Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
Mrs Aston is the school's SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) as well as being Deputy Head. She oversees the provision of learning for children with SEND.
She is available to discuss your child's needs by arranging an appointment with the school office:
01132 717206.
Mrs Willetts is the Assistant SENCo.
SEND Information Report
The information below has been updated for September 2020. Our full SEND information report for parents/ carers can be viewed and downloaded from the menu bar at the bottom of this page.
Leeds City Council Local Offer For Pupils With Special Educational Needs & Disabilities
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/schools-and-education/support-for-pupils-with-send
Supporting Children with SEND after COVID-19 School Closure
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Our Approach to Teaching Children with SEND at Middleton St Mary's
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At Middleton St Mary’s we believe that all children are entitled to an education, which is appropriate to their needs, promotes high standards and enables them to fulfill their potential. The diversity of our school community is cherished and we celebrate the individual abilities, talents and personalities of all our children. We aim for all of our children to achieve their best and be confident individuals ready to make transitions in their lives through to adulthood. We believe that high quality teaching that is differentiated and personalised will meet the additional needs of most children. However, some children will need provision which is additional and different to this. Special Educational Provision is underpinned by high quality teaching and is compromised by anything less. In supporting children with SEND we are, as with all children, committed to building confidence, resilience and independence. We aim for our children to have a broad and balanced curriculum and strive to include children across the curriculum, rather than narrowing their school experiences. |
What Are the Admission Arrangements for Children with SEND?
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Middleton St Mary’s is an inclusive school and believes that every child, where possible should be able to have their needs met within our school provision. Where appropriate children will have an individualised transition into our school. This will be designed by listening to parents/ carers and the child. We will also consult with any previous setting attended and any professionals involved with the child. Please follow the link to see our admission arrangements; https://www.middletonstmarys.co.uk/key-information/admissions |
What Steps Do We Take to Ensure That Children with SEND are Not Treated Less Favourably?
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How Accessible is the School?
Please also see our accessibility plan under General Policies https://www.middletonstmarys.co.uk/key-information/policies |
What Type of SENDs do we Make Provision for?
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Our school has above national average numbers of children with Special Educational needs. We make provision for children who have needs within four broad areas. At present our school is making provision for children with the following needs;
We would always aim to meet children's needs and as such, the above list is changeable- depending on the school SEND population. |
How Does the School Identify if a Child has SEND?
Teachers and teaching assistants monitor children very closely throughout each school day and over time. Similarly, parents/ carers have huge insight into their child's needs. When it is felt that a child is experiencing some difficulty, by either school or home, this will be discussed. This does NOT mean that a child has SEND. However, if over time a child's difficulty requires additional and different support to that of most children of the same age and/ or they have a significant, greater difficulty learning than most other children of the same age- they may be identified as SEND. As school and parents/carers have open discussions from an early stage, neither should feel uninformed about concerns. It is also important that we enable the child to communicate how they feel about their needs in school.
How Does School Assess and Review the Progress of Children With SEND?
At Middleton St Mary's, when a child is identified as SEND, they had an individual plan. This will usually be written by the teacher, but in some cases is written by an external agency such as the Speech Therapy Service.
Progress is monitored by class teachers and discussed with parents. Where children make smaller steps of progress, we use an assessment system called B Squared, which helps teachers to identify targets which are challenging but achievable. Classroom staff also use the methods identified in the previous section to inform their assessments.
Sometimes children's targets are written by external agencies such as Speech Therapists. Where an external agency writes a plan, we generally do not change the format of this, but follow the plan as it is.
All parents/ carers are invited to review their child's progress with their class teacher three times each year. Parents/ carers of children with SEND will be invited, but at this meeting will be offered a more in depth review. Parents who do not come along to progress meetings are contacted by the class teacher to arrange a suitable date and time.
How Does School Adapt the Curriculum and Environment for Children with SEND?
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Middleton St Mary's is an inclusive school and we aim for children to be included in lessons through adapting curriculum, teaching and the environment. There are many methods that we use for doing this, depending on the needs of the child. |
What further support is available?
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We feel there is no substitute for high quality and well differentiated teaching. Teaching assistants also play a valuable role in supporting learning. Children with SEND may receive support as part of a small group from the teaching assistant. They may also have some support on an individual basis. However, it is essential that children with SEND are planned for, are taught by and monitored by their teacher. There are other adults in school who are not classroom based, who may also have a role in the provision identified for a child with SEND. In addition there may be external professionals who support children with SEND either directly or through advising the class teacher. We aim to provide an enabling environment for all our children, with specific attention to how this is achieved for children with SEND. |
How do we enable Children With SEND to engage in all activities, including PE and School Visits?
Middleton St Mary's promotes a 'can do' attitude for all children. We aim to identify potential barriers to inclusion in activities and make reasonable adjustments for inclusion. Parents/ carers and the child have an equal voice in this. Where children have more complex needs, risk assessments are conducted to enable their participation in school visits.
What Support is Available for Improving Social, Emotional and Mental Health Development (SEMH)?
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Children must feel safe, have a sense of belonging and have good enough self esteem and confidence in order to do their best learning. Talking with parents/ carers is essential for learning the full picture of a child's SEMH as children often present differently between home and school. In addition to liaising with families, we promote good mental health in school by targeting support in school and signposting families to support agencies. |
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Parents can contact MindMate to seek advice about the emotional well being and mental health of children and young people. There is a wealth of advice on the website- link below. https://www.mindmate.org.uk/im-a-professional/leeds-mindmate-single-point-access/ Parents are also able to self-refer to MindMate by telephone on 0300 555 0324 9am- 5pm |
How Does School Consult With Parents/ Carers?
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Teachers and/ or the SENCo/ Pastoral staff are happy to arrange appointments with parents at any stage in the school year. This is in addition to;
What Support Can Parents/ Carers Access?
Which other Services Are Involved in Supporting Children With SEND?
How does School Support Transition for Children with SEND?
Who Are The Key Staff in School for SEND?
What are the Arrangements for Complaints?
0113 3785020 (Monday- Friday 10am-3pm) sendiass@leeds.gov.uk |
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