Inclusive Teaching and Learning

We are committed to inclusion.  We endeavour to make every effort to achieve maximum inclusion of all pupils whilst meeting their individual needs as learners.

What do we mean by Special Educational Needs?

Children have Special Educational Needs if they have a learning difficulty, which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. They may have:

• a significantly greater difficulty with learning than the majority of children of the same age;
• a disability that prevents them from making full use of the educational facilities provided for children of the same school age.

They may have difficulty with one or more of the following:

1. Communication and Interaction
2. Sensory/ Physical
3. Cognition and Learning
4. Behavioural, Emotional and Social

We know that children learn and develop in different ways, so we use different teaching styles, resources and plan different levels of work, along with many other approaches.  This is called Quality First Teaching.

How do we identify children who need extra support?

We aim to keep the time between identifying where support is needed and responding with the right provision to a minimum. Home and pre-school visits help with early identification and enable us to plan for future provision. As well as this, we liaise with parents, health professionals and early years settings (nurseries) to build a sound evidence base.

Once in school, your child will be assessed in a number of different ways, including class observation.  From these assessments, your child’s teacher will be able to see what they are good at, where they need help and how best you can help at home. 

What happens if your child is identified as needing support?

If your child needs support in one of the four areas mentioned, the class teacher, together with the SENCO will decide the type and level of support, which may change throughout their time at school.  We will always keep you informed and part of the process.

What does the SENCo do?

SENCO = Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

If your child needs support, the SENCO will:

• Ensure the right support is put in place together with the class teacher.
• Advise other teachers on how to help your child.
• Work closely with you regarding your child’s needs and listen to any ideas or concerns you might have.
• Work with professionals (if necessary) who may be able to help your child.

What could the support look like?

The support could be within class, as part of a small group or one-to-one help.  The class teacher and SENCo will best assess which type and level of support is needed.

For your child, this action will be enough to help them to overcome any difficulties and help them make good progress.

Sometimes, additional advice from outside specialists is needed, which could include advice from specialist teachers, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists or physiotherapists. In this case, we work alongside parents and professionals to carry out further assessments and form an individual provision plan.

Along with many other approaches.  This is called Quality First Teaching.

How do we identify children who need extra support?

We aim to keep the time between identifying where support is needed and responding with the right provision to a minimum. Home and pre-school visits help with early identification and enable us to plan for future provision. As well as this, we liaise with parents, health professionals and early years settings (nurseries) to build a sound evidence base.

Once in school, your child will be assessed in a number of different ways, including class observation.  From these assessments, your child’s teacher will be able to see what they are good at, where they need help and how best you can help at home. 

What happens if your child is identified as needing support?

If your child needs support in one of the four areas mentioned, the class teacher, together with the SENCo will decide the type and level of support, which may change throughout their time at school.  We will always keep you informed and part of the process.

What is an Individual Provision Plan?

This is essentially what your child’s class teacher and the SENCo plan to do to help your child.  It will include short-term targets, extra support detail (i.e. how often the support is being given) and when the school will next look at progress.

These plans are reviewed throughout the year and then discussed with parents at Parent’s Evening.  Your child will also be discussed at regular Pupil Progress meetings throughout the school year.

Contacts

If you have a concern about your child’s learning, then your child’s class teacher is the first person to talk to as they plan for ways to give support in class, whether that support be one to one or in a group.

You can also contact our SENCo via email at senco@colliers-green.kent.sch.uk

Useful links

Early Help provide services for families to help them to do well, stay safe and resolve problems at the earliest possible opportunity, before they become more serious. You can access these services locally at a time and place that suits you.  You can find further information, including a parent leaflet, via the following link.  https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/early-help-support-for-families

The Weald Family Hub - https://www.wealdfamilyhub.org.uk/

Dyslexia Action Information about dyslexia services http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/ and https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ 

KCC Local Offer which gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families' information about what support services the local authority think will be available in their local area.  http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs

The National Autistic Society, a leading UK charity for people on the autism spectrum (including Asperger's syndrome) and their families. They provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better world for people with autism. https://www.autism.org.uk/