SEN policy details

Details are provided below for the SEN (Special Educational Needs) policy across Knutsford Academy including Cheshire Studio School.

Knutsford Academy has the highest expectations for all of its students, irrespective of age, ability or learning need. Quality First Teaching will for many students ensure that work is tailored and differentiated in such a way as to allow this to happen. However, some students inevitably have additional learning needs that act as a barrier to them making the required progress.

The SEN team at Knutsford Academy is committed to ensuring that these students are supported on a daily basis and work within the revised SEND Code of Practice. The team is comprised of a SENCO and HLTA Intervention Manager in our Inclusion Resource Centre working strategically with seven classroom learning support assistants (LSA). An Assistant Headteacher overseas the teams work.

Provision for students with additional needs comprises of:

Identification and initial assessment initially come from either the previous school in transition, parents or teachers. If an additional learning need is identified then a tailored intervention programme is designed and teaching staff informed via the student support registers. Three categories of need are used:

First Concerns
SEN Support
Educational Health and Care Plans

Intervention programmes vary according to individual students but can include:

Support for differentiation within lessons by class teachers
Discrete withdrawal from curriculum areas for bespoke lireracy and numeracy programmes
Key worker assigned to monitor progress across the curriculum;
LSA support for EHCP students
Access to breakfast and homework clubs
Speech and language therapy and EAL
Accommodation of medical needs
Lunchtime haven for vulnerable students
Software available from school or home
Laptops for use in lessons
Additional 1 to 1 GCSE tuition from subject teachers for SEN LAC students

In addition students can also access a learning website to support both reading and spelling, the website can be accessed via www.idlcloud.co.uk

SEN team’s work is constantly reviewed but some highlights include:

SEN student survey sample revealed that students most valued 1 to 1 modelling and explanation of tasks by a class teacher as well as the close support of a LSA
SEN student survey sample revealed that students feel that they are set more than enough homework and challenged to work hard in class.
Over 50 students between Years 9 – 11 have completed alternative accreditation in English and Maths Functional Skills
23 students from Years 7-8 are withdrawn for corrective reading and literacy work in the Westfield Drive Inclusion Resource Centre
Over 80% of SEN students across Years 7-10 are currently tracking as being either on or above target

A comprehensive strategic review of SEN provision has taken place and identified key areas for improvement including: