Details are provided below for the SEN (Special Educational Needs) policy across Knutsford Academy and Cheshire Studio School.
The SENDCo for Knutsford Academy and Cheshire Studio School is Mrs Sarah Williams who can be contacted on sws@knutsfordacademy.org.uk
Local offer for children with SEN and disabilities:
The Cheshire East Local Offer includes information about the support and provision that families can expect from a wide range of agencies for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND) from birth to 25 years old. The Cheshire East Local Offer for SEND can be found at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/localoffer
The schools have 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 adapted 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 several learning support assistants (LSAs). An Assistant Headteacher oversees the team's 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 literacy and numeracy programmes
- Key worker assigned to monitor progress across the curriculum;
- Learning Support Assistants 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 an LSA
- SEN student survey sample revealed that students feel that they are set more than enough homework and challenged to work hard in class.
- Where necessary, Years 7-8 students receive corrective reading and literacy support.
A comprehensive strategic review of SEN provision has taken place and identified key areas for improvement including:
- More robust appraisal and accountability for LSAs
- Increased focus upon SEN Support and EHCP students
- Improve channels of communication between SEN team and teachers
- CPD training for teachers
- Informal termly progress meetings with parents of SEN children;
- SEN included in whole school tracking of attendance, attainment and progress