Special Education Needs & Disability (SEND) Report

For further information, please visit County Durham Local Offer

2016-2017 SEND Information Reports

Accessibility Plan 2015-2018

Policy Statement

“We look to the future with what we feel is a realistic optimism. The Church has a tradition of ministry to people with learning difficulties and disabilities, and this tradition will fuel the stronger, more broadly based efforts called for by contemporary circumstances. We also have faith that our quest for justice, increasingly enlisted on the side of individuals with disabilities, will work powerfully in their behalf. No one would deny that every man, woman and child has the right to develop his or her potential to the fullest. With God’s help and our own determination, the day will come when that right is realized in the lives of all people.”(Bishops’ Conference Statement of People with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities 1976)

As a Catholic School we recognise and affirm the dignity of all, as people made in the image and likeness of God. It is our Christian duty not only to hold and affirm this fundamental principle but to act upon it. The great majority of children grasp the opportunities offered in school, to grow to become self-disciplined, happy, mature young adults. Some young people, however, suffer disadvantages which limit their ability to access both the curriculum and extra-curricular activities. In caring for the most vulnerable and ensuring an inclusive framework in our search for excellence in all and for all, the Special Educational Needs Department work towards making our vision a reality.

Many young people find themselves in the position of needing additional support at some time in their school career; the pupil who is taking longer to read than his friends, the child who has been ill and absent for a long time, the child who breaks both wrists and needs help using a laptop computer. Then there are the children with permanent disadvantages to overcome. Physical disabilities which limit their mobility and stamina, sensory impairment, behavioural and learning difficulties across the whole range from being very gifted to the handicap of specific learning difficulties and all the associated problems of limited literacy and numeracy skills.

St Leonard’s recognises the need to make provision for these children to include them in every aspect of school life. For a Special Educational Needs Department to be effective we need full participation of staff, pupils, parents and governors so that effective provision is made to secure teaching and learning opportunities that meet the needs of all pupils as a fully integrated part of the school vision and the mission of the Church.

To read the SEND Policy in full please click here.

Our Core Offer

What we offer to all learners:

• Teachers are responsible for the progress of all pupils in their class. The first step in supporting pupils who may have an additional or special need is to make learning accessible yet challenging. All are challenged to do their very best. This is enough for most pupils to make good progress.
• All children are known well by their Tutor, with further support from their Head of Year and where appropriate, the SENCO. Tutors enjoy developing strong relationships with the children they work with every day. Good behaviour and organisation is rewarded. Sanctions exist to support consistently high standards of behaviour. To read the Behaviour Policy in full please click here.
• Your child can express their views in several ways, including via their School Council representative or directly to pastoral staff
• We manage medical needs by working closely with parents and healthcare professionals. We listen to and act on their advice, providing staff training when needed. To read the school’s policy on supporting pupils with Medical Needs in full please click here.

We run a wide range of extra-curricular clubs in which children with SEND are encourage to participate.
The Savio Centre and Courtyard Area are inclusive spaces, available for any child experiencing social difficulties.
Children are supervised by the Social Inclusion Manager and Learning Support Assistants.

SEND at St Leonard’s

• The SEND Department is staffed by the SENCO and three other classroom teachers, six Learning Support Assistants, a Transition Coordinator, Social Inclusion Manager and a Learning Mentor.
• The SENCO is Mr Martyn Capper. Mr Capper can be contacted by telephone at school or by emailing – senco@st-leonards.durham.sch.uk
• The link Governor for SEND can be contacted by emailing – HeadTeacher@st-leonards.durham.sch.uk

Consulting Parents and Students

St Leonard’s puts working with parents/carers and students at the centre of its work. Students are involved with reviewing their progress and encouraged to express their needs and concerns with relevant staff. Students with SEND are encouraged to express any concerns they may have to the SENCo, their form tutor or any other member of staff with whom they feel comfortable to talk about their concerns.

Parents and carers are equally at the centre of supporting their children. They are involved in decisions about support for their child, including decisions to investigate a potential diagnosis, referral to external agencies, planning and evaluating support. They are encouraged to contact the SENCo or Head of Year at school if they have any concerns about their child. The SENCo is always pleased to discuss any concerns involving SEND with parents and carers.

Equality

‘All schools have duties under the equality act 2010 towards individual disabled children and young people. They must make reasonable adjustments to prevent them being put at a substantial disadvantage. Schools also have wider duties to prevent discrimination, to promote equality of opportunity and to foster good relations’ (from the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years. Published June 2014 for implementation in September 2014.)

St Leonard’s is an inclusive school and actively seeks to promote the inclusion of students with SEND and disabilities. We use our best endeavours to ensure that all students with SEND and disabilities are able to participate in the life of the school, both in their learning and in the wider provision and life of the school. Please see our accessibility plan.

Students with SEND are actively encouraged, supported and given opportunities to become involved with extra-curricular activities.

Looked after children

Any LAC students who have special educational needs have access to our normal provision and the support of Social services.

Funding

The local authority funds schools to support their SEND provision. Each individual school receives their own SEND funding from the local authority. Each school identifies specific interventions to use this fund and their impact is monitored and reviewed by the school.

Curriculum

All pupils follow the national curriculum at a level and pace suitable for their ability. Find out more about the curriculum at the school by visiting the department pages.

The school’s main focus is quality first teaching (QFT) where differentiation in lessons allows the individual needs of all students to be met. Where a student’s individual need requires further support, the school can provide a supported timetable as well as withdrawal work in small groups.

Additional support available within the school includes:

• Timetabled ‘ KS3 Study Skills’ lessons in literacy and numeracy.
• Team of Learning Support Assistants.
• Rapid Reading programme.
• Support of external agencies.
• The appropriate use of rewards and sanctions.
• A broad range of extra-curricular activities, including homework club and use of the Courtyard area, Library and Savio Centre.
• Exam concessions where needed.

We, at St Leonard’s, use our professional judgement to ensure that the funding is distributed to have the greatest impact on our SEND pupils. We review this at school level to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency.

Number of SEND Students

Assessment, Planning, Doing, Reviewing

Support for pupils with SEND

If, as a parent / carer of a pupil attending this school, you require a paper copy of the information on this website, we shall provide this free of charge.