All Hammersmith and Fulham maintained schools have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and are supported by the Local Authority to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school. All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with a Special Educational Need being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible, where families want this to happen.
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions that parents may have about SEND provision in our school.
1. Who are the best people to talk to at Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School about my child’s difficulties with learning, special educational needs and/or disability?
The best person to talk to about your concerns is your child’s class teacher. It is likely that the class teacher will discuss your concerns with the school Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). You may wish to arrange a meeting with the SENCo (Miss O’Sullivan); this can be done via the school office (See roles and responsibilities in the SEND Policy).
2. How will the school let me know if they have any concerns about my child’s learning, special educational need and/or disability?
The class teacher will meet with you each term to discuss your child’s progress at a Parent/Teacher conference. The class teacher may speak to you at this point to discuss any concerns they have about your child’s learning. The class teacher may also speak to you at the beginning or end of the school day to arrange a meeting to discuss any concerns or issues they may have. The school SENCo may contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss any difficulties that your child is having and possible support strategies that the school may be considering.
3. How will the school consider my views and those of my child with regard to her/his difficulties with learning, special educational need or disability?
At Larmenier & Sacred Heart we recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents to enable each child to reach their full potential. We believe, where appropriate, that is essential to understand your child’s views on any difficulties they may experience with their learning. You will be able to express your views, and those of your child at Parent/Teacher conferences held each term or at a meeting arranged with your child’s class teacher. If your child has an identified Special Educational Need you will meet termly with your child’s class teacher to set targets on an Individual Educational Plan (IEP). If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Need or Educational Health Care (EHC) Plan you and your child will be able to share your views at the Annual Review.
4. How does Larmenier & Sacred Heart ensure the teaching staff are appropriately trained to support my child’s special educational needs and/or disability?
At Larmenier & Sacred Heart we believe that your child’s learning will be met first and foremost through the high quality teaching delivered by his/her class teacher. The school has a commitment to the training and professional development of all staff to ensure that there is appropriate expertise to support children with special educational needs. The school Leadership Team reviews this training schedule on a regular basis. The school accesses training and support from a number of sources including outreach support, Tri-borough and Local Authority training opportunities. Individual training may also be arranged where necessary.
5. How will the curriculum and the school environment be matched to my child’s needs?
Larmenier & Sacred Heart believe that your child’s learning needs can be met primarily through the high quality teaching delivered by his/her class teacher. The teacher will carefully plan the curriculum to meet the age, ability and needs of all pupils. Lesson planning or teaching may be adapted to meet your child’s special educational needs and / or disability. It may be appropriate to adapt resources, strategies or outcomes to meet your child’s learning needs. Specialist advice may be sought from external agencies where necessary and accessibility aids or technology may be used where appropriate to further support your child’s learning. Larmenier & Sacred Heart school regularly reviews its Accessibility Plan to ensure that all children have the fullest access to the curriculum and the school site as possible.
6. What types of support may be suitable and available for my child?
This really depends upon the nature of your child’s needs and difficulties with learning. Our education provisions will match the needs of the four broad areas of need as defined in the SEN Code of Practice 2014:
- Communication and interaction
- Cognition and Learning
- Social, emotional and mental health
- Sensory and/or physical needs
At Larmenier & Sacred Heart we have a 3 tiered approach to supporting a child’s learning:
Universal – this is the quality first teaching your child will receive from her/his class teacher and may include some very minor adaptations to match learning needs.
Targeted – it may be appropriate to consider making additional short term special educational provision to remove or reduce any obstacles to your child’s learning. This takes the form of a graduated four part approach of:
- a) assessing your child’s needs
- b) planning the most effective and appropriate intervention
- c) providing this intervention
- d) reviewing the impact on your child’s progress towards individual learning outcomes.
Specific targeted one to one or small group interventions may be run outside the classroom. These will be limited to a number of weeks to minimise disruption to the regular curriculum. You will be kept informed of your child’s progress towards learning outcomes.
Specialist – it may be necessary to seek specialist advice and regular long term support from a specialist professional outside the school in order to plan for the best possible learning outcomes for your child. This may include educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, sensory advisory teachers and the child development service. The school may need to prioritise referrals to these services. For a very small number of pupils access to these specialists may be through a Statement of SEN or an EHC Plan.
7. How will you support my child to reach his/her learning outcomes?
The class teacher and other staff working with your child ensure that your child receives appropriate teaching and support in order to reach these goals. The learning plan, strategies and progress will be reviewed termly. External agencies and specialists may also review your child’s progress and adapt their planning accordingly.
8. What is an Education Health Care (EHC) Plan and who can request one for one for my child?
The purpose of an EHC Plan, which will replace Statements of SEN, is to make special education provision to meet the special educational needs of a child or young person, to secure improved outcomes for him/her across education, health and social care and, as he/she gets older, prepare for adulthood.
An EHC Plan will:
- contain the views and aspirations of you and your child,
- provide a full description of his/her special educational needs and any health and social care needs,
- establish outcomes for your child’s progress,
- specify the provision required and how education, health and social care will work together to meet your child’s needs and support the achievement of the agreed outcomes.
You and/or the school, usually the SENCo or Headteacher, can request that the Local Authority conduct an assessment of your child’s needs. This may lead to an EHC Plan.
9. How will you help me to support my child’s learning?
There may be suggested strategies or activities for you to do at home to support your child’s learning. The school leads parent/carer workshops to help you understand the strategies used in school. In addition, we may be able to offer you individual training in specific support strategies relevant to your child. The SENCo may also support you with strategies, resources and ideas for supporting your child’s learning at home. You may have an opportunity to meet with other professionals involved in supporting your child.
10. How is support allocated to children and how do they move between the different levels of support in school?
Larmenier & Sacred Heart receives funding from the Education Funding Agency and/or the Local Authority. These funds include money to support the learning of children with SEN and/or disabilities. The Headteacher, in consultation with the Governing Body, decides the budget for SEN provision on the basis of the needs of the children in the school. The Headteacher and the SENCo discuss the effectiveness of the school’s current interventions and provisions and prioritise an action plan, which may include additional or alternative interventions, staff training and equipment needs. This process is reviewed regularly to ensure the best possible intervention is provided to those children who require additional support to learn.
11. How will the school know that the support has made a difference to my child’s learning and how can I and my child be included in this review process?
Your child’s progress will be assessed both in terms of his/her regular learning within the class and with regard to specific intervention programmes. The impact of the support given is carefully measured to ensure that the learning outcomes have been achieved and if not, what adaptations are necessary. It may be decided that a further period of support would be beneficial for your child. You and your child will be kept informed and encouraged to be actively involved at all stages of this support.
12. What support will there be for my child’s happiness and well-being at Larmenier & Sacred Heart?
At Larmenier & Sacred Heart we believe that the happiness and well-being of all our pupils is paramount. All members of staff take this aspect of school life very seriously. You can be confident that your child’s class teacher, the teaching assistants, and the SENCo are available to provide support to match your child’s needs. You should also feel free to contact your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns.
13. How is my child included in all the same activities as his/her peers at school?
Larmenier & Sacred Heart is an inclusive school and committed to providing equal opportunities for all children. School clubs, educational visits and residential trips are available to all children. When necessary, the school will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that children with SEN and/or disabilities are included in all activities. You should also feel free to contact your child’s class teacher if you have any concerns.
14. How will Larmenier & Sacred Heart support my child in transition stages?
The school will liaise closely with the school or nursery your child is transferring from. We are able to discuss with the relevant teachers any individual needs and how best to support your child in school. At Larmenier and Sacred Heart we take care to ensure that during transition points (between year groups and at the end of Key Stages) all staff are aware of individual pupils needs, learning progress and best support strategies.
At Larmenier & Sacred Heart we make arrangements to ensure there is a smooth transition when your child transfers to his/her secondary school of choice. Please contact us for further details.
If your child has an EHC Plan, we will participate and/or facilitate its review in sufficient time prior to him/her moving between key phases of education. You will be kept informed of these arrangements and asked to attend the reviews.
15. If I have any other questions about my child at Larmenier & Sacred Heart, who can I ask?
At Larmenier & Sacred Heart we are very happy to speak to you about any aspects of your child’s education. It is best to speak to one of the following in this order:
- The class teacher
- The SENCo
- The Headteacher.