Special Educational Needs

At Abbotswood Primary School all children are respected. We value differences and meet children's social and academic needs within the framework of The National Curriculum

The person who manages the Special needs is the Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) who is Mrs Barr. The two representatives of the Governing Body nominated to monitor SEN are Mrs Kay Crowe and Mrs Mandy Pritchard.

The school's policy, to promote inclusive practise by removing barriers to children's learning, is currently being drawn up by a working party of parents, governors and teachers. It will reflect the new Code of Practice, introduced in January 2002 which, emphasises greater involvement by both parents and children, as well as a new graduated approach (School Action, School Action Plus and Statements of Need) replacing the old 5 stage model of provision.

The Code of Practice (please contact the Headteacher if you would like to see it).

Children who struggle to achieve socially or academically may need support.
Individual Play Plans or Education Plans (IPPs/IEPs) are drawn up in consultation with parents and children. 3/4 specific targets are set and reviewed termly. These children are on School Action. The class teacher meets their needs, within class.

Children identified with needs over and above classroom differentiation and needing additional support are placed on School Action Plus and will have the support of outside agencies written into their IPPs/IEPs.

Children with a high level of need may be issued with a Statement of Need by the LEA after a multi-disciplinary assessment. Funding is allocated to the school and this is reviewed annually.

The SENCo and the support staff are experienced at working with children with differing needs and these have included
- Speech and Language Disorders
- Autism
- Moderate and Significant Difficulties
- Specific Learning Difficulties
- Medical issues
- Behaviour

Learning Support Assistants, also known as teacher assistants, are employed to cover Statements of Needs and those at School Action Plus
- 1:1/small group support within the classroom
- 1:1 withdrawal support for very specific/focused tasks
- specific group withdrawal support
They are trained, multi-skilled and a valuable asset to the school and have led the following groups:
- social skills
- anger management
- vocabulary/social skills
- speech and language
- occupational therapy for gross motor skills
- friendships: 'Circles of Friends'

We also have the invaluable support of outside agencies. Children on School Action Plus (the old Stage 3) and those with statements, are priorities for these agencies. We work in partnership with:
- Educational Psychology
- Speech and Language Service
- Inclusion Support Service
- The School Nurse
- Speech and Language therapist - from the local Health Trust
- Occupational Therapist
- Our Community Paediatrician
- Charities such as 'Thackery Care'

Because of the high numbers of children identified with Speech and Language difficulties in Abbotswood, we were chosen to pilot a new LEA initiative. A therapist is on site regularly, to set up groups, support and train staff as well as monitor children and meet parents. Progress over the past year was evident.

Using our own resources, we set up an initiative to develop motor skills. Early in the morning, with the co-operation of parents, several children could be seen exercising in the hall for a block of 6 weeks. One parent asked for suggestions so that she could continue the exercises during the holidays as she felt her child had benefited. We propose to repeat this.

During the summer term we had a visit from the LEAs Education & Lifelong Learning Select Committee to carry out a 'Review of Monitoring and Evaluating the Achievement and Educational Progress of Pupils with Statements of SEN.' The members spent an afternoon individually interviewing the SENCo, parents, children and 3 TAs and agreed that Abbotswood School may be a model of good practice. A report of their visit to selected schools in the LEA, is due this autumn

If you have any concerns about your child's learning please speak to the class teacher in the first instance. An appointment can be made with the SENCo, Mrs Barr, via the office if you believe that your child is experiencing ongoing difficulties. Back to top