Helpful Links and FAQs
As a parent, there are ALWAYS times where you will question yourself, or not know where to find the answers - this is especially true with SEND. At St. Mary's, we have worked alongside parents of the school to find useful websites that have information to help with any processes or questions that you may have. As always, please ask the school too!
SOS SEN have free walk in centres around the country and give useful information about the legal and statutory rights that children with SEND have.
Special Needs Jungle creates easy to understand resources, articles and information for parents and carers of children with special needs, disabilities and health conditions to better
enable them to navigate the special needs system.
IPSEA has a suite of free downloadable guides, resources and template letters available to parents and carers. These guides are complemented by a free Advice Line and Call-in Helpline which provide legally based information and next step advice on any educational issue that is a result of a child's SEND.
Staffordshire also has lots of helpful services that could advise you on various different aspects of your child's life and needs - take a look at the links below:
Staffordshire Connects SEND Local Offer is the place to go in Staffordshire to find information, support and services for children and young people with SEND:
https://www.facebook.com/StaffordshireSENDLocalOffer/
Staffordshire Autism Outreach Team page, sharing resources and information.
https://www.facebook.com/Staffordshire-Autism-Outreach-Team-112695317037942
Staffordshire County Council has created 8 Family Hubs to support you locally. Your local Family Hub is a virtual space where you can find advice and support, and connect with others in your area.
Click the link to find your local hub:
https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Coronavirus/Help-and-support/Family-Hubs.aspx
'Staffordshire Connects' provides some great information that can help to support with Education, Health and Care Plans:
https://www.staffordshireconnects.info/kb5/staffordshire/directory/site.page?id=aYb6AfFVT1s
The Hearing Impairment Team is part of the Specialist Support Service and support children and young people aged 0-25 with a diagnosed hearing impairment. Click this link for more information about who they are and how they could help:
The Vision Impairment Team is part of the Specialist Support Service and we support children and young people aged 0-25 with a diagnosed vision impairment. Click this link for more information about who they are and how they might be able to help:
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the school know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?
- The school liaises with preschool settings before your child starts school
- Concerns are raised though the class teacher, teaching assistant or SENDco.
- We use standardised tests in reading, writing and spelling at regular intervals throughout the school
- There is a wide range of SEND services that the school works with including – general learning difficulties, dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, hearing and visual impairment and physical difficulties
How will the school staff support my child?
- An education programme will be planned and tailored to your child’s needs
- Children in receipt of EHC plans are supported by the SEN Learning Support Assistants and SENDco in line with targets set within their EHCP
- Other children with SEN are monitored through their class teacher and SENDco on a day to day basis
- Regular assessments are undertaken of all children with SEN in order to move the children on quickly across their targets
- The leadership group and directors oversee the SEN work and liaise with the SENDco
- Both the frequency of and the requirement of TA support are dependent on the individual needs of the children
- Intervention programmes are put into place where appropriate, these may require small group teaching outside the classroom, or targeted support within a lesson
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
The school is an inclusive academic community, meaning that:
- All teachers adapt their teaching according to the needs of all children to ensure that they achieve their true potential
- Advice or guidance provided by external professionals supporting individual pupils is incorporated into planning
How will both you and I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?
- Termly reports on progress and attainment are sent home
- We operate an open door policy and all staff can be contacted via phone calls and appointments
- Regular parents evenings are part of the school year
- Parent workshops, such as how to help your child at home and dyslexic awareness are part of the school year, these dates will be communicated through the school newsletter
- Regular meetings take place between all staff to discuss the attainment and progress of SEND children
- 'Pupil Passports' are reviewed half termly, with parents invited to discuss and feed back on the progress in conversation with the class teacher
- Parents and staff are encouraged to write in their home school diaries to begin a daily dialogue
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
- All students have a class teacher for a year, they are all also supported by a variety of teaching assistants including SEND Learning Support Assistants
- Older children support younger children during playtimes by being ‘buddies’ or 'Playground Leaders' and encouraging children to take part in ‘huff and puff’ games.
- Medicine, supported through a care plan and appropriate authorisation is administered by school staff
- The behaviour system is adapted to ensure all children behave well, are consistently praised and are achieving well
- The opinion of the children is valued and collected through pupil voice, target setting and review meetings
What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school?
The school has access to a range of outside agencies that may be able to support your child. They include:
- Autism outreach
- Visual/hearing impaired service
- Educational psychologist
- SENISS
- Behaviour management advisor
- CAMHS
- Physical difficulties
- School nurse
What training are the staff supporting children with SEND had or are having?
St Mary’s promotes the training of all staff members so that all children receive an excellent experience of education. All staff receive regular training at least once a term: This has included – Autism, dyslexia, hearing impairment, how children learn, safeguarding and interventions. On top of this, all routine training such as safeguarding and asthma training is kept up to date
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom including school trips?
- St Mary’s actively includes all children on all educational activities
- Teaching assistant support is put into place if required
- Parental advice is sought to ensure all children benefit from the activities being offered
How accessible is the school environment?
- Educational equipment is obtained through the SENISS service
- The school has adapted its’ premises where necessary; painting yellow lines on the steps to help Visually Impaired children and ensuring proper acoustics in classrooms for those children who are Hearing Impaired
- Translators are bought as required to support EAL families
- School governors carry out regular checks to ensure the accessibility of the premises
How will the school prepare and support my child to join the school, transfer to a new school or the next stage of education and life?
- The school has close links with its feeder high school, including half termly SENDco meetings. Many resources and expertise are shared across the settings ensuring quick and easy access to the necessary equipment
- The children take part in many activities with Painsley from year 4 onwards including transition events
- All Year 6 children and parents are invited to several prospective parents meeting prior to applying for a place at the school
- All Year 6 visit the feeder high school for an extensive induction period in July prior to starting in September
- Heads of year, the SENDco and EWW visit every July
- High School SENDco is involved in Year 6 reviews
- Year 6 have a comprehensive information booklet from Painsley high school
- All SEN information is passed to the new school, including the class teacher or SENCO speaking to the new school
How are the school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
SEN Learning Support Assistants are deployed with SEN children, they have a timetable to ensure all interventions are carried out as written in the child’s education plan. Additional resources/strategies are employed creatively within the allocated budget in order to meet the specific needs of children.
How are the school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
- Teaching assistants are deployed with SEND children, they have a timetable to ensure all interventions are carried out as written in the child’s education plan
- Targeted small group support in class is used in all classes
- Withdrawal of small groups or individual pupils for additional Numeracy support
- Provision of toolkit resources to ensure that learning is multi-sensory and practical
How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
- Through pupil progress meetings with the class teacher and senior leaders, including teacher assessments and test results, the needs of children are identified and measures are put into place to ensure the correct level of support is available.
- Through close liaison with pre-school settings and schools which children transfer from the SENDco will ensure correct provision is in place for all children, this could include applying for AEN funding before a child begins school.
- Support is discussed with staff, parents, SENISS and the educational psychologist and any appropriate agencies if necessary
How are parents involved in the school? How can I be involved?
- The school has an active PTA
- Attendance at reviews and supporting events, workshops and functions
- Completing questionnaires and parent view
- Opportunities to meet the teacher during the academic year – Open Evenings
- Open door policy for parents to meet class teachers or senior management
- Regular progress meetings with parents/carers by class teacher and SENDco
- Support for parents who have concerns
Who can I contact for further information?
- The first point of contact is your child's class teacher
- The SENDco, Head of School or Principal can be available via an appointmentmap