SEND and Inclusion
Our aim is to bring the best out in every pupil that attends Ely St Mary's Ely St Mary's CofE Junior School.
Here at Ely St Mary’s we believe that:
- all teachers are teachers of all children;
- all children have a right to participate fully in the Curriculum;
- all children have a right to participate in the extra-curricular life of the school;
- inclusion equates to higher achievement for all children.
A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made. Four broad areas of need are identified in the SEND Code of Practice:
- cognition and learning;
- communication and interaction;
- social, emotional and mental health difficulties;
- sensory and/or physical needs.
The benefits of early identification of SEND are widely recognised: identifying needs at the earliest point, and then making effective provision, improves long-term outcomes for the child.
At Ely St Mary’s, in accordance with the SEND Code of Practice, we follow the graduated model of Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR) in order to identify and support children with additional needs. The class teacher is responsible, with support and guidance from the SENDCo, for monitoring every child’s progress, including that of pupils with SEND. If progress is not being seen after the completion of 2 APDR cycles, external support will be sought. This might, for example, be from SEND Services, or from the Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Children’s additional needs are met in a wide variety of ways, depending on how the curriculum or environment needs adjusting. The needs of a given pupil might, for example, be met by means of adaptations to the curriculum, through the child’s participation in small-group work, by the provision of specialist equipment, with time-tabled visits to our Sensory Room
Where a child has complex needs that remain unmet by the support put in place by school and involvement from external agencies, an Education Health and Care needs assessment may be required.
Click on the SEND information report below for detailed information about how we support your child:
Accessibility
The school is wheelchair-accessible, with automatic doors at both entrances, and lowered door steps into our courtyard. There are three large disabled toilets in the school, and the entire school is on one flat level. Regular risk assessments of the site are undertaken, and trip hazards highlighted. There is a car park on
site which has 2 parking bays for disabled badge holders, each of which is clearly marked. Where children have access needs that are not currently met within the school, we are able to liaise with the Diocese of Ely Multi-Academy Trust, the Local Authority and other professionals with a view to ensuring that required facilities and equipment are secured.
Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions
The school recognises that pupils at school with medical conditions should be properly supported so that they can learn and join in fully with school life, including school trips and physical education. Some children with medical conditions may be disabled and, where this is the case, the school will comply with its duties under the Equality Act 2010. We have a clear policy on supporting pupils with medical conditions, and this is available to view on the Policies page of this website.
What does the local offer cover?
The local offer will include information about health and social care services, education, leisure activities and support groups in the area for children and young people aged 0 – 25 with SEND and their families.
There will be information about:
- Services and support available
- How children and young people’s needs are identified and assessed
- The way schools, colleges and maintained nurseries support children and young people with SEND
- How to access services and how decisions are made
- Preparation for adulthood and independence
- Arrangements for making a complaint and mediation
- How to comment on the local offer
The Department for Education’s draft SEN Code of Practice and regulations outlines the range of information to be included in the local offer.
Why is the local offer important?
The local offer will help parents, carers and young people to see clearly the range of services and support that are available in their local area and understand how to access them.
Class teachers are the first point of contact for parents. Additionally, parents wishing to discuss their child’s special educational needs are always welcome to contact our NASENCo-qualified SENDCo, Ms Berry.
Ms Berry’s working days are Mondays and Thursdays, and she may be contacted via the School Office:
by telephoning (01353) 662163; or
by emailing:
office@esm.school