Swanshurst School believes that all children with Special Educational Needs and Disability should have their additional needs addressed in a fully inclusive environment and that they should have the greatest possible access to a broad and balanced education including access to the National Curriculum. This will enable these children to be included successfully in a lifelong learning process enabling them to fulfil their potential as confident, resilient and constructive members of society. We adhere to the Equality Act of 2010. A copy of the Accessibility Plan can be found on our website.
Does the school have a Special Educational Needs co-ordinator and how can they be contacted?
The Special Educational Needs Coordinator is Mrs Rachael Hanvey who can be contacted via main school reception on 0121 464 2400 or via email at enquiry@swans.bham.sch.uk. Appointments are available upon request for parents / carers, to discuss the needs of their child and the provision that they need. The SENCO and Learning Support team are also available via appointment at Parent Consultation Day in October and at Parent Consultation Evenings throughout the year.
How does the school identify and assess Special Educational Needs?
We use a graduated approach to identify and assess possible SEND. Steps in this process include:
Where there are concerns about a possible SEND, pupils are referred to the SENCO and the Learning Support Team for further investigation. Pupils and parents /carers will be informed at each stage about what is happening and what it means. Where necessary parents / carers may be asked for permission for their daughter to see an external agency for advice or to assist in identifying SEND.
What kinds of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) does Swanshurst School provide for?
Swanshurst School makes provision for a wide range of SEND. The table below outlines provision made under the four broad areas of need as described in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 – 25 years, June 2014.
Types of need and what that could look like |
Examples of support in our school |
Cognition & Learning Pupils with cognition and learning difficulties may learn more slowly than other pupils of the same age and may have difficulty with concentration, the speed with which they process information, learning and using new vocabulary or organising tasks.
Pupils may also have diagnosed learning differences such as dyslexia or dyspraxia etc. |
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Communication & Interaction Pupils with communication and interaction difficulties may find it more difficult to communicate their needs than their peers. They may also find it difficult to find the words they want to say or use in their writing. Pupils on the autistic spectrum may also have difficulties with understanding language. |
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Social, emotional & mental health difficulties This encompasses a broad range of difficulties, including diagnosed mental health difficulties and illness that may affect a child at various times throughout their education. |
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Sensory and/or physical needs Pupils with sensory and or physical needs may have a hearing or visual impairment or have physical need e.g. cerebral palsy. |
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How is progress measured for pupils with Special Educational Needs?
Swanshurst School collects pupil progress data for every pupil on a termly basis, which is a generated from a combination of tests and class assessments. The SENCO reviews this data for SEND pupils termly and liaises with subject teachers as appropriate in order to adjust provision where appropriate.
Staff involved in additional provision will also produce progress data that is based on the skills and progress expected within an intervention or the support given. Again, this is reviewed termly so that support can be swiftly and accurately adjusted to meet the needs of the individual child.
The views of the pupil and their parents / carers are vital in assessing the impact of the additional support given and parents / carers are invited to discuss the progress of their child with the SENCO on a termly basis via questionnaires. Parents / carers also have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress with subject teachers and a member of the Learning Support Team at Parent Consultation Evenings. Urgent concerns can be discussed by appointment with the SENCO.
What training do the staff in school have in relation to pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disability?
Every teacher is a teacher of SEND. CPD sessions around Quality First Teaching are available for all teaching staff and a lesson observation schedule is on place across departments to ensure that Quality First Teaching is delivered.
Each department has a SEND advocate who
In addition, specific CPD sessions about the different needs that pupils have are made available for all staff on a regular basis:
How does the school get more specialist help for pupils if they need it?
Additional specialist support may be accessed via the Pastoral Team, SENCO and Senior Leadership Team. The table below shows the outside agencies that work with pupils within the school.
Agency or Service |
Who they work with |
How school can get in touch with them |
Pupil and School Support (PSS) |
Any pupil as required, most usually pupils with cognition and learning difficulties or difficulties accessing the curriculum. |
Through SENCO |
Educational Psychologist (EP) |
Any pupil as required, most usually pupils with more complex learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health difficulties. |
Through SENCO, Learning Mentors |
Communication and Autism Team (CAT) |
Only students with a diagnosis |
Through SENCO |
Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) | Students are screened using the Communication Trust Speech and Language Progression Tool and each case is discussed with the SALT. Where our in school interventions do not work for the student, they will see the SALT for specialist sessions. | Through SENCO |
School Nurse |
Any pupil with a medical need |
Any member of staff |
Forwards Thinking Birmingham (FTB), previously Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) |
Pupils with emotional, social or mental health difficulties. |
Through Heads of Year, Senior Leadership Team, Learning Mentors, SENCO, Parents / carers can also contact directly. |
School Sensory Support (SS) |
Pupils with a visual or hearing impairment |
Through SENCO |
Allens Croft Childrens’ Centre |
Pupils can be referred to Allens Croft if further investigation into Autism or ADHD or referral to a Speech and Language Therapist. |
Through Heads of Year, Senior Leadership Team, Learning Mentors, SENCO, Parents / carers can also contact directly. |
Family Social Worker |
Pupils in families that have identified additional support is required |
Through Heads of Year, Senior |
Social Services |
Pupils in families that have identified additional support is required |
Through Heads of Years, Senior Leadership Team, Learning Mentors, SENCO, Raising Achievement Safeguarding Coordinator Parents / carers can also contact directly |
LACES |
Looked after children |
Through Heads of Year, Senior Leadership Team, Learning Mentors, SENCO, Raising Achievement Safeguarding Coordinator. Parents / carers can also contact directly. |
Malachi Specialist Family Support Services |
Pupils in families that have identified additional support is required |
Through Heads of Year, Senior Leadership Team, Learning Mentors, SENCO, Parents / carers can also contact directly. |
How are parents of children and young people with Special Educational Needs/ Disability involved in the education of their child?
If the school feels that a child has a Special Educational Need or Disability which requires provision that is additional to or different from that which is offered to the majority of pupils, the school will contact the parent /carer to find out further information that would help to inform the provision needed and discuss how that provision would work within school.
Parents /carers are invited into school on a termly basis to discuss their child’s progress and how well the support is working at review meetings. Where a parent / carer is unable to make it into school, the review can be carried out over the phone or on a home visit. Parents / carers are invited to attend Parent Consultation Evenings where the SENCO or a member of the Learning Support Team will be available to discuss progress or any concerns.
Parents are also invited in to school each term to attend workshops where they can receive training on how they can help their child at home.
How are pupils with Special Educational Needs/ Disability involved in their own education?
Pupils review their progress on a termly basis with a Raising Achievement Assistant and play an active role in adjusting their Pupil Profiles for the following term. This involves reviewing their progress for the term both in their curriculum subjects and any interventions they participate in, encouraging pupils to reflect on their learning. Pupils are given half termly opportunity to express their opinions about their provision via mentoring sessions with a Raising Achievement Assistant.
What extra-curricular activities can a pupil with Special Educational Need or Disability access at school?
Swanshurst offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities at both lunchtime and after school. A timetable of these activities is made available to all pupils and can be found on the school website. Where appropriate, pupils with SEND may be accompanied by a Raising Achievement Assistant and reasonable adjustments made in order for them to access these activities.
How does the school support pupils with Special Educational Needs/ Disability through transition?
At Swanshurst School we adhere to Birmingham’s guidance on admissions and the school’s admission limit. Admission is non-selective and the school adheres to the Equality Act 2010.
Year 6 Transition
Mid-year Transition
Key stage 3/4 Transition
Pupils who already have an Education and Health Care plan:
Provision for the pupils who already have an EHC plan will be in accordance with what is laid out on the statutory document. The needs of new admissions with an EHC plan are discussed between the SENCO, SEN Governor and the Learning Support line manager to discuss how needs can be met for the pupil before they join the school. Pupils and their parents are invited to visit the school to discuss the provision and transition plan before they join the school. In rare instances we may conclude that we are unable to meet the needs of a pupil and follow the set procedure in liaising with SENAR in these instances.
EHC plans are formally reviewed annually with the outside agencies that are involved using the person centred approach. For students transitioning between key stages this will take the form of a ‘Pathway’ where career and future aspirations will also be considered within the provision. Pupils will also have two other less formal reviews during the year to discuss targets and ensure that provision is working.
Applying for a new Education and Health Care plan:
If the SENCO, parents and outside agencies agree that the pupil is not making progress despite a high level of targeted and personalised support, it may be appropriate to apply for an Education and Health Care (EHC) plan. Swanshurst School follows the procedures and guidelines laid out on the Birmingham MyCare website when undergoing this assessment and is guided by SENAR and the Educational Psychologist in the process.
If a parent of a child with Special Educational Needs has a complaint about the school, how does the Governing Body (or proprietor) deal with the complaint?
If you are unhappy about any aspect of the support your child is receiving, please contact the SENCO in the first instance to see if this can be resolved. School will listen to your concerns and aim to reach decisions in partnership with the students, staff and parents. If it is not possible to resolve concerns at this level, then please put your concerns in writing to Mr M Dunn Head Teacher, with a copy to the link Governor Mrs Rabia Shami. This can be addressed to the school. Failing to reach a solution at this level, parents/guardians may wish to voice their concerns, in writing, to the Chair of Governors via the school. We will follow the complaints policy as laid down in the school complaints procedure which can be found on the main school website.
How can parents find the Birmingham Local Authority local offer?
Parents can find out about the Birmingham Local Authority Local offer via the following link:
http://www.mycareinbirmingham.org.uk/
How does the Governing Body (or proprietor) involve other people in meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs including support for their families?
The SENCO provides an annual report to Governors and will meet with the designated link governor to go through the report. The Governing Body are made aware of all external agencies involved in provision in school, along with what they do and are also aware of support available across Birmingham.
SEND Information Report
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