As part of our School Information report we:

• Publish our SEND policy online
• Name contacts linked to SEND
• State how we identify and support the special educational needs of a child
• State how we work with parents and carers to support this

Northamptonshire County Council has a responsibility to publish a 'Local Offer' detailing the support and services available within education, health & social care for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability. This is to reflect Government reforms for Special Educational Needs and/or Disability to come into force through legislation from 2014. Statutory guidance linked to SEND information can be found in paragraphs 6.79 to 6.82 of the SEND code of practice. 

Our school is a mainstream Primary school, rated Ofsted Outstanding, that educates children between the ages of 4 and 11 years of age. Children with Educational Health Care Plans are included in the school within class settings. Teaching Assistants, alongside teachers, support children either individually or in groups.

The SENCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) at John Hellins Primary School is Mrs Candace McColgan and she can be contacted on cmccolgan@johnhellins.co.uk

Mrs McColgan holds the NASEN SENCO accreditation.

At John Hellins School children are identified as having SEN through a variety of ways including the following:-

• Liaison with Pre-school setting/previous school
• Child performing below age expected levels
• Concerns raised by Parent
• Concerns raised by teacher for example behaviour or self-esteem is affecting performance
• Liaison with external agencies i.e. physical
• Health diagnosis through paediatrician

• Our SENDCO oversees all support and progress of any child requiring additional support across the school.
• The class teacher will oversee, plan and work with each child with SEND in their class to ensure that progress in every area is made.
• There may be a Teaching Assistant (TA) working with your child either individually or as part of a group; if this is seen as necessary by the class teacher. The regularity of these sessions will be explained to parents when the support starts.

• The class teacher will meet with parents at least on a termly basis (this could be as part of Parent’s Evening) to discuss your child’s needs, support and progress.
• For further information the SENDCo is available to discuss support in more detail.

• All work within class is pitched at an appropriate level so that all children are able to access according to their specific needs. Work is differentiated for groups, however on occasions, this can be individually differentiated.
• The benefit of this type of differentiation is that all children can access a lesson and learn at their level.
• Assistive technology is used to enable disabled pupils to access information that is easily accessible to pupils who are not disabled; for example, the voice record app on pupil ipads.

• As a school, we measure children’s progress in learning against National expectations and age-related expectations.
• The class teacher continually assesses each child and notes areas where they are improving and where further support is needed. As a school, we track children’s progress from entry in EYFS through to Year 6, using a variety of different methods, including Numeracy Screening, Reading and Spelling ages.
• Children who are not making expected progress are picked up through Progress meetings with the Class teacher, SENDCO and Head teacher. In this meeting, a discussion takes place concerning why individual children are experiencing difficulty and what further support can be given to aid their progression.
• When the child’s One Page Profile is reviewed, comments are made against each target to show what progress the child has made. If the child has not met the target, the reasons for this will be discussed, then the target may be adapted into smaller steps or a different approach may be tried to ensure the child does make progress.

• We ensure that all children who have Special Educational needs are met to the best of the school’s ability with the funds available.
• We have an excellent team of teaching assistants and deliver programmes designed to meet groups of children’s needs.
• The budget is allocated on a needs basis. The Children who have the most complex needs are given the most support often involving an LSA.

1. The class teacher, alongside the SENDCo, will discuss the child’s needs and what support would be appropriate.
2. Different children will require different levels of support in order to achieve age expected levels.
3. This will be through on-going discussions with parents.

• By reviewing children’s targets on One Page Profile and ensuring they are being met.
• The child is making progress academically against national/age expected levels and the gap is narrowing – they are catching up to their peers or expected age levels.
• Verbal feedback from the teacher, parent and pupil.
• Children may move off of the SEND register when they have made sufficient progress.

• We are an inclusive school; we welcome and celebrate diversity. All staff believe that children having high self-esteem is crucial to a child’s well-being. We have a caring, understanding team looking after our children.
• The class teacher has overall responsibility for the pastoral, medical and social care of every child in their class. Therefore, this would be the parents’ first point of contact. If further support is required, the class teacher liaises with the SENDCo for further advice and support. This may involve working alongside outside agencies, such as Health and Social Services, and/or the Behaviour Support Team.

• As a school, we have a very positive approach to all types of behaviour with a clear behaviour policy that is followed by all staff and pupils.
• Attendance of every child is monitored on a daily basis by the Admin department. Lateness and absences are recorded and reported upon to the Headteacher.

• Our SENDCo holds the National Accreditation Certificate from The University of Northampton.
• As a school, we work closely with any external agencies that we feel are relevant to individual children’s needs within our school, including:

Behaviour Intervention;

Health including – GPs, school nurse, clinical psychologist, paediatricians, speech & language therapists; occupational therapists; social services, Locality Teams, social workers and Educational Psychologists.

• All children are included in all parts of the school curriculum and we aim for all children to be included on school trips. We will provide the necessary support to ensure that this is successful.
• A risk assessment is carried out prior to any site activity to ensure everyone’s health & safety will not be compromised. In the unlikely event that it is considered unsafe for a child to take part in an activity, then alternative activities which will cover the same curriculum areas will be provided in school.

• The school site is wheelchair accessible with a disabled toilet large enough to accommodate changing. The school is all on one level with ramps at specified fire exits.
• The physical environment of the school is such that disabled pupils can take advantage of the educational benefits and the outdoor facilities provided, such as the forest school area and the trim-trail.

• We offer an open-door policy, where you are welcome any time to make an appointment to meet with either the class teacher or SENDCo and discuss how your child is getting on. We can offer advice and practical ways that you can help your child at home.
• We believe that your child’s education should be a partnership between parents and teachers. Therefore, we aim to keep communication channels open and communicate regularly, especially if your child has complex needs.
• If your child is on the SEND register, they may have a One Page Profile which will have individual /group targets. The targets set are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time scaled) targets with the expectation that the child will achieve the target by the time it is reviewed.
• If your child has complex SEND, they may have an Educational Health Care Plan, which means that a formal meeting will take place to discuss your child’s progress and a report will be written.

• Talk to us – firstly, contact your child’s class teacher, SENDCO or Head teacher

• We value and celebrate each child being able to express their views on all aspects of school life. This is usually carried out through the School Council, which has an open forum for any issues or viewpoints to be raised.
• Children who have One Page Profiles discuss and set their targets with their class teacher.
• If your child has an Educational Health Care Plan, their views will be sought before any review meetings.

• The SENDCo reports to the Governors every term to inform them about the progress of children with SEND; this report does not refer to individual children and confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• One of the Governors is responsible for SEND and meets regularly with the SENDCo. They also report to the Governors to keep everyone informed.
• The Governors agree priorities for spending within the SEND budget with the overall aim that all children receive the support they need in order to make progress.

• When children are preparing to leave us for a new school, typically to go to Secondary education, we arrange additional visits. At our ‘feeder’ secondary schools, they run a programme specifically tailored to aid transition for the more vulnerable pupils.
• We liaise closely with staff when receiving and transferring children to different schools, ensuring all relevant paperwork is passed on and all needs are discussed and understood.
• If your child has complex needs or an Educational Health Care Plan, a review will be used as a transition meeting, during which we will invite staff from both schools to attend.

• First point of contact would be your child’s class teacher to share your concerns.
• You could also arrange to meet Mrs McColgan or Mrs Matthews.
• Look at the SEND policy on our website here.
• IASS and their web address is www.iassnorthants.co.uk
• Information regarding Northamptonshire’s Local Offer can be found at Local Offer | West Northamptonshire Council (westnorthants.gov.uk)

• Contact the school Admin office to arrange to meet the Headteacher Mrs Matthews, who would willingly discuss how the school could meet your child’s needs.

To apply for a school place, please use the following link:

https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/primary-school-places/apply-primary-school-place