SEND Information
At Highfield we aspire for all children to achieve at their highest potential in their own individual way. We understand that, sometimes, children will need additional provision and support to do so, whether it is to access the curriculum or to participate in aspects of school life. This may last for the duration of their time with us or it may just be for a short period. Either way, we pride ourselves on our commitment to ensuring all children that are part of our Highfield family, achieve the very best that they can. We are relentless in our determination to support all children to succeed. This page is designed to provide information and guidance to families on how to share concerns with school and how to access information about special educational needs.
What is the Local Offer?
The Children and Families Bill became enacted in 2014. From this date, Local Authorities and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for the children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) aged 0-25. This is the ‘Local Offer’. The Local Offer provides information about services and provision available in the local area which may support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. Parents and young people are able to access the SEND local offer on the Live Well Cheshire West website using the link below:
https://livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Categories/3948
Who can I speak to if I have concerns about my child’s learning?
You can speak to or contact:
• your child’s class teacher;
• the SENCO - Mrs Wall vwall@highfield-blacon.cheshire.sch.uk or 01244 259650
• the Head Teacher – Ms Dowling admin@highfield-blacon.cheshire.sch.uk or 01244 259650
• the SEND governor – Mrs Lynsey Green admin@highfield-blacon.cheshire.sch.uk
Who is the SENCO at Highfield?
Mrs Victoria Wall is the SENCO and it is her job to champion our children who have additional needs and their families. She is qualified at masters-level in the National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination and is the Lead Professional for Autism within school.
She is SENCO full-time.
There are many ways Mrs Wall fulfills this role and below is just a flavour of what happens:
- Supporting children and their parents at multi-agency meetings;
- Completing assessments and paperwork to secure additional support for children;
- Providing training and resources to staff to ensure they have the very best in class provision for children with additional needs;
- Offering every parent of a child with SEN with an appointment each term to discuss their child's needs and next steps. This is in addition to the usual learning review meetings with the class teacher.
What is a special educational need?
A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.
A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:
- has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
- has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions (SEND Code of Practice, 2014).
There are 4 broad categories of special educational need:
- communication and interaction – may include Autism Spectrum Disorders, speech and language difficulties;
- cognition and learning - can include specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia; moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties fall within this area;
- social, emotional and mental health – could include anxiety, attachment disorders, emotional difficulties, mental health difficulties; ADHD and ADD;
- sensory and/or physical needs – may include having a visual, hearing or multi-sensory impairment or have a physical disability.
How do school know if my child has special educational needs?
All children’s progress - academic, social and emotional - is constantly monitored by teachers and the Senior Leadership Team within the school. Any concerns a teacher may have about a child would be discussed with parents at the earliest opportunity. Parents are able to discuss the progress of their child or any other concerns with the class teacher or SENCo (Mrs Wall).
How is teaching adapted for children with SEND?
The school follow a graduated approach to SEND and ensure that children are supported at the correct level, for example, SEN support or EHCP.
Teaching can be adapted in two main ways:
Through quality first teaching in the classroom, using different strategies to ensure all children have full access to the curriculum and to promote achievement and successes. These can include:
- smaller group work;
- additional adult support;
- peer mentoring and co-operative learning techniques;
- pre-learning opportunities;
- additional visual prompts, supports and scaffolds;
- use of supporting equipment.
Or through the provision of a range of interventions, either in class or a break out space, delivered by the teacher, teaching assistant or other supporting professional from within school or an outside service.
Children with special needs have an individual plan in place (e.g. IEP), outlining targets and strategies to support your child to achive high quality outcomes. Support plans are reviewed regularly with the child and shared with parents.
Who are the other people delivering services to the children in this school?
Other professionals may need to come into school to support your child or offer advice and guidance to school staff. Here is a list of agencies who visit Highfield to provide support or work with our children. You can find out more about these services by accessing the Live Well Cheshire West website to view the local offer.
https://livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Categories/3948
Autism Service
Children’s Educational Psychology Team
Speech and Language Therapy services - https://livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Services/628
Occupational Therapy services - http://www.coch.nhs.uk/all-services/therapy-services
Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
CAMHS - http://cwpcamhscentre.mymind.org.uk
Reports provided by other professionals are shared with families and school. The class teacher or SENCO will discuss with you any information or details of the reports which affects your child’s education and provision.
How accessible is this school for children with SEND?
- Our school is fully compliant with DDA requirements.
- The school has easy access with double doors and ramps.
- The desk in the reception is at wheel-chair height and is DDA compliant.
- There are three accessible toilets and changing facilities.
- We ensure, where ever possible, that equipment used is accessible to all children regardless of their needs.
- After-school provision is accessible to all children, including those with SEND.
- Extra-curricular activities are accessible for all children.
- Signage is written in a ‘dyslexia friendly’ font.
For further information about provision at Highfield, please look at our SEN Information Report document below.
Some useful website are:
British Dyslexia Association (bdadyslexia.org.uk)
Supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities | NSPCC
Amazing Things Happen! (short film exploring autism)
YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Let's talk about ADHD (short film)
See dyslexia differently (short film)