All Cambridgeshire Local Authority (LA) maintained schools have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and /or disabilities and are supported by the LA to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school.
All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible.
The broad areas of SEND need are:
- Speech, Language and Communication.
- Cognition and Learning.
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties.
- Sensory and/or Physical.
The LA Local Offer
Local Authorities (LA) and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) aged 0-25. The LA refer to this as the 'Local Offer'.
The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice and transparency for families. It will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.
Termly achievement tracking and pupil targets ensures high expectations for all, identifies those in need of targeted support and ensures resources are effectively deployed.
Intervention groups or tutoring, led by the class teacher or trained teaching assistant, with the aim of making accelerated progress over a set amount of time. Usually focused on reading, writing or maths.
Sensory circuits, led by teaching assistants to alert, organise and calm a child and support sensory processing to help children regulate and organise their senses for effective learning
Social skills groups, led by teaching assistants to help children know how to cope in different situations.
Speech therapy groups, initial input by a trained speech and language therapist (SALT), follow up sessions for individuals or in small school groups. SALT advice for parents.
Nurture Group, a focused, short-term intervention for pupils with social and emotional challenges which make it harder for them to learn in a mainstream class.
Personalised provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities
Liaison with specialist agencies eg, speech & language, educational psychologist (EP), occupational health, physiotherapist, family support worker, counsellor.
Additional involvement of parents / carers, in identifying, meeting and reviewing the needs of their child(ren).
Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) in line with the SEND Code of Practice: 0 – 25 years January 2015 and Equalities act 2010, ensure that, “we will make reasonable adjustments for disabled children to help alleviate any substantial disadvantage they experience because of their disability, and will not discriminate against or harass them.” An EHC Plan is created in consultation with the pupil, parents and professionals. It details the specific strategies, support, resources and targets in place for the child and is reviewed annually.
What is the Special Education Needs Information Report?
Schools use the LA Local Offer to meet the needs of pupils with SEND as determined by school policy and the provision that the school is able to provide. Schools refer to this as ‘The Special Education Needs Information Report.
Questions
Please read the questions below and click on their links for more information about the Special Education Needs Information Report for Meldreth Primary School.
