Universal Offer of Special Educational Needs at Bracken Edge Primary School
Ethos
Bracken Edge has an inclusive ethos and has high expectations of all pupils. We strive to meet the needs of all our children and work in partnership with pupil’s families to achieve the best outcomes for each individual child. Bracken Edge is committed to the Early Support Principles and uses a range of assessment procedures to identify and meet all pupilneeds through early Intervention.
Leadership/ Budget
All Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision is overseen and managed by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in school and is co-ordinated by the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). The SLT monitor, review and evaluate all SEN provision on a regular basis throughout the year and report to the school governing body on how individual needs are met and how SEN funding is being spent. Funding may, for example, be spent on additional services such as: a Speech and Language Therapist, a Family Support Worker, specialist equipment for children and families who need this additional support. We have employed staff with specific skills to meet individual children’s needs and where appropriate provide them with 1-1 support to access the curriculum and also to assist developing their independence.
Curriculum, teaching and learning/ Assessment
An appropriate and accessible environment is provided within the schools means and confines of the building and is adapted where possible. The school building is fully accessible for wheelchair users with a lift in the building and ramps where needed. There is a disabled toilet and a first aid room. Accessibility is considered with all building alterations.
The school has an emphasis on high quality teaching and learning for all. This is supported by: transparent and shared targets for achievement for all pupils, clear planning, skilled staff and appropriate resources. Assessments enable us to review progress. Where additional or special needs are identified clear, shared plans are put in place to enable the pupil to make good progress. These are reviewed regularly with pupils, parents and staff, this ensures that targets and support are appropriate and where concerns remain to seek further support possibly from other agencies.
Training
Where appropriate staff have specific training, often working alongside other professionals to develop their skills to support children with Special Educational Needs.For example some staff have been trained by our Speech and Language Therapist to deliver programmes to enable the best progress to be made. We have staff that have specific skills in Autism, Multi-Sensory Teaching, British Sign Language and Makaton. The school can offer high quality intervention programmes (for example in phonics or maths) led by skilled HLTAs (Higher lever Teaching Assistants), these compliment the teaching and learning in the classrooms and enable some pupils a chance to ‘catch up’. High priority is given to the emotional and social wellbeing of our children and we offer Nurture Groups and 1-1 support for children who may benefit, lead by our Family Support team and Learning Mentor. We also have highly skilled Behaviour Support Workers in every year group who support children with social, emotional and behavioural needs. All staff are ‘Team Teach’ trained.
Partnerships
Parents/ Carers are vital partners in their child’s journey throughout school and we aim to build positive relationships with all families within school. Parents/carers are therefore invited to be part of regular review meetings of their child’s progress; this is in addition to any informal discussions about their child’s progress with their class teacher and the SENCO. Parents can request a meeting with the SENCO or class teacher when they want one and we make use of home-school diaries to keep parents in touch with daily progress. Where children have 1:1 support workers they are available before or after school to discuss progress.
Where children have more complex needs, and an Education and Health Care Plan is in place, parents will be invited to annual reviews which may involve other professionals. For children in Nursery these reviews are held each term.
Bracken Edge is one of six local schools within the “CHESS” cluster, we can access support from various services through AIP (Area Inclusion Partnerships) Guidance and Support meetings or direct referral. The following services in our cluster includes NEST family; a provision that has access to support practitioners offering play therapy, counselling, a domestic violence worker and a TAMHs/ CAMHs (Targeted Mental Health/ Child and Adolescent Mental Health services) professional. NEST Space is also located on our school site, where children with emotional and social issues can attend for short periods of time. The Nest Space lead practitioner is an Assistant Head Teacher at Bracken Edge and works closely within the school SLT to support the emotional well-being of children within the school. Outreach workers from NEST Space also support and run groups with pupils at school that have emotional and social difficulties. We also have a partnership with Youth Inclusion Project (YIP) who run sessions for children in school and provide trips and residential for children in school holidays.
Support is sought from other agencies where necessary. We engage with CAMHS, Child Development Centre, Occupational Health Service, Physiotherapy Service, Speech and Language Therapy Service, and Social Care Team. We also have links with Local Authority services such as School Improvement, Educational Psychologists, Leeds SEND Information Advice Support Service and Complex Needs Team.
Policies
The following school policies are available on the website or when requested from school:SEN Policy, Behaviour Policy, Safeguarding/Child Protection, Equalities, Teaching and Learning Policy, Care and Control Policy.
The Inclusion and Family Support Team consist of the following members who are contactable on; Tel 0113 2623335
Laura Storey – Assistant Headteacher / SENCO
Jane Lunn – SEN Family support worker
Jill Igoe – SEN Govenor
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I think my child may have special needs?
Parents should contact the SENCO Laura Storey 0113 2623335. A meeting will be arranged in school which may involve other professionals if necessary.
How will the school support my child?
Appropriate provision will be put in place for your child depending on what their need is. The progress of the provision will be discussed regularly with you and reviewed regularly by the class teacher. Support and advice is available from the SENCO.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
All class teachers assess and plan to meet pupil’s individual needs. All lessons are differentiated through skilled questioning, groupings and resources to ensure all children are fully included in every aspect of the curriculum. Where needed, additional support would be given through an Inclusive learning plan – where specific targets and interventions are put in place or an additional member of support staff may be deployed to support in much more specific learning and independence skills.
How will I know how well my child is doing and how will you help me support my child’ learning?
At parents evenings there will be opportunities for parents/carers to discuss their child’s progress and the SENCO is always available on these evenings for further discussion and to support parents and carers with any further concerns they may have, especially around supporting children further at home. Additional review meetings may be held to regularly review progress or if parents/ carers request additional meetings. Class teachers and 1:1 workers are available after school and a home/school diary can be established to inform parents of daily progress.
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
At Bracken Edge we pride ourselves on having a caring and supportive ethos and a high skilled Inclusion and Family Support team. All support put in place is based around identified needs. This can be done through multi-agency meeting or CAF. CAF (Common Assessment Framework) is form of support through multi-agency meetings. We have 3 members of staff that are CAF trained. We run Nurture Groups in different year groups. Children with more complex needs are part of social groups within school where they take part in sports, cooking, gardening, games and other activities.
What specialist services and expertise are available or accessed by the school?
Parents are encouraged to access expertise and services via the SENCO Laura Storey. It may be a referral to targeted cluster support such as counselling, TAMHS, play therapy, Family Support. It may be a referral to NEST (Cluster support), AIP support (Local Inclusion Leaders), Complex Needs Team, Speech and Language Therapy, STARS team (Autism), Deaf and Hearing Impaired Team, Educational Psychology. We recognise the importance of early diagnosis and intervention and have close links with the Early Years Team who are able to support children and parents in our Nursery.We access support from the school nursing team, health visitors and where appropriate Child Development Centre.
What training are the staff supporting children with SEN having/had?
All Early Years and Year 1 staff have had Early Years Autism training. Staff working with specific children have had the following training; speech and language, picture exchange card (PECs), intensive interaction, multi-sensory, deaf and hearing impaired, BSL, Makaton, Phonics, Team Teach.
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom?
At Bracken Edge we aim for our children to be fully included and to access all activities and trips enjoyed by their peers. Parents/Carers may be involved in planning of activities to ensure safety and inclusion wherever possible. Most children with Complex Needs will attract additional funding and this will be used where possible to employ staff 1-1 to promote independence, but also support with inclusion at all times. We offer a range of after school clubs which are accessible to all our children and we adapt provision to meet the individual needs of children with SEN.
How accessible is the school?
The school has lift and ramps where they are needed. There are disabled toilets. There is a purpose built first aid room. Children who need additional specific equipment and facilities will have their needs met to the best of our ability sometimes through an application of additional funding.
How will the school help children and young people transfer to the next phase of education?
Home visits are made for all children starting at Bracken Edge, at any stage of school. In Nursery and Reception these are arranged with the class teacher and a Family Support Worker. Higher up the school these will be held with a Family Support worker and a visit to the child’s new class can be arranged at the Home visit. Children and families starting in Nursery and Reception are invited to parents meeting’s and a taster day to welcome them into Early Years and Reception. Transition to high school is co-ordinated by the Year 6 teachers including our Deputy and Assistant Head Teachers. In addition to usual transition arrangements, where necessary, children with SEN will receive more transition time and support.
How are the school resources allocated and matched to the children’s SEN needs?
The school is funded on a national formula per pupil. Blocks of £6,000 are allocated depending on the number of children who meet the criteria and who are on the school’s inclusion register. The school can apply for a top-up, based on strict criteria, if it is felt that a child’s needs are above that which can be provided through the £6,000 block. The school uses the additional funds to put appropriate support in place to meet the specific needs of a child. This may take the form of a key worker to support the child to access a personalised timetable, develop independence and access all areas of the curriculum.
How are parents involved in the school and how can I be involved?
The Governing Body have the correct amount of parent governors to act as a link between the school and all parents. Parents are kept informed about teaching and other events through monthly newsletters, text messages, open evenings and open days. Parents are invited into the school for regular information sessions, weekly celebration assemblies and various performances and concerts throughout the year.
Who can I contact for further information?
Applying for a place –The School Office.
I wish to discuss something about my child. –The class teacher
I want information about other support services –Laura Storey (SENCO) Jane Lunn (SEN Family Support Worker)
I want information about the local authority’s local offer.Laura Storey (Assistant Headteacher/ SENCO)