Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery

Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum

How We Support SEND

Silver Tree Primary School  prides itself in being very inclusive and will endeavour to support every child regardless of their level of need.  All pupils follow the National Curriculum at a level and a pace that is appropriate to their abilities. At times and when it is felt appropriate, modifications to the curriculum may be implemented.

To successfully match pupil ability to the curriculum there are some actions we may take to achieve this:

  • Ensure that all pupils have access to the school curriculum and all school activities.
  • Help all pupils achieve to the best of their abilities, despite any difficulty or disability they may have.
  • Ensure that teaching staff are aware of and sensitive to the needs of all pupils, teaching pupils in a way that is more appropriate to their needs.
  • Pupils to gain in confidence and improve their self-esteem.
  • To work in partnership with parents/ carers, pupils and relevant external agencies in order to provide for children’s special educational needs and disabilities.
  • To identify at the earliest opportunity, all children that need special consideration to support their needs (whether these are educational, social, physical or emotional)
  • To make suitable provision for children with SEND to fully develop their abilities, interests and aptitudes and gain maximum access to the curriculum.
  • Ensure that all children with SEND are fully included in all activities of the school in order to promote the highest levels of achievement.
  • To promote self worth and enthusiasm by encouraging independence at all age and ability levels.
  • To give every child the entitlement to a sense of achievement.
  • To regularly review the policy and practice in order to achieve best practice.

Types of SEND

At Silver Tree Primary School, we have experience of supporting children and young people with a wide range of need including:

The school provides data on the levels and types of need to the Local Authority.  This is collected through the school census.   

Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum

At Silver Tree Primary School, , we believe that inclusive education means providing all pupils with appropriate education and support alongside their peers. The Curriculum is all the planned activities that the school organises in order to promote learning, personal growth and development.

It includes not only the formal requirements of the National Curriculum, but also the range of additional opportunities that the school organises in order to enrich the experiences of our children. Our curriculum also includes the social aspects that are essential for life-long learning.

For further information you can view the Teaching & Learning Policy in the School Policies section of our website.

How we adapt the curriculum and make it more accessible for pupils with SEN

When appropriate and in consultation with parents, we will make changes to the curriculum and their timetable to support the needs of the pupil.

We are committed to providing for our children with SEND:

  • A range of teaching and learning styles.
  • Differentiated materials (both for reinforcement and extension).
  • Access to ICT.
  • Additional in class support.
  • Additional out of class support.
  • Flexible groupings (including small group work).
  • An innovative and supportive curriculum where the use of a creative curriculum approach reinforces English and Mathematics skills.
  • The appropriate use of rewards and sanctions.
  • Mentoring and counselling.
  • Rigorous and robust assessment procedures to identify individual children’s needs and difficulties.
  • Access to a range of Intervention Programmes to support individual / group needs.
  • Assessment procedures that identify pupils’ strengths and achievements.
  • Both Teaching and Learning Support Staff who have a wide range of experience and training for specific areas of needs and difficulty.
  • Staff who are committed to their own personal development in order to best meet the needs of the children we have in our care.
  • Learning Support Staff who are expert in delivering both fine and gross motor skills programmes.

How we identify and assess children with special educational needs

Most children and young people will have their special educational needs met in mainstream schools through good classroom practice. This is called Quality First Teaching.

At Silver Tree Primary School, , we follow a graduated support approach which is called “Assess, Plan, Do, Review”.

This means that we will:

  • Assess a child’s special educational needs
  • Plan the provision to meet your child’s aspirations and agreed outcomes
  • Do put the provision in place to meet those outcomes
  • Review the support and progress

 

As part of this approach, we will produce a SEN Support Plan that describes the provision that we will make to meet a child’s special educational needs and agreed outcomes.  Parents and carers will be fully involved in this process.

A small percentage of children and young people with significant learning difficulties might need an assessment that could lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Full details can be found on the Durham County Council Local Offer website.

You can find details of how we adapt the curriculum and make it more accessible for pupils with SEN below:

Staffing and any Specialist Qualifications/Expertise

Helen Ray (SENDCO and EYFS Leader)

  • NASENCO award
  • Webster Stratton
  • Team Teach

 

If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

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