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The King's School SENDCo is Assistant Headteacher Mr B Walker. Mr Walker can be contacted via sendco@kingsschoolhove.org.uk or through the school phone number 01273 840004.
King’s School is a mainstream secondary school that currently has children in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. The school believes that all children and young people are entitled to an education that enables them to:
Under section 65(3)(a) of the Children and Families Act 2014 the Governing Body is required to publish information about Special Educational Needs policy and provision. This information is updated annually and was last updated in September 2020.
We currently support children with the following Special Educational Needs, and do so in line with the 2014 Code of Practice: ASC, ADHD/ADD, SLCN (Speech, Language and Communication), dyslexia, dyspraxia, hearing impairment, visual impairment, SLD (Literacy), medical conditions.
The school’s policy for identifying children with SEN is in line with the SEND Code of Practice 2014. The school recognises that 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 them. As defined in the 2014 Code of Practice, the school accepts that a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they: have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or if they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions. The school uses internal data and observations and works closely with parents, external agencies and primary schools to ensure that all students with SEN are identified and supported effectively.
The school evaluates the effectiveness of its provision for all students, regardless of SEN, through the outcomes they achieve and their progression to further stages of education. All students are set challenging progress targets for their learning achievements and the impact of teaching and additional support is measured by the school through student outcomes. Children with SEN are expected to make the same progress as their peers. Students with EHCPs, and those in receipt of higher levels of support from the SEND team, also receive regular progress reviews through the monitoring of personalised ‘Learning Support Plans’. The school monitors the effectiveness of its main and wider curriculum through the take up of and participation in additional activities. The evaluation of all aspects of provision includes input from students and parents.
Whole school assessment and monitoring procedures are in place and apply to all students at all levels. SEN children are assessed in the same way as all other children. The school follows the Code of Practice to assess, plan, do and review when undertaking any specific areas of support, and has structures in place to ensure on-going regular assessment of outcomes which are discussed with the child and parents. Students are also assessed following any periods of intensive targeted intervention. The school’s assessment procedures ensure that all progress is closely monitored at all times and that any concerns are rapidly raised and the necessary support made available through the class teacher to enable progress (please refer to the SEN policy – available on the school website). Parents are informed when additional learning provision is provided for their child (as per the SEND Code of Practice, section 6.39). The SENDCO works together with the SLT to ensure standards are maintained across the school.
Children with SEN are expected to be able to work within mainstream classes, given high quality teaching and work clearly differentiated to their level of ability. Specific specialist help may be made available for short term support to raise levels where there is a clear indication that this will achieve expected outcomes.
The school would not expect to make significant adaptations to the curriculum to enable children to succeed but would make any necessary adaptations to the learning environment to ensure children have opportunity wherever possible to progress at the same level as the rest of the class. The school has an open door policy for all students and supportive conversations with appropriate members of staff are always available in addition to regular planned meetings.
Additional support is provided through short term targeted interventions which may be in class or require withdrawal from some lessons. Some students, who are identified as having SEN and are in receipt of higher levels of support, have learning support plans that are discussed with them and their parents and, where appropriate, these include arrangements for accessing the curriculum.
All children are expected to be involved in the full range of school activities. Should a particular disability mean that any activity is less accessible to a student who wishes to take part in it then the school will use its best endeavours to enable participation. Where it is not possible to adapt the activity to enable the student to take part then the school will provide an alternative activity and engage the student in determining and planning this.
The school’s pastoral system supports all children with close focus on their social, emotional moral and spiritual development. Where necessary the school has access to external support services who can be used for short term intervention. In the case of more severe need, outside agency support would be sought as a matter of course.
The school has an anti-bullying policy which applies to all students and operates in line with the school’s Character Education approach to behaviour management.
The school has links to health bodies and social care bodies through the local authority and can draw on these if there is a significant need.
The school’s SENDCo is Mr Walker, who can be contacted using the contact details above or the main contact details for the school which are available here. The school also has a full time Assistant SENDCo, Mrs Clark.
The school goes out of its way to employ outstanding teachers to ensure that all children receive the highest possible quality of education. All recent research has shown that progress is made in direct relationship to the quality of teaching. Support staff, including Learning Support Assistants, Higher Level Teaching Assistants, and qualified teachers normally work within areas where they have specific expertise to enable children to make expected levels of progress at all times and to ensure all programmes of support are tailored to specific need. All staff receive induction and regular update training on supporting children with SEND. Where appropriate, specialist expertise is sought through the Local Authority, Russell Education Trust and other relevant agencies (e.g. hearing impairment).
Specialist equipment to support individual needs is secured on a case by case basis with the advice, where appropriate, of external specialist agencies.
We consult with parents of children identified as having SEN at least every term when academic assessments are made. We recognise the importance of good communication with all parents/carers of students on our SEND register. We have clear transition arrangements in place for Year 7 students: In the first term, Year 7 parents will meet with the form teacher; in the second a written report will be sent home and parents are welcome to come to the school to discuss any concerns they may have; in the third term students with EHCPs will usually have an annual review and parents of all other SEND students will be able to meet with the SENDCO. We do admit students with SEND as in-year admissions where places are available and ensure that communication with parents/carers and the student's previous school is strong to enable a smooth transition.
Wherever possible and advisable, children are involved in the review process and that of setting targets for the next session. The school believes that young people have a right to be involved in making decisions and exercising choices. They have a right to receive and impart information, to express an opinion, and to have that opinion taken into account in any matters affecting them. Consequently, the school is committed to working in partnership with the child, parents, carers and outside agencies to identify needs.
In the event that a parent or carer is concerned about the progress that their child is making at the school they should contact the SENDCO in the first instance. If the parent or carer remains unhappy about the outcome, the Headteacher should be contacted. These are the first stages of the school’s complaints policy which is available in full on the website.
Where a student with SEND is not making appropriate progress and we feel that they need advice and support from external professionals, we will discuss such a need with parents. If it is felt appropriate, we will then refer a student to an external agency and/or professionals for diagnosis, support or advice. Subsequent to such a referral, we will work with the external agency to support such students, using agency support and advice. We work with the Brighton and Hove Inclusion and Support Service (BHISS), including the educational psychology service, the literacy support service, the speech and language and autistic spectrum service, and the social emotional and mental health support team.We also work with other external agencies such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Speech and Language Service, Literacy Support Service, Counsellors and the Autism Support Service.
All of the LA provided support services are contactable through BHISS as below -
Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Service (BHISS)
Brighton & Hove Music & Arts Building
County Oak Avenue
Brighton
BN1 8DJ
Tel: 01273 293481
The school works closely with all children as they approach times of transition. There is close co-ordination with all feeder primary schools to ensure smooth transition from KS2 to KS3, which includes visits to the primary schools concerned and a range of induction visits for new children. At the end of KS3, meetings will be focussed on transition to KS4 and ensuring the right pathways are established and clearly understood by a child and their parents/carers.
The local authority’s local offer is published on its website:
http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/children-and-education/brighton-hoves-local-offer
(John 10:10)