with the child around transition if needed. All paperwork will be passed onto the receiving school. Additional visits can be made to ensure the child is completely happy with the impending change

How can Parents find the Authorities Local Offer? This can be found on the Birmingham website www.mycareinbirmingham.org.uk

How does the Governing Body deal with complaints? Every school has a Governor responsible for Special Educational Needs. Any complaint received by the Governing Body will be investigated thoroughly. Parents may be invited in to speak with the Principal and Governor or Governors and a response will be made and action taken if necessary.