Introduction
All schools are committed to adopting a similar approach to meeting the needs of all pupils including those with Special Educational Needs. There is a shared expectation that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, are able to make the best possible progress in school and can actively participate in the wider aspects of school life.
The Local Authority supports schools to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible.
What is the ’Local Offer’?
The Children and Families Act 2014 states that, Local Authorities and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for the children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) aged 0-25.
This is known as the ‘Local Offer’:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs
The local offer:
- Provides clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the provision available
- Has made provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving children and young people with SEN, parents and carers, and service providers in its development and review.
As part of this commitment, every school has the responsibility of publishing a ‘SEN Information Report’ on their website which describes the provision they offer to pupils with a Special Educational Need or Disability.
This report aims to detail our ‘Local Offer’ to children and families who have an interest in or a need for SEN provision. This is written in line with the SEND Code of Practice September 2014.
What is SEND?
Special Educational Needs and / or a Disability can affect many children throughout their school career and beyond. Whilst disabilities generally affect children long term, not all SEN difficulties should be seen as life- long. SEN is seen by our school as the child requiring intensive, personalised provision in addition to quality first teaching. As a result, a carefully planned approach is needed for those children to meet their potential.
If a Child has Special Educational Needs or a Disability. What can Kemsley Primary Academy offer?
Kemsley’s Golden Threads:
- To reduce cognitive load
- To inspire our pupils to be the best that they can be
- To develop working memory
- To enhance schema
Kemsley’s golden threads are woven seamlessly throughout our curriculum. All four threads are equally important and enable us to meet the needs of pupils at Kemsley Primary Academy. At the very heart of what we do is our need to create an environment in which all our children feel safe and loved. When we achieve this, we know that children will be confident to take responsibility and to learn effectively.
Children with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND) are equally valued in our academy. All staff share a determination to provide pupils with high quality first teaching and are trained to be responsive to any additional need or barrier to learning that may present at any time during a child’s school career. We work hard to make sure that a child’s individual challenges are being addressed and monitored, so that every child makes progress, in all areas, especially socially and emotionally.
What kind of Special Education Need does Kemsley Primary Academy provide for?
Kemsley Primary Academy is a one form entry mainstream primary school with children who have a diverse range of needs. We are developing a highly skilled team of teaching staff, teaching assistants; including a speech and language TA, an intervention TA and an attendance and well-being lead. The team provide additional support and guidance to pupils in order to learn to manage and overcome behavioural, social or emotional difficulties that are impacting on their learning or general well-being.
The SEN Code of practice specifies 4 main areas of need that include a range of difficulties and support may be given in these areas:
- Cognition and Learning
- Sensory, Medical and Physical
- Communication and Interaction
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Some children may have barriers that encompass more than one area of need.
Who can I contact for further information?
In the first instance please speak to your child’s class teacher or ring the school office on 01795 428689 and ask to speak to our SENCO, Mrs Hornsby.