Pupil Support & SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disability)

Please send enquiries to:

SENCO:	Nursery-Year 6:	Miss Samantha Carney Sam.Carney@WhitmorePark.org
ERP & ESC:		Mrs Anita Heer Anita.Heer@WhitmorePark.org

Below is the SEND information report for Whitmore Park Primary School (WP) and Willenhall Community Primary School (WCP).

We each provide a fully inclusive main stream primary provision. We strive to ensure that all pupils achieve their potential academically, personally, socially and emotionally in all areas of the curriculum regardless of their gender, ethnicity, social background, religion, sexual identity, physical ability or educational needs.

Listed below are the ways in which our schools ensure they support all of our pupils including those with SEND in order that they can realise their full potential.

Please note: Due to funding, the Enhanced Resource Provision at WP for pupils with Speech and Language statements will not be admitting any new pupils from September 2017. The provision will continue for existing pupils until the end of Year 6. Therefore there will be decreasing numbers over the next four year until the unit closes in July 2021.

The provision for special educational needs at WP and WCP

WP is a 3-form entry main stream school. WCP is a 2-form entry mainstream school. All children are expected to make progress related to their age and ability. Some SEND pupils have physical needs which, affect or inhibits their learning (vision or hearing difficulties). Some have difficulties with speaking, listening and understanding and in severe cases a global delay. We have pupils that have specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia).

Information relating to WP and WCP schools identification and assessment of pupils with SEND

Class teachers monitor all pupils and will identify children having difficulties in the classroom. These children will be brought to the attention of the SEND lead in each setting (Miss Sam Carney and Mrs Anita Heer at WP and Mrs Lyn Corden at WCP). The class teacher will provide targeted work for the pupil to try to “close the learning gaps”. Other learning strategies may be used to support the pupils as advised.

If the pupil still does not make progress then external agencies will be used for additional advice and support. Their reports will be sent to parents.

WP and WCP policies for the provision for pupils with SEND with or without an EHCP (Educational and Health Care Plan)

Our SEND policy will give parents/carers the information about how we make provision for all pupils with SEND.

WP and WCP arrangements for assessing and reviewing the progress of pupils with SEND

Teachers will assess at 3 assessment points during the year. Pupil’s targets will be reviewed and new targets set. This will form the pupils learning plan (if required) and this document will be discussed with parents.

For pupils who have more complex needs a ‘My Support Plan’ may be written. This will be discussed in detail as parents will contribute to this plan.

Children with an EHCP will continue to have an annual review multi agency meeting.

Pupils in our Enhanced Support classes (ESC) will have continuous assessment using P scales (where appropriate) to monitor progress.

WP and WCP approach to teaching pupils with SEND

The teachers at WP and WCP will have the highest expectations for your child and all the pupils in the class. While we build our teaching on children’s knowledge we also endeavour to give the children new experiences to extend their thinking. We will engage the children in a variety of teaching styles and use a range of resources and strategies (which may be suggested by the SEND lead or staff from outside agencies).

The teacher will have assessed your child to identify gaps in your child’s learning. Support will be put in place to support and close these gaps.

1:1 support or small group sessions will be led by the teacher or a qualified teaching assistant. The plans for these sessions will be informed by the Pupils Learning Plan.

Your child’s class teacher will be happy to give the parent/carer more information about your child’s learning and progress.

At both schools, we have Enhanced Support Classes (ESC). The curriculum is differentiated to suit all abilities and learning needs. At WCP there is one enhanced support class and at WP there are two streamed enhanced support classes.

How WP and WCP adapts the curriculum and the learning environment for pupils with SEND

At WCP people access the main entrance over a ramped area (there are no steps). At WP the entrance is all at ground level. In both schools pupils enter the school from the playground. At WCP there are two levels which are accessible without the use of steps.

Inside both schools there is a lift for wheelchair users. There are also disabled toilets. There are supervised activities at lunchtime led by lunchtime supervisors. At WCP there are activity cabins for pupils to access an area for reading/playing board games.

Activities available for pupils with SEND in addition to those available in accordance with the National Curriculum

At both schools we have a breakfast club which is available to all pupils including pupils with SEND. All children are encouraged to join after school activities and our trained sports professionals will ensure differentiated activities for pupils with SEND.

At WP there is lunchtime provision for SEND children who find the busy playground difficult to manage. This provision has a high staffing ratio.

Support available at WP and WCP for pupils with SEND

Both schools employ professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists, an Educational Psychologist and professionals from outside agencies such as SEND Supported. These professionals will work closely with teachers and teaching assistants to advise on the teaching and learning for pupils with SEND.

Both schools have private speech and language therapists. WP also has NHS speech therapists.

Names and contact details of SEND leads

At WP you should contact Miss Sam Carney (Yrs. Nursery-6) and Mrs Anita Heer (ESC pupils). At WCP you should contact Mrs Lyn Corden (Yrs. Nursery-6) and they will answer any questions you have regarding your child’s learning and progress.

Equipment and facilities to support children with SEND

Both schools will make every effort to supply any equipment a child may need in school. E.g. pencil grips, sit fit cushions, sloping writing boards etc. Outside agencies will provide other equipment such as wheelchairs, standing frames etc.

Consulting parents of children with SEND

In consultation with parents, new targets are set to update the pupil’s learning plan (PLP). A copy of this is given to parents at parent evening and these targets are discussed. Where a pupil’s provision is recorded on a My Support Plan, parents will be invited in three times per year to review the provision. At WP we have introduced a “My name is...” record of provision which will be shared with parents when the provision needs to be reviewed.

Reports are sent out three times a year.

The school will provide information about parent courses which may support their child’s learning/behaviour at home.

Annual reviews are held for pupils with an EHCP. The parents and other outside agencies will be invited to attend this review.

Consulting children with SEND about their education

Pupils with an EHCP are asked to give their views on their educational experiences which are part of the annual review. Pupils with a My Support Plan are asked to give their views each time it is reviewed. Questionnaires are used annually to ascertain parent views on their child’s education.

Children with SEND are representatives of the school council.

Parents who have a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) are invited to contribute to this plan.

Complaints from parents of pupils with SEND about provision made at the schools to the governing body

At both schools the first step is to make your views known to the class teacher or the SEND lead.

If your complaint isn’t resolved by the teacher or SEND leads you can ask for a meeting with the Head Teacher.

If this still doesn’t resolve your complaint you can contact the Chair of governors.

Involvement of other bodies including Health and Social Services

The following outside agencies are supporting both schools:

Educational psychologists
SEND Supported
Dyslexia West Midlands
RISE Referral
Occupational Therapist/Medical
School Nurse
Speech and Language Therapy
Sensory support Hearing/ Sight

Contact details of support services for the parents of children with SEND

Name of support service	Willenhall (WCP)	Whitmore (WP)
Educational psychologist	Sheena Ashford Alison Bray	Sheena Ashford Alison Bray
SEND Supported	Jules McLean	Jules McLean
Dyslexia West Midlands	Suzanne McDowell	Suzanne McDowell
Occupational Therapist/Medical	NHS staff as available	NHS staff as available
School Nurse	Karen Neil	Sonia Edwards
Speech and Language Therapy	Vicky Hitchman NHS Speech Therapist	Virginia Keith (ERP) Julia Henly (Non ERP)
Sensory support Hearing	Kelly Peel	Heulwen Hindson
Sensory support Sight	Emma Clipston	Joanne Appleton

Contact details of parental support groups

SEND information, Advice and Support service (SENDIASS)

Independent Parent Special Educational Needs Advice (IPSEA)

Family liaison and attendance officers: Mrs Amanda Morris (WP) & Safeguarding & Attendance team (WCP)

Arrangements for supporting pupils with SEND in transition between phases and schools

The SEND lead and Nursery teacher at WP complete home visits and assessments for any pupils with SEND. Staggered starts are arranged for those pupils who need it. Pupils coming from enhanced pre-school settings are visited in setting several times in the summer term to ensure the needs are clear and adaptions are made prior to the start date.

At WCP home visits are completed by the Early Years staff and individualised timetables are created for children with specific needs.

In both schools children in years Rec - 5 will have a transition time where they will spend time with their new teacher in their new classroom. In this time the children will be assessed. Records will be transferred and teachers meet to discuss the needs of individual pupils.

Year 6 pupils will visit their new secondary school and transition meetings will be held prior to them completing year 6. All paper work is handed on to the relevant Secondary SEND lead and the needs of the pupils are discussed prior to them starting.