SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at Southwater Infant Academy

Our SENCO

Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is Mrs Alice Mcilwraith.

Mrs Mcilwraith is responsible for coordinating SEND provision across the academy and working with staff, parents and external agencies to ensure every child with SEND gets the support they need.

Contact:

Email: senco@southwaterinfants.co.uk
Phone: 01403 733254

What is SEND?

A child or young person has special educational needs (SEN) if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

This means they:

Have significantly greater difficulty learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools

Special educational needs can fall under four broad areas:

Communication and interaction – including speech and language difficulties and autism spectrum condition
Cognition and learning – including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, and moderate or severe learning difficulties
Social, emotional and mental health difficulties – including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and attachment difficulties
Sensory and/or physical needs – including visual or hearing impairment, and physical disabilities

Our approach to SEND

At The Southwater Infant Academy, we are committed to providing an inclusive education where every child is valued, supported and able to reach their full potential.

We believe that:

All teachers are teachers of children with SEND
Every child should have access to a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum
Parents and carers are partners in their child's education
Children's voices should be heard in decisions about their support

Our SEND provision includes:

Quality first teaching, differentiated to meet individual needs
Additional support from teaching assistants, both in class and through targeted interventions
Specialist programmes for literacy and numeracy
Support for social, emotional and mental health needs
Access to specialist equipment and resources where needed
Close partnership with external specialists including educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists

How we identify and support children with SEND

The graduated approach

We use a four-part cycle known as the graduated approach:

Assess – We identify a child's needs through observation, assessment and discussion with parents and the child
Plan – We agree what support will be put in place, setting clear outcomes
Do – Teachers and support staff provide the agreed support
Review – We review progress regularly and adjust support as needed

SEN Support

If your child needs support that is additional to or different from that provided for all pupils, they will be placed on SEN Support. This means:

Your child's needs will be recorded on our SEND register
We will create a plan outlining the support your child will receive
You will be fully involved in planning and reviewing this support
We will review progress at least termly
Your child will have access to additional interventions and resources

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

For a small number of children with more complex or severe needs, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) may be needed. This is a legal document that describes:

Your child's special educational, health and social care needs
The support they should receive
The outcomes they should work towards

If we believe your child may need an EHCP, we will discuss this with you and support you through the assessment process.

How to raise a concern

If you have concerns about your child's learning, development or wellbeing, please:

Speak to your child's class teacher first – they know your child well and can discuss any concerns
Contact our SENCO, Mrs Alice McIlwraith. Alice can provide specialist advice and coordinate additional support
Arrange a meeting – we're always happy to meet with you to discuss your child's needs

We will:

Listen to your concerns carefully
Observe and assess your child
Discuss possible next steps with you
Put appropriate support in place
Keep you informed of progress

Working in partnership with parents

We believe parents and carers are experts on their own children. We will:

Involve you in all decisions about your child's support
Meet with you regularly to review progress
Listen to your views and concerns
Share information openly and honestly
Provide advice on how you can support your child at home

Your child's voice matters too. We will involve your child in discussions about their support in an age-appropriate way.

Our SEND information and policies

SEND Information Report can be found here and provides detailed information about:

The kinds of SEND we provide for
Our policies and procedures
How we adapt the curriculum and learning environment
How we support pupils' wellbeing
Our arrangements for transition
Staff training and expertise

SEND Policy can be found here and sets out our approach to identifying and supporting pupils with SEND.

Accessibility Plan can be found here and explains how we ensure our academy is accessible to pupils, staff and visitors with disabilities.

Additional support and resources

We have made it a priority within our budget to employ additional staff, both teaching and support staff, to provide extra help for children experiencing difficulties, particularly in reading and writing.

We also work closely with external specialists including:

Educational psychologists
Speech and language therapists
Occupational therapists
The Local Authority Inclusion Support Team
School nurses
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Transition support

We understand that transitions can be particularly challenging for children with SEND. We provide additional support for:

Starting school – extra visits, visual timetables, social stories
Moving between year groups – transition activities, meeting new teachers
Moving to junior/primary school - enhanced transition programme, liaison with receiving schools

Useful information and support for parents

The Local Offer

The SEND Local Offer provides information about the support available for children and young people (0–25) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), as well as their families.

When to use it: To find out about services, activities and support available in West Sussex for children with SEND access the Local Offer at: www.westsussex.gov.uk/local-offer

Contact the Local Offer team:

Email: localoffer@westsussex.gov.uk
Phone: 01243 777807 (ask for Local Offer)

SENDIAS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service)

The West Sussex SENDIAS Service offers free, confidential and impartial information, advice, and support to children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND, as well as their parent carers.

When to use it: If you need independent advice about SEND processes, your rights, or support available. They can help with understanding SEN Support, EHC needs assessments, and EHC plans.

Resources available:

Helpful factsheets explaining different parts of the SEND system
Short, informative videos on topics such as SEN Support, EHC Needs Assessments, and EHC Plans

More information: westsussexsendias.org.uk

NHS Right to Choose: Autism and ADHD Assessment

Demand for autism and ADHD assessments in Sussex has grown significantly in recent years.

When to use it: If you're seeking an autism or ADHD assessment for your child.

Guidance to support the assessment process: https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/our-work/cyp/special-educational-needs-and-disability-send/waiting-neurodevelopmental/nhs-rtc-framework/

Additional signposting: [ADHD and autism signposting for children and young people, and their families and carers]

West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF)

WSPCF is an independent charity supporting parent carers of children and young people aged 0–25 with SEND.

When to use it: For peer support from other parents, information about local services, training opportunities, and to have your voice heard in shaping SEND services in West Sussex.

They provide:

Information and signposting
Training for parent carers
Opportunities to influence and shape future services
A community of parents who understand your experiences

Learn more at: https://www.wspcf.org.uk/

Other helpful organisations

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) Free and independent legal advice on SEND law and the SEND system. Website: www.ipsea.org.uk

Contact (for families with disabled children) Advice and support for families with disabled children. Helpline: 0808 808 3555 Website: www.contact.org.uk