Special Educational Needs

At St. Joseph's, we take our children's educational needs very seriously. We acknowledge that, at some time in their school career, many children encounter difficulties which need to be addressed. These may be learning difficulties, medical, emotional or behavioural.

Often parents are the first to be aware of these problems, as children are more likely to show signs of concern at home. This is one of the reasons why we place great importance on good communication between home and school.

The Code of Practice considers that children will have needs and requirements which may fall into at least one of four areas, many children will have inter-related needs. The areas of need are:

• communication and interaction
• cognition and learning
• behaviour, emotional and social development
• sensory and/or physical.

 

Once the area/areas of need have been identified the child is placed on the SEN register. We deal with children with special educational needs according to the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of SEN. The Code of Practice recommends a four stepped approach as follows:

School Action

School Action is when a child is identified with SEN by either a subject teacher or Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo). Specific targets and strategies are set and outlined in the school’s Provision Management Plan for SEN these strategies will be additional to or different from those provided as part of the school's usual differentiated curriculum. Pupil’s progress is reviewed regularly and discussed with parents at designated parents evenings and/or SEN review meetings.

School Action Plus

At School Action Plus the school will involve an outside agency from the local authority. This may be an educational psychologist or another specialist. This happens if the school is concerned that more action is needed to help the child progress. Specific strategies and/or targets will then be drawn up with the help of the specialist outside agency. A close check will be kept on the child's progress. This will be reviewed regularly (usually termly) and parents are always kept informed.

Statutory Assessment

If the child does not seem to be making as much progress as expected at School Action Plus the headteacher and/or parents will decide whether to ask the LA to make a Statutory Assessment. If the LA agrees to this, the child undergoes a Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs. This is a very detailed examination which will find out exactly what the child's needs are, and whether he or she needs extra help.

Statement of SEN

If the Local Authority agree to grant a statement of SEN following a statutory assessment, then a document sets out the child's needs and any special help that cannot reasonably be provided within the school.

If you have a child with special educational needs, the SENCo will be available to discuss the issues in greater detail.