Norbridge Academy

• Cognition and Learning needs
• Communication and Interaction needs
• Sensory, physical and/or medical needs
• Anxiety related needs
• Behavioural, emotional and social needs.

Pupils have special education needs if they have a learning need that calls for special education provision to be made. Pupils have a learning difficulty if they:

• Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age
• Have a disability which prevents or hinders the child from making use of educational facilities of a kinds provided for children of the same age in other schools within the Local Education Authority
• Is under compulsory school age and falls within the definitions above or would do so if special educational provision was not made for them

Pupils must not be regarded as having a learning difficulty solely because of language or the form of language of their home is different from the language in which they will be taught.

In order to make consistent continuous progress in relation to SEN provision the school encourages feedback from staff, parents and pupils throughout the year.

The SENCO in collaboration with the class teacher will decide the action required to help the pupil progress. These actions might include:

• Use of different teaching and learning styles.
• Suggestions for work for teacher/TA to use with the pupil.
• Provision of alternative learning materials/special equipment.
• Group support, including using Wave 2 interventions.
• Staff development/training to undertake more effective strategies.
• Access to LA support services for advice on strategies, equipment or staff training.

These interventions will be recorded and monitored. It is important to see the impact of the intervention, to evaluate its effectiveness and to question why if it does not move the pupils forward.

Termly meetings with class teachers take place to discuss and implement relevant intervention/support for those individuals or groups of children who are not meeting expectations.

For those children requiring them, individual education plans are updated termly to reflect the above so that all staff are aware of the priorities for these children. These are discussed with parents termly to identify their priorities for their children.

There is an annual formal evaluation of the effectiveness of the school SEN provision and policy. The evaluation is carried out by the Headteacher/SEN governor and information is gathered from different sources such as child and parent surveys/ teacher and staff surveys/parents evenings/ consultation evening/ feedback forms/school forums. This will be collated and published by the governing body of a maintained school (or the proprietors of Academy schools) on an annual basis in accordance with section 69 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

Evidence collected will help inform school development and improvement planning.

Reviews will be undertaken in line with agreed dates. The review process will evaluate the impact and quality of the support and interventions. It will also take account of the views of the pupil and their parents. The class teacher, in conjunction with the SENCO will revise the support and outcomes based on the pupil’s progress and development making any necessary amendments going forward, in consultation with parents and the pupil.

Parents will be provided with clear information about the impact of support to enable them to be involved in planning the next steps.

Advice on how parents can help children at home is available at any time via class teachers or SENCO.

We provide quality first teaching where the needs of the child are met, wherever possible, within the classroom setting.

Specific learning needs are catered for on an individual basis and are adapted to meet the needs of individual children.

Pupils with SEN will be given access to the curriculum through the specialist SEN provision provided by the school as is necessary, as far as possible, in line with the wishes of their parents and the needs of the individual.

Every effort will be made to educate pupils with SEN alongside their peers in a mainstream classroom setting. Where this is not possible, the SENCO will consult with the child’s parents for other flexible arrangements to be made.

Quality first teaching and clear adaptation is the key. Children’s areas of need are identified and work is planned to address their needs.

Some pupils with SEND may access additional funding which will be applied for by the school SENCO. This additional funding might be from a budget which is devolved to and moderated by the Family of Schools. (The Family of Schools comprises of 16 primary schools). For those with the most complex needs, additional funding is retained by the local authority. This is accessed through the Family of Schools. The Family SENCO will refer individual applications to a multi-agency panel, which is administered by the Local Authority, who will determine whether the level and complexity of need meets the threshold for this funding.

Children are monitored carefully in the school and if they are displaying significant difficulties that are impacting on their education then the class teacher initially has a meeting with the SENCO. Together they look at the provision and environment that the child accesses and look for things that can be changed to see if it has an impact. After a graduated response has been considered, including consultation with parents, a support package is arranged. This may include support in the classroom, a referral to springboard or an application for extra funding.

Norbridge Academy is an inclusive school, no child is excluded from any part of school life. Where necessary, for example, on a school trip, parents may be invited to support their child if necessary.

Child specific risk assessments are included, where appropriate, within a school visit risk assessment and personnel at the visit site are made aware of any children with additional needs.

Every child’s well-being is our priority. For children with additional needs, parents and the child (if appropriate) are involved in the discussion to ensure that any service that is involved in supporting a child, is absolutely right for the child.

Mrs Whittington is our SENCo.

whittingtonk@norbridgeacademy.org.uk

01909 472322

We aim to keep all school staff up to date with relevant training and developments in teaching practice in relation to the needs of pupils with SEN.

The SENCO attends relevant SEN courses, Family SEN meetings and facilitates/signposts relevant SEN focused external training opportunities for all staff.

We recognise the need to train all our staff on SEN issues and we have funding available to support this professional development. The SENCO, with the senior leadership team, ensures that training opportunities are matched to school development priorities and those identified through the use of provision management . 

Teaching assistants attend appropriate training, through both private providers and the Worksop family of schools.

1. Educational Psychologists
2. School and Family Support Service
3. Speech Therapists
4. Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists
5. Hearing Impairment Services
6. Visual Impairment services
7. Social services
8. School nursing
9. Children’s centres.

A referral to the Physical Disability Service can be made for any equipment that the child may need whilst in school, such as plinths, walking aids, personal care requirements etc. The service also provide training for staff and support in writing health care plans, risk assessments and intimate care plans amongst other types of paperwork as required.

A referral for inclusive technology can also be made if the school feel that they cannot meet the needs of the child with the technology already available in school.

The school has a range of specialist SEN facilities in place.

These are:

• Wheelchair access
• Hearing Loops
• Medical room for personal care
• Highly qualified staff
• High level of TA support

Norbridge Academy believes that a close working relationship with parents is vital in order to ensure:

• early and accurate identification and assessment of SEN leading to the correct intervention and provision
• continuing social and academic progress of children with SEN
• personal and academic targets are set and met effectively

Parents are kept up to date with their child’s progress through progress reports, parent’s evenings, provision reviews, and reports at the end of each term.
In cases where more frequent regular contact with parents is necessary, this will be arranged based on the individual pupil’s needs. The SENCO may also signpost parents of pupils with SEN to the local authority Parent Partnership service where specific advice, guidance and support may be required.
If an assessment or referral indicates that a pupil has additional learning needs the parents and the pupil will always be consulted with regards to future provision. Parents are invited to attend meetings with external agencies regarding their child, and are kept up to date and consulted on any points of action drawn up in regards to the provision for their child.

The children consult on setting their targets and identifying their own areas of need (as they get older). They also attend meetings if they wish to do so. The views of the child are always sort when preparing for a review with parents and other agencies.

If a parent or carer has any concerns or complaints regarding the care or welfare of their child, an appointment can be made by them to speak to the SENCO, who will be able to advise on formal procedures for complaint.

Norbridge Academy invites and seeks advice and support from external agencies in the identification and assessment of, and provision for, SEN. The SENCO is the designated person responsible for liaising with the following:

• Education Psychology Service
• Behaviour Support Service
• Social Services
• Speech and Language Service
• Language and Learning Support Service
• Specialist Outreach Services

Representatives from voluntary organisations and other external agencies are invited to liaison meetings throughout the year to discuss SEN provision and progress and keep staff up to date with legislation.
In cases where a child is under observation or a cause for concern, focused meetings will be arranged with the appropriate agency. Parents will normally be invited to and informed about any meetings held concerning their child unless there are over-riding safeguarding issues.

Regular meetings with an experienced professional, provides opportunities for parents and school to discuss the needs of a child. The experienced staff member will have the knowledge to refer/signpost parents to services/groups that are relevant for their child’s needs.

Alternatively parents can access Nottinghamshire’s local offer website which contains information about services available to families. This can be found at:

http://nottinghamshire.sendlocaloffer.org.uk

Extra visits to familiarise with the setting and staff can be arranged. Discussions with previous settings and parents to collect a clear picture of the children’s needs. Transition books/pictures/videos can be arranged so that the children can continue to familiarise themselves at home and share with key family members.

Transition visits to new classroom, meetings with new class teacher. Meetings between key staff, parents and the SENCO to discuss needs and provision that needs to be made.

Secondary school transition comprises of an extended for the child which can take place over a number of months depending on how complex the child’s needs are. Staff at the chosen Secondary school may visit the child at school and will attend all review meetings leading up to transition.

At Norbridge we ensure activities that promote independence are planned in alongside academic tasks. Activities such as baking, shopping and cooking include learning valuable life skills such as using money, budgeting and weighing and measuring, and help to begin to prepare children for adult life,

Contact the school via email: office@norbridgeacademy.org.uk or by telephone 01909 472322.

Alternatively, please call into the school office for more information.

The school website has a wealth of information about education at Norbridge Academy -  Norbridge Primary Academy - Norbridge Academy