SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Information for Parents

Liverpool Children & Young People’s Services

SEN Assessment & PlacementService

Municipal Buildings, Dale Street

Liverpool, L2 2DH

October 2015

SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Contents

Page
Introduction / 1
Further Information / 1
Inclusion and Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) / 2
City of Liverpool Children And Young People’sServices, Special Educational Needs and Disability Service. / 4
Provision for Pupils with Physical Disabilities / 5
Provision for Pupils with Complex Learning Difficulties / 6
Provision for Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder / 7
Provision for Pupils with Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) / 9
Provision for Younger Pupils Requiring Assessment / 10
Provision for Pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Needs (SLD and PMLD) / 11
Provision for Pupils with Sensory Impairments / 12
Provision for Pupils with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) / 13
Provision for Pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) / 14

SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Introduction

Liverpool Children and Young People’s Services has defined inclusive education as non-barrier education in terms of educational philosophy, curriculum entitlement and physical access. In accordance with national guidance the Local Authority maintains a continuum of provision to meet the special educational needs of pupils.

Most pupils with special educational needs (SEN) are educated in mainstream schools with the emphasis on inclusion. Pupils are taught alongside their peers with additional individual and group support where required. Mainstream schools are also developing close links with the special school sector to develop areas of expertise. The separation between the special and mainstream educational sectors will change as more support funding becomes available to enable co-location of pupils on one site with their peer group.

Some pupils with SEN attend resourced school provision where additional funding from Liverpool Children and Young People’s Services enables the school to develop inclusive educational arrangements for pupils with identified needs. The city has an emergent model for inclusive education based upon the concept of these resourced schools.

It is also acknowledged, however, that for some pupils and defined areas of special educational need, a special school place is required.

Further Information

You will find brief information on the full range of the provision available within Liverpool schools in the following pages. All the schools are mixed schools unless otherwise stated. For detailed information about a particular school please contact the school directly and ask for a prospectus.

Admission to the provision outlined in this booklet is via Liverpool Children and Young People’s Services following individual assessment of the child’s needs. The schools are therefore unable to consider direct applications from parents and carers.

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SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Inclusion and Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND)

All children need help, support and guidance in their development and all are individuals whose needs will vary. Some children need extra help – this may be for a short time or it may be ongoing.

If you think your child is not making the progress you would expect or if you think they have special needs speak first to the class teacher, the schools Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or Headteacher. Similarly, if there are any changes in your child’s life or difficulties which might affect performance, or behaviour in school, you need to let the class teacher or Headteacher know. They will very probably be able to provide the extra support your child needs. The school can also access support from services outside school.

Liverpool Children and Young People’sServices aims to have the provision and support most children need available within mainstream schools. Where special needs or disability are low incidence and require very specialist support, we have put special educational provision into resourced mainstream schools or special schools.

You cannot apply directly to a special school or mainstream school for a resourced place. Following an assessment of your child’s needs and with your full involvement, Liverpool Children and Young People’s Services may offer you a place in resourced or special school provision.

It is City Council policy to make every effort to provide a school place in line with parental wishes. You will be fully involved in all discussions about the school placement for your child, especially where the assessment indicates that the school of your preference may not be available to meet your child’s special educational needs, or if no places are available.

If you require further information about Special Educational Needs provision or Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments, you can contact the Special Educational Needs Assessment and Placement Service of Liverpool Children and Young People’sServices. The address and phone numbers are listed on page 4.

Resourced Schools

The previous section referred to resourced special educational provision in mainstream schools. These schools are referred to as Resourced Schools and are selected for excellence in education generally and an ethos that welcomes difference. Resourced Schools develop expertise in a particular area of special educational needs and receive extra support and resources. Liverpool Children and Young People’sServices fund a predetermined number of places, allocating these on the basis of assessment of a child’s needs.

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SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

The school does not organise places. Officers of Liverpool Children and Young People’sServices and staff in school collaborate to ensure special needs are met, to monitor every child’s progress and to keep under review the appropriateness of the placement.

Some places are temporary (especially speech and language) and if the special provision is no longer needed and it is appropriate to transfer to your local school or into a regular place in the same school, we will discuss this with you. Children only stay in resourced provision if they need to.

Moving into or out of resourced provision is always carefully planned with a transition plan and support organised for each child.

Resourced provision means children spend most of the day in regular classes, with all other children their age – lessons and materials are adapted for individuals and there is extra support in the classroom. Children receive specialist support from assistants, teachers or therapists, in class or for short periods of withdrawal.

Parent Partnership Service

If you are the parent or carer of a child aged 0 – 19 years and you either believe they have special educational needs, or you have been told they need extra help at school, you can contact us for information.

We can help by:

  • Providing accurate, impartial information on your rights, roles and responsibilities within the SEN process.
  • Helping you to understand the assessment process, assisting with letters, and forms, and helping you to work in partnership with your child’s school and other agencies; (some of this help is provided by Independent Parental Supports – volunteers we have trained to a high standard);
  • Providing information about the wide range of options available to you so you can make an informed decision as to what you want;
  • We publish a wide range of leaflets and provide information sessions on relevant topics throughout the year;
  • We provide links to parents’ groups, voluntary organisations, as well as other services, so we can point you towards other sources of help and support;
  • We provide training for Independent Parental Supporters and staff in various agencies and help to foster good working relationships between parents and professionals in the SEN field;
  • We can support parents in preparing appeals to the SENDIST Tribunal;
  • We can also support parents at SEN ‘Disagreement Resolution’ sessions.

We accept referrals from any source, but we will only become involved if the parents want our help.

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SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

The written information we produce is available direct from the Parent Partnership Service although schools, local libraries, parent support groups etc. may also have a supply.

You can contact the Service, tel: 0151225 3535.

City of Liverpool Childrenand Young People’s Services –SEN Assessment & PlacementService

This Service co-ordinates all admissions to special educational needs provision including resourced schools and special schools. The Service also administers the EHC assessment process as defined in the Children and Families Act 2014 and maintains existing statements under the 1996 Education act during the three year transition phase.

The Service’s postal address is:

Liverpool Childrenand Young People’sServices

SEN Assessment & PlacementService

Municipal Buildings

Dale Street

Liverpool

L2 2DH

Email:

The Service is currently arranged into five teams with one officer focusing on independent and non-maintained special schools. In addition the Service has a number of Special Needs Co-ordinators seconded from a range of schools to address the SEN reforms and seconded post-16 specialists to address a range of needs from the post-16 cohort of young people. They can be contacted on the following numbers:

225 6231/6278/6037 and 4993

Children undergoing an EHC assessment will have a named officer allocated to them and this will be communicated to parents and carers in writing.

Further information on the SEN Assessment & PlacementService,together with information about special educational needs policy and provision in Liverpool isavailable on the LiverpoolCity Council Web Site:

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SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Provision for Pupils with Physical Disabilities

Resourced Provision

Springwood Heath Primary School
Danefield Road
Liverpool
L19 4TL
Tel: 0151 427 7759
Age Range: 3 – 11
Number of places: 48
Headteacher: Mr P Daniels

The resourced provision at Springwood Heath School is for primary aged pupils with identified and assessed Physical Disabilities. The school is fully integrated and accessible and offers the full National Curriculum with appropriate modifications structured around the individual child’s needs. Teaching staff have specialist qualifications and NNEB and support staffcomplement the small group and individual teaching arrangements. There is also in-put from the physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy services and nursing cover.

Broadgreen International School
Queens Drive
L13 5UQ
Tel: 0151 228 6800
Age Range: 11 – 18
Number of places: 24
Headteacher: Mrs S Beevers

The secondary aged resourced provision at Broadgreen High School is well established and has a proven track record in providing fully inclusive educational opportunities for its pupils. A dedicated and trained teacher manages the provision on a day-to-day basis and the full range of the national Curriculum is offered. Individual support is available for the pupils when required and considerable emphasis is placed on developing independence skills. A full range of support services are available for direct support and consultation and the school is fully accessible.

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SEN ASSESSMENT & PLACEMENT SERVICE – LIVERPOOL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Special School Provision

Sandfield Park Special School
Sandfield Walk
Liverpool
L12 1LH
Tel: 0151 228 0324
Age Range: 11 – 19
Number of places: 78
Headteacher: Mr M Hilton

Sandfield Park School is a fully accessible day special school for secondary aged pupils with identified and assessed Physical Disabilities. The full range of the National Curriculum is offered with appropriate modifications according to individual need and pupils are entered for public examinations. A high profile is given to sports activities and pupils are encouraged to develop their independence skills alongside their academic achievements. Sixth Form pupils follow individually designed programmes of study and college links, work experience and vocational guidance are a key facet of the transition planning for pupils. The school is dedicated to integrating pupils into their local community and has established effective links with a number of mainstream schools to offer wider learning opportunities and life skills experiences.

Provision for Pupils with Complex Learning Difficulties

Schools for pupils with Complex Learning Difficulties offer places for children with identified and assessed learning difficulties and additional needs, e.g. – dyslexia, dyspraxia, emotional and social difficulties, minor physical difficulties, delayed speech and language skills and autistic spectrum disorders.

Pupils follow the National Curriculum which is differentiated and/or modified according to individual need.

Great emphasis is placed upon the development of independence skills and personal responsibility. Every effort is made to enable students in the special schools, subject to their progress, to return to mainstream education. The annual review of a child’s needs considers the appropriateness of a mainstream placement and evaluates the support which would be required.

Resourced Provision

All Saints RC Primary
Oakfield
Liverpool
L4 2QG
Tel: 0151 263 9561
Age Range: 5 - 11
Number of places: 12
Headteacher: Mr J Barnes

Special School Provision

Bank View High School
177 Long Lane
Liverpool
L9 6AD / Aigburth High School
Minehead Road
Liverpool
L17 6AX
Tel: 0151 233 6120 / Tel: 0151 427 1863
Age Range: 11 – 18 / Age Range: 11 – 18
Number of places: 150 / Number of places:130
Headteacher: Ms JGelling / Headteacher: Mrs C Piercy

Provision for Pupils with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder

A large number of pupils with needs associated with Autistic Spectrum Disorders are educated in local mainstream schools. Liverpool Children and Young People’sServices resource three mainstream schools for pupils with assessed needs requiring more intensive support. These schools maintain close links with Abbot’s Lea Special School and provide specialist support for the identified pupils. Trained teachers and support staff plan and deliver the curriculum and social aspects of school life to match the individual needs of the pupil.

Individual Education Plans are agreed in consultation with parents and carers and these plans detail the academic and social support needs that each pupil requires and strategies and targets relating to all areas of school life. A system of termly reviews assesses the pupil’s progress and agrees new targets and strategies to ensure that the pupil receives the support they require and continue to improve their attainments.

Great emphasis is placed upon the inclusion of the pupils with their mainstream peer group through a highly supportive and structured integration programme. Access to the resourced provision is through theLiverpool Children and Young People’sServicesSpecial Educational Needs Assessment and PlacementService following joint assessment of the individual child’s needs.

Resourced Provision

Enterprise South Liverpool Academy
Horrocks Avenue
Liverpool
L19 5NY / Broadgreen International School
Queens Drive
Liverpool
L13 5UQ.
Tel: 0151 228 6800
Age Range: 11 - 18
Tel: 0151 230 2570
Age Range: 11 – 18
Number of places: 21 / Number of places: 8
Headteacher: Mrs S Beevers
Principal: Mr K Unsworth
St Michael in the Hamlet Primary
Neilson Road
Liverpool
L17 7BA
Tel: 0151 727 3215
Age Range 5 – 11
Number of places: 8
Headteacher: Mrs R Town

Special School Provision

Abbot’s Lea School
Beaconsfield Road
Liverpool
L25 6EE
Tel: 0151 428 1161
Age Range 5 – 16+
Number of places: 213
Interim Headteacher: Ms J Parry

As part of a continuum of ASD provision, St Michael in the Hamlet Primary School makes provision for pupils with ASD and specific speech and language difficulties. The pupils are based in the mainstream classes and access additional support and therapies. Placement into the resourced provision is based upon a joint assessment by a speech and language therapist (SLT), and Educational psychologist (EP) and a Community Paediatrician (CCP).

Abbot’s Lea School is a modern purpose built school for pupils with a clinical diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The emphasis of the school is to address the over lapping needs of pupils with ASD through personal, social and health education and to develop life skills and independence. Communication skills to enhance the pupil’s ability to socially interact and make effective life choices are a vitally important aspect of the school. Stress reduction to facilitate the pupil’s full involvement in the academic and social life of the school is also emphasised. Parental involvement in formulating teaching programmes is encouraged and the school maintains excellent links with the wider community, local colleges and mainstream schools.

Teaching and support staff are trained in working with pupils with ASD and the school maintain small class sizes in accordance with DCSF guidance. Access to the school is through the Special EducationalNeedsAssessment and PlacementService following an EHC assessment of the child’s needs and the issuing of an EHC Plan, or an amendment to an existing Statement of Special Educational Needs.

Abbot’s Lea School also have assessment provision located at Mathew Arnold School together with a primary class facility within the school.

Provision for Pupils with Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD)

These schools provide specialist teaching and pastoral systems for pupils experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties ranging from quiet and withdrawn behaviours to behaviours which are overactive and aggressive. They offer structured environments where pupils are encouraged to examine their own behaviour and its consequences on others. They focus on the individual pupil’s self-esteem and seek to restore and build their confidence and ability to cope with the social and academic demands of the school environment.

Individual work programmes are drawn up for each pupil and emphasis is placed upon parental involvement in the planning and delivery of behavioural management programmes. ‘Quiet Place’ facilities and therapeutic approaches are also offered and the three day special schools offer outreach support to mainstream schools in their areas.