Kingswood School is an inclusive school where ‘Individuals’ Matter.’
Kingswood School is a fully inclusive community where every child including those with special educational needs and disabilities are valued, supported and encouraged to flourish. We work in close partnership with parents, pupil, and external professionals to ensure each child receives a personalised, inclusive and fulfilling education.
Pupils with additional needs benefit from high-quality whole-school support within a happy and nurturing learning environment. Teaching and provision are adapted where necessary to ensure accessibility, progress and success for all learners.
We are committed to ongoing professional development, ensuring staff have the knowledge, confidence and expertise to identify needs early and provide effective support.
SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) is a term used to describe learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for a child or young person to learn compared to children of the same age. It includes children and young people who require more help to learn and develop. The full definition of SEND can be found in the SEND Code of Practice (2015).
The SEND Code of Practice (2015) identifies 4 areas of special educational needs that include a range of conditions and difficulties. These include:
At Kingswood School we are committed to meeting the needs of all children to ensure that they all make the best possible progress. All children progress at different rates and there may be occasions where the teacher feels it may be necessary for some small group or additional interventions in addition to the quality first teaching.
If you feel that your child would benefit from additional interventions or have any concerns regarding their learning, please contact senco@kingswoodschool.co.uk
Links
Kingswood School has close working links with both Solihull and Birmingham Local Authority.
Solihull Local Offer
This is the Solihull Local Authority website about the services and support available for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
Birmingham Local Offer
This is the Birmingham Local Authority website about the services and support available for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.
Specialists
Kingswood School is committed to ensuring that all our children have access to specialist staff if required. We work with the following highly qualified specialists with many years’ experience to provide additional support to those children that require it.
SENCo – Mrs Sabah Sheikh
BSc (Hons), MSc, MEd (Inclusion and Special Needs), NPQSENCo
Speech and Language Therapist – Shirley Heatherington MRCSLT
Occupational Therapist – Louise Baudet BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
Dyslexia Specialist – Jane Hateley BEd Hons, PG Cert & Dip SpLD (Dyslexia), PG Cert Leadership and Learning: Dyslexia
Interventions with any of the above specialists are at an additional cost.
For further information about accessing these services for your child please contact senco@kingswoodschool.co.uk
Your child’s class teacher will be your first point of contact if you have any concerns. Class teachers are responsible for:
The SENCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) is Mrs Sabah Sheikh. The responsibilities of the SENCo include:
Teaching Assistants (TAs) or Learning Support Assistants (LSAs)
At Kingswood School we are as inclusive to all while providing the best education for each individual pupil and meeting their special educational needs. We strive to ensure that all of our pupils are included in all aspects of school life and are supported to have the best experiences that we can provide.
Class teachers have the highest expectations for all of the pupils in their class, including those with SEND. The basis of the teaching is building on what pupils already know, what they can do and what they can understand. Class teachers use numerous teaching strategies so that all pupils are fully involved in learning. They will put in place specific strategies which may be suggested by the SENCo or outside agencies to enable pupils to access learning tasks that they may find difficult.
Some pupils may be involved in intervention groups which may take place outside the classroom. These will be planned and monitored by the class teacher and delivered by a teaching assistant. These sessions may be used to address any gaps in learning, misconceptions or to teach a specific skill or concept in a smaller group environment.
Some pupils may be identified as having specific barriers to their learning which may require a more specialist approach. They may require referrals to specialist outside agencies, assessments and support that is additional to their peers. At Kingswood School we do our best to address the needs of each individual pupil and these assessments help us to support our pupils appropriately. We do not rely solely on a diagnosis, in order to provide appropriate support.
There are a small number of pupils that are identified as requiring a higher level of individualised or specialist support which cannot be provided by the school. These pupils may require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The school and parents can request that the Local Authority carry out a statutory assessment of a pupil’s needs. The Local Authority will then decide if the pupil’s needs meet the requirements to provide an EHCP. The EHCP is a legally binding document that outlines strategies that a provision should use to provide support and help achieve both short and long term goals for a pupil.
The assessments for children with SEND starts, in the same manner as it does for all pupils at Kingswood School. The children are assessed three times a year and their progress monitored.
When this progress slows down, stops or appears to be different to what is typically expected then further investigations will be carried out to ascertain what the root cause is. This can be done through observations, assessments and discussions with key adults involved with the child.
We will always inform parents if we have any concerns regarding their child having any additional needs.
We use a continual cycle of assess, plan, do and review for all pupils including those with SEND. This allows us to monitor the progress that SEND pupils are making.
Kingswood School makes provision for children across a range of Special Educational Needs from the for areas of need stated in the SEND Code of Practice (2015):
Communication and Interaction (Speech and Language, Autism and PDA)
Cognition and Learning (Specific Learning Difficulties including Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Working memory and processing difficulties)
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (ADHD and Anxiety)
Sensory and Physical (Hearing Impairment, Motor skills Needs and Sensory Processing Difficulties)
At Kingswood School we believe that working together makes us stronger. We pride ourselves on the excellent relationships we have built up with our parents and that is of the upmost importance.
In addition to the parent consultations that families have with the class teachers’ parents are also invited to meet with the SENCo and the specialists that have been working with your child.
In addition to this if you have any concerns regarding your child and their progress, please contact the SENCo or your child’s class teacher.
Our SENCo has qualifications in Special Educational Needs and is currently completing the NPQ SEN. The SENCo also regularly updates their knowledge on current research available and any government updates with regards SEN.
We regularly carry out whole school training. There are specific training sessions that are carried out in relation to different Special Educational Needs. Regular training allows staff to remain up to date with new information, school processes and those of the Local Authority.
SEN specific training is carried out by the relevant professionals including those from the local authority.
Communication between teachers, pupils and families is at the heart of our pastoral care and special educational needs provision. Parental involvement is encouraged and we are always available for general information or to discuss any specific concerns relating to your child.
The teaching staff form a special part of our caring provision and are central to our pastoral system. The teachers ensure that their pupils are happy and settled at school. Knowing your child well and seeing him or her every day enables the teacher to develop a close understanding of the children in their care. This allows them to act as support, stimulus and guide them to the academic, personal, social and extra-curricular development of their pupils.
Close liaison with parents is integral to securing the best possible outcomes for all children.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child please email the school SENCo.
