SEN Information
What are special educational needs?
Children learn at different rates and show a great variety in the ways in which they learn best. Teachers take this into account when they organise their lessons. This is known as differentiating the curriculum. However, some children still find it much harder to learn than others of the same age and may need extra help. This may be because they have difficulties with:
• Reading, writing, number work or understanding information
• Expressing themselves or understanding what is being said to them
• Organising themselves
• Understanding and following rules and routines
• Making friends or relating to adults
• A medical condition
• A sensory need such as a difficulty with seeing or hearing
These children are said to have Special Educational Needs. (This does not include children who are having trouble keeping up because their first language is not English).
Areas of need
There are many different areas of need. Below you will find some more information on these different areas. The links will take you to some fantastic resources and access to specialised knowledge. Please speak to your child's class teacher if you require any further information.
We also know that no two children are the same and all children are taught as individuals. Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), also known at Dyslexia
‘Specific learning difficulties’ is an umbrella term which indicates that pupils have particular difficulty with one or more aspects of learning, but not all of them. The term covers problems with:
• dyslexia (reading and writing);
• dyscalculia (maths);
• dyspraxia (co-ordination);
• dysgraphia (writing).
Dyslexia
Pupils with Dyslexia may have particular difficulty in learning to read, write, spell or use numbers. Their performance in these areas is likely to be below their performance in other areas. These children may quickly gain skills in some subjects but not in others. Pupils may also have problems with short-term memory, with organisation skills and with co-ordination. Dyslexia covers the whole ability range and the difficulty may vary from mild to very severe. The website below has further information which you may find useful.
http://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/
Dyscalculia
Pupils with dyscalculia have difficulty in acquiring mathematical skills. Pupils may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack basic understanding about numbers and have problems learning number facts and procedures.
Dyspraxia
Pupils with dyspraxia have difficulty with organising movement and often appear clumsy. Pupils may have poor balance and co-ordination and may be hesitant in many actions (running, skipping, hopping, holding a pencil, doing jigsaws, etc). Their speech sounds may be immature and their language late to develop. They may also have poor awareness of body position. Navigation Primary School teaches in a dyslexia-friendly way and provides extra support to learners where appropriate. The website below has further information which you may find useful.
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
Speech, language and communication needs covers a broad set of difficulties. It can include those who have difficulty producing accurate sounds (expressive language) and those who have trouble understanding language and using language to express themselves (receptive language). The websites below have further information which you may find useful.
www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk
Social and emotional health (SEMH)
Pupils with SEMH needs may have high general ability or be less able. Their needs can vary from quite mild to very severe. The one thing they all have in common is that their SEMH needs are a barrier to learning. Because of this, they may not be progressing as well as they should with their learning. The term ‘SEMH’ covers a wide range of difficulties. Some pupils may be withdrawn or isolated or have emotional disorders such as depression. Others may lack concentration or behave in ways which disrupt the class. Some may lack the social skills they need in order to learn alongside other children. The website below has further information which you may find useful.
Sensory Impairments
Hearing impairment (HI) – if your child has a hearing difficulty please let us know so that we can put in place appropriate support.
Visual impairment (VI) - if your child has a visual difficulty please let us know so that we can put in place appropriate support.
Support for young carers and siblings of children with complex needs
If you know of anyone who may need support as they are a child or young person caring for a parent or sibling or they may have a sibling with complex needs then Gaddum Shine Manchester's Young Carers Project can help. They are a service which provides a range of support for children and young people. If you require any further information then please contact Mr Shaw, Mrs Owen or visit their website below:
https://www.gaddumcentre.co.uk/
Additional websites to support learning at home
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/highlights
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience
Children with a Disability
Diversity is one of the strengths of our school, we aim to develop a culture of diversity in which all feel free to disclose their disability and to participate fully in school life. We are committed to ensuring equality of education for disabled pupils, opportunities for staff and access for all those receiving services from the school.
We recognise that children are individuals and we make reasonable adjustments to make sure that the school is as accessible as possible for all pupils. In order to support staff in meeting the needs of our disabled pupils, we work in close partnership with other agencies. Training is provided for our staff in response to the recommendations of the specialist services.
The achievement of disabled pupils is monitored and we use this data to raise standards and ensure inclusive teaching. In addition we monitor the take up of extra-curricular activities by disabled pupils.
Children with Medical Needs
It is not school policy for medication to be administered by staff during the school day, although parents may come into school to give their child medication. We recognise and make an exception for those children who have a long term medical need. If a child has medical needs that necessitates the administration of medicine during the school day, an individual health care plan is created with the support of the school nurse. An appointment with the school SENDCo, and Mrs Driver would be made to do this. Mrs Driver is our Senior First Aider in school. She supports school by managing the care of our children with medical needs and ensuring that training is up to date. The school health practitioners visit the school and have given support to the school in the management of diabetes.