Identifying pupils with SEND:

• When pupils have an identified special educational need and/or disability (SEND) before they join our school, we work closely with the people who already know them and use the information already available to identify what the possible barriers to learning may be within our school setting. This helps us to plan appropriate support strategies.

• If you tell us you think your child has a special educational need we will discuss this with you and assess your child accordingly. Often these assessments are carried out by staff in the school, sometimes school seeks advice from more specialised services such as Educational Psychology or Speech and Language Therapy – we always share our findings with you and the next steps we need to take.

• If teachers feel your child has a special educational need this may be because they are not making the same progress as other pupils. The earlier we take action and modify our provision, the sooner we can resolve concerns and help children towards success. We will observe your child’s learning characteristics and how they cope in the learning environment. We will assess their understanding of what we are doing in school and, where appropriate, use tests to pinpoint what is causing difficulty. This will help us to decide how we can help your child to learn more successfully. If school become concerned about your child, you will be contacted by their class teacher or the school’s Inclusion Manager - Mrs Sophia Probert.

• Record of Concern forms are completed to identify individual targets and support that we will give your child. This will be shared with parents/carers and the pupil.

Support:

• We have a team of talented support staff who are experienced in supporting pupils with a wide range of educational, social and emotional needs.

• Our staff are deployed to undertake small group work or one-to-one support as appropriate to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs or disabilities.

• Our Senior Leadership Team analyse pupil performance data termly to ensure that every child is making the best possible progress.

• Our Learning Mentor -and Parent Support Advisor - VACANCY - has an excellent knowledge of how to support children with social and emotional needs and can provide support to families.

• A Reading Recovery Teacher - Mrs Vicki Hardy - delivers individualised one-to-one reading programs to children in KS1 and coordinates reading interventions in KS2.

Walsall Council has a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS). The team are able to provide free, impartial, confidential advice and support about education, health and social care to children, young people and their parents on matters relating to special educational needs and disability.

Further information can be found at: https://www.wcld.co.uk/kb5/walsall/asch/service.page?id=yj2W-cxJVEg

Ordinarily, they are based at the Education Development Centre in Pelsall but are currently available by email and telephone:

John Bird. john.bird@walsall.gov.uk  Mobile 07384821795

Aileen Overton. Aileen.Overton@walsall.gov.uk. Mobile: 07827 311786

Specialist resources:

• Our staff make bespoke individual resources for pupils with special educational needs that support their specific learning targets and needs and reflects the learning undertaken by their peers.

• We have a wide range of ICT equipment available to help motivate pupils and help them to access learning. 

• We use a range of software to help engage pupils and to practice basic skills.

• We use workstations, picture and symbol timetables and countdown timers for pupils who need it.

• We use Makaton signs and symbols to aid children with communication difficulties.

• We seek advice and equipment from outside agencies as and when the need arises, such as specialist seating, steps and handrails.