Mrs Asha Libby is the SENDCO for Altarnun Primary School.

What Are Special Educational Needs?

Special educational needs are referred to as SEN. The abbreviation SEND relates to special educational needs and/or disabilities. Guidance, legislation, and regulations sometimes use the abbreviation SEND.

“A child or young person has SEN 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:

(a) has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or

(b) 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 0 to 25 2015

Special Educational Needs Can Mean That a Child or Young Person Has:

• Communication and interaction needs - this includes children with speech, language and communication needs including social interaction needs. Children may have difficulty in expressing themselves, understanding what others are saying or difficulties socially interacting with others

• Cognition and learning needs – this includes children who learn at a slower pace than their peers, even with in class differentiation. Children may have difficulties in learning or retaining basic skills or a specific difficulty with reading, writing, mathematics or understanding information

• Social, emotional and mental health needs –children may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties that manifest themselves in a variety of ways. Children may find making friends or relating to adults difficult. They may be withdrawn, isolated or find regulating their responses to emotions challenging

• Sensory and/or physical needs –children may have sensory impairments or difficulties such as those affecting sight or hearing, or physical difficulties which impact on their learning Individual children or young people may have needs that cut across some or all these areas and their needs may change over time.

A child or young person may have needs in more than one area of need.

It is acknowledged that all teachers at our schools are teachers of young people with special educational needs. As such we adopt a 'whole school approach' to SEN which involves all staff adhering to a model of good practice. The staff are committed to identifying and providing for the needs of all young people in a wholly inclusive environment.

We believe that early identification based on a knowledge of those pupils in our care, allows us to best support pupils. We aim for all pupils to become resilient and independent learners who can make the most of the opportunities at school to thrive and grow.

We encourage all parents to liaise with their child’s class teacher in the first instance if they have any concerns or questions about their child’s learning or wellbeing. Pupils provision is regularly monitored and reviewed using the graduated response and in collaboration with parents and pupils. Teachers are supported by the Headteacher and the progress of each child monitored regularly.

The SENDCo works alongside each school to provide support, guidance and to help develop provision that meets the needs of the individual and the school.

Altarnun Primary School is part of the Athena Learning Trust. Please see the Special Education Needs and Disability Policy, the Accessibility Policy and Single Equality Policy on the Trust Policy Page. Should you require support with locating a specific SEND policy, please contact the school office on 01566 700700, or email secretary@altarnunprimary.uk

Mrs Libby can be contacted via the school office (secretary@altarnunprimary.uk or 01566 700700). Alternatively, please make contact with your child's class teacher or our school Principal to discuss anything to do with SEND as this forms a key part of our day-to-day teaching provision.