A member of Dales Academies Trust What is SEND Support?
Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn. These may include difficulties in:
Cognition and Learning – This covers how children learn.
Communication and Interaction – This covers speech, language and communication.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties– This covers any areas related to children’s well-being and social skills.
Sensory and/or Physical Needs – This covers any difficulties related to the senses and how children are able to move or medical conditions.
The school uses the graduated approach to support children with additional needs.
Graduated Approach
The graduated approach has 4 parts:
Assess: The school assesses the child’s needs. They listen to the views of the child and their parents or carers. They also ask for advice from other specialist support services if needed.
Plan: The teacher and special educational needs coordinator (SENDCo) plan how to support the child. They consider what outcomes they want to achieve. They involve the child and their parents or carers and agree a review date.
Do: The SENDCo helps the class teacher support the child. They think about the child’s strengths and weaknesses and how best to help them. The teacher also works with the teaching assistants and specialist staff involved. They assess how helpful the support is.
Review: Everyone discusses how effective the support has been. The school adapts the support depending on the child’s progress. The child’s views and those of their parents or carers are an important part of the review process.
If the child isn’t making good progress the school should involve a specialist. Schools involve parents or carers in decisions to involve specialists.
Schools should meet with the parents or carers of children with SEN support at least 3 times a year.
(SEN Support in school pdf))
Help for your child through SEND support
SEND support can take many forms; it will be different for each child to suit their needs.
It could include:
- Working with your child in a small group.
- Helping your child take part in class activities.
- Encouraging your child to ask for help.
- Supporting with understanding their emotions and giving strategies to support regulation.
- Helping other children work or play with your child.
The school will tell you as parents or carers what support they’re developing for your child. This might be through:
- a provision map
- an SEN Support Plan
Who to talk to
If you think your child may have special educational needs, please discuss these with your child’s class teacher or contact Marie Watson SENDCO 01642 769942 or frmwatson@stfrancispri.dalesmat.org.
