SENco – Mrs C. Healey
SEN Governor – Ms A Hambley
Can be contacted via the school office
School Offer / SEN Information Report – Knowsley Village Primary
In compliance with Section 69(2) of the Children and Families Act 2014 / regulations 51 and schedule 1 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
Children and Families Act 2014
The Children and Families Act underpins wider reforms to ensure all children and young people can succeed, no matter what their background. The Act will reform the systems for adoption, looked after children, family justice and special educational needs.
The Government is transforming the system for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN), including those who are disabled, so that services consistently support the best outcomes for them.
A child or young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:
has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.
Part of the SEN reform programme Local Authorities must publish their Local Offer, providing a comprehensive, transparent and accessible picture of the range of services available. Local partners, including schools are required to co-operate with the Local Authority in the development and review of their Local Offer. All Knowsley maintained schools have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs and are supported by the Local Authority to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school. This document outlines our School Offer and the SEN Information required as stated in the SEN Code of Practice.
Glossary of terms;
- ASC – Autistic Spectrum Condition
- CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
- EP – Educational Psychologist
- IEP – Individual Education Plan
- INCO – Inclusion Co-ordinator – organises and monitors provision for children with additional needs, which includes SEN, English as additional language and child protection.
- QFT – Quality First Teaching – an excellent standard of teaching, enabling all pupils to make progress.
- SSEN – Statement of Special Educational Need
- CA – Class Action
- SALT – Speech and Language Therapy/Therapist
- SEN – Special Educational Needs
- SEN – Code of Practice The legal document, which sets out the requirements for educating children with special educational needs.
- SENCO – Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator- organises and monitors provision for children with special educational needs.
We have set out our School Offer / SEN Information Report through a series of questions through which you can get more information.
1. How does the school know if my child needs extra help?
We carry out regular assessments and track your child’s progress through out the year. If your child is identified as not making expected progress the school will set up a meeting to discuss this with you in more detail and to:
-listen to any concerns you may have too.
-plan any additional support your child may receive.
– discuss with you any referrals to outside professionals to support your child’s needs.
2. How can I let the school know that I am concerned about any area of my child’s development?
If you have concerns about your child’s progress you should speak to your child’s class teacher initially. If you are not happy that the concerns are being managed and that your child is still not making progress you should speak to the SENco and after that if still concerned the Headteacher. If you are still not happy following this, you can speak to the school SEND Governor – Mrs A. Hambley.
3. How will teaching be matched to my child’s needs?
We use a graduated approach to meeting an individual child’s needs. For the majority of children quality first classroom teaching will fulfil their learning needs. Some children may require the curriculum to be slightly adapted or differentiated for the individual to access the curriculum in order to make progress. They will not be on the SEND register. Some children may require small group intervention from a member of the support team to bridge a learning gap or to develop strategies to overcome a particular need. They may also access some support from a TA in lessons. Teachers will differentiate the curriculum on a regular basis as a usual way of working. These students will be identified on the register as SEN Support. For a few students with more complex needs they may require more intensive and long term support in order to thrive at school. These students will have an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which will set out clearly what provision the student needs to achieve at school. These students are also monitored by the local educational authority SEND team (Knowsley Borough Council).
4. How will my child’s progress be measured and how will I be informed?
Your child’s progress is continually monitored by his/her class teacher. His/her progress is reviewed formally every term. You will be invited to a parent teacher consultation each term and will receive a written report at the end of the Summer term. If your child is in Year 1 and above, but is not yet at National Curriculum levels, a more sensitive assessment tool is used which shows their level in more detail and will also show smaller but significant steps of progress. The levels are called ‘P levels’. At the end of each key stage (i.e. at the end of year 2 and year 6) all children are required to be formally assessed using Standard Assessment Tests (SATS). This is something the government requires all schools to do and these results are published nationally. Children at SEN Action will have an IEP which will be reviewed with your involvement, every term and the plan for the next term made. The progress of children with a statement of SEND/ EHC Plan is formally reviewed at an Annual Review with all adults involved with the child’s education.
5. What support do you have for me as a parent to support my child?
The class teacher is regularly available to discuss your child’s progress or any concerns you may have and to share information about what is working well at home and school so similar strategies can be used. The SENco, Mrs Healey, is available to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress or any concerns/worries you may have. All information from outside professionals will be discussed with you directly, or where this is not possible, in a report. IEP’s will be reviewed with your involvement each term. Homework will be adjusted as needed to your child’s individual needs. A home/school contact book may be used to support communication with you, when this has been agreed to be useful for you and your child.
6. What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?
Support we can provide in school may include:
- Sports Coach- Confidence building
- Social skills and friendship groups
- Relax kids
- Counselling Behaviour programmes including rewards and sanctions
- Medicines can be administered in school with signed parental permission.
- There are nominated first aiders in school and several members of staff have paediatric first aid qualifications. If your child has significant medical needs you will need to speak to the SENco/Inclusion manager to discuss how we can best support you and your child. This might include drawing up a Health Care Plan. The class teacher has responsibility for the overall well-being of every child in their class. If you have any worries speak to the class teacher first. If further support is needed the class-teacher will speak to the Inclusion Manager.
7. What specialist service and expertise are available at or accessed by the setting to support my child?
School will seek the appropriate specialist service or expertise to support the school and families in meeting every child’s needs.
Below are some of the services we already engage with:
- Inclusion Service
- SAST
- Sports coach
- Counsellor
- Additional Speech and Language Therapy input to provide a higher level of service to the school.
- SEN specialist teacher (spld)
- Autistic specialist teacher
- Educational Psychology Service
- Sensory Service for children with visual or hearing needs
- Speech and Language Therapy
- School Nurse
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- C.A.M.H.s
- Inclusion Support Worker
- Family First
- EAL service
8. How accessible is Knowsley Village School and how will my child be included?
Our school building is on one level and is fully accessible to all. We ensure that equipment used is accessible to all children regardless of their needs. Breakfast and After school provision is accessible to all children including those with SEND.
All extra curricular activities are accessible for children with SEND.
We do not have the building facilities for a separately staffed Nurture class/room but LA can advise parents on schools which do.
9. How will the setting prepare my child for transitions on to the next stage of educational and life?
We recognise that transitions can be difficult for a child with SEND and take steps to ensure that any transition is a smooth as possible. If your child is moving to another school:
We will contact the school SENCO and ensure he/she knows about any special arrangements or support that need to be made for your child.
We will make sure that all records about your child are passed on as soon as possible.
When moving classes in school:
Information will be passed on to the new class teacher IN ADVANCE and in most cases, a planning meeting will take place with the new teacher. All IEPs will be shared with the new teacher.
Transition days in school with new classes and teachers.
If your child would be helped by a book to support them understand moving on then it will be made for them.
In Year 6:
The SENco will attend the Primary Transition Day to discuss the specific needs of your child with the SENCO of their secondary school.
Your child will do focused learning about aspects of transition to support their understanding of the changes ahead.
Where possible your child will visit their new school on several occasions and in some cases staff from the new school will visit your child in this school.
10. How are parents/carers/families involved in the setting
All parents are actively encouraged to take part in the school community. This includes:
- Class assemblies
- School Performances
- Links with Local Church St Marys
- Volunteer Reading (but not in your child’s class)
- PTFA ( fund raising activities)
- Sugar tots- Parent and Tots groups
- Parent training and workshops in connection with Knowsley Community College
- Parent information meetings run by the Headteacher and teachers
- News Letters by the children, head teacher and teachers
- Review meetings
- Annual Reports
11. Where can I find further information about admission arrangements for pupils with SEND and information regarding accessibility plan/policy?
Our school follows the LA admission guidance, please see admission section on the website for more information and contact details if needed. You will also find an access plan and policy on our website under the information tab, further policies of interest, may be found under the policy section.
12. Complaints about SEND provision
We actively encouraged dialogue between parents/carers and school to resolve any problems or concerns at the earliest stage, following procedures set out in the SEND policy.
13. Who can I contact for further information?
If you have any further questions or you wish to discuss any of these questions further please contact Mrs C Healey – SENDco/ Inclusion manager and she will be happy to arrange a meeting with you.
Telephone – 0151 289 5349
E mail – knowsleyillage@knowsley.gov.uk
Website – www.knowsleyvillageschool.co.uk
Also Knowsley borough council can also offer advice and support regarding SEND. The Local Offer can be found on the Knowsley Council website – Knowsley Local Offer
This offer is accurate now, but services are regularly reviewed and could change. All information will be updated as soon as possible to reflect any new service offer.
This service offer is intended to give you clear, accurate and accessible information. If you would like to comment on the content of the offer or make suggestions to improve the information, please email Knowsleyvillage@knowsley.gov.uk.
Other useful sites are – www.knowsleyinfo.co.uk