Beechwood School

Schools extended Local Offer response

Special Educational Needs policy

Our school offer provides young people who are disabled or who have an SEN and their families, with information on the range of:

• provision and
• teaching

available to support each individual young person through their learning journey at Beechwood School.

We offer:

• an inclusive curriculum to all of our young people whatever their needs or abilities
• a supportive and positive environment, enabling them to progress.

We are committed to the development of the whole-child:

• academically
• morally
• socially
• spiritually
• culturally
• intellectually
• physically.  

We:

• identify obstacles and recognise and value improvement to learning and behaviour
• provide our young people with opportunities to excel in all areas of their school life
• are aware that some of our young people may require more specialist provision for part of, or all of, their school life.

The provision for a young person in our school with SEND:

• is a whole school responsibility
• requires a whole school response
• requires working in partnership and collaboration with young people and their parents.

This offer links to our school’s:

• SEN policy
• Curriculum policy
• Progress policy
• Equality policy
• Behaviour policy
• Anti-bullying policy
• Complaints policy
• Slough Borough Council’s Local Offer.

Teaching and learning

All staff:

• have the highest possible expectations for all young people
• are dedicated to promoting the learning and achievement of all
• aim to provide good and outstanding teaching.

Specialised subject knowledge of teachers’ challenges, inspires and encourages our young people to:

• help them to succeed and
• meet their academic targets.

Together we do everything reasonably possible to ensure all young people make progress.

Our inclusive approach to teaching and learning ensures that we endeavour to meet every young person’s learning requirements.    

High standards are set for young people with SEND. They are provided with appropriate guidance to encourage them to achieve as highly as possible.

 

Appropriate resources are available and used across the curriculum. Differentiated approaches are used in the planning of lessons, to ensure that all young people have the best possible chance of learning.

 

The SENCo, with the support of the Headteacher and colleagues:

• analyses data
• assesses young peoples’ needs
• identifies effective ways of overcoming barriers to learning and achievement.

Identifying and assessing Special Educational Needs

Young people with SEND who attend our school, are identified as early as possible. This is ideally during the transition from primary to secondary school.

 

We recognise the importance of:

• early identification
• assessment
• provision

for any young person who may have SEND.

Primary school information and our own assessments are used to put in place correct levels of:

• intervention and
• support

in light of the resources we have. 

Where a young person is identified as having a higher level of need, we will, in consultation with the parent and young person, seek:

• further assessment and
• support

from the relevant external specialist professional. This is again in line with the resources available to us. 

Involving parents and children/young people in planning and reviewing progress

Beechwood School prides itself on forging close working partnerships with parents/carers and young people.

 

The involvement of parents in all decisions affecting their child’s education is crucial to the young person’s learning and development. The active involvement of young people in all decision making concerning their education, is key to their success in school. 

Parents are included in all formal review meetings, to enable the family to make their:

• views
• wishes
• feelings

known and plan ahead for their future.

Subject teachers along with parents and young people, identify individual targets for achievement and regularly review progress. In addition, where appropriate, parents are given opportunities to liaise or meet with external agencies that provide additional support for their child.

Additional support

We endeavour to offer a range of specialist provision and interventions for young people with SEND who may need additional support, in line with the 2015 Code of Practice. This is to help remove or reduce barriers to achievement.

This is in addition to or different from:

• our differentiated curriculum
• good and outstanding teaching and
• literacy and mathematics intervention
• provided for our young people to meet their needs at the earliest opportunity. This provision is dependent on need and resources.

For children with complex SEND, the frequency of such provision may result in the school applying for additional funding to support a young person.

Extra activities

We offer a range of extra-curricular activities to ensure the development of the whole young person, both emotionally and academically.

 

Essential skills such as:

• time management
• critical thinking
• teamwork
• social skills

assist them in becoming successful in all areas of their school and adult life.   

Many of our young people use the skills they obtain in extra-curricular activities like:

• athletics or 
• sports

along with their academic achievements, to gain admission to further education.

Meeting social and emotional needs of children/young people

Beechwood’s Student Achievement Leadership Team work collaboratively to educate young people regarding bullying matters, and cyber bullying in particular. 

 

This involves:

• a series of assemblies
• work within tutor programmes 
• various staff and student mentoring schemes

to prevent any young person feeling isolated or vulnerable should they be victimised in any way.

In addition to this, Beechwood has an anti-bullying policy. The policy informs our young people and parents about procedures we adopt to prevent and respond to bullying.

 

Beechwood School offers a range of specialist approaches, to support young people with Social and Emotional and Behavioural Needs. Access to this is determined by need and resources.

 

Keeping up to date with knowledge and skills

Beechwood School is committed to providing:

• INSET and
• Professional Development

for all school staff to ensure high quality teaching for all young people.

These opportunities ensure that all work to realize the school goal to:

• accelerate student performance and
• close achievements gaps.

Transitions

Transition plans are in place for every year group.

For the transition from KS2 to 3, young people and their parents/carers are welcome to visit the School from Year 5.

In Year 6 we work closely with primary schools, to ensure a seamless transition of support for a young person including those with a SEN. 

 

Key stage 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 transition planning for young people with a SEND is essential to their future success. This sets out the appropriate plans for the period of transition to adult life, including arrangements for any special educational or other necessary provision. This will lead to a smooth transition from childhood to adulthood. It includes:

• career interviews and guidance
• Year 8 options evening to help young people make the right career path choices
• consistency in assessment and monitoring and tracking of young peoples’ progress against prior attainment.

Helpful contacts

• Beechwood School - Assistant Headteacher - Mr Kamran Samad - 01753 520473. 
• Beechwood School - Deputy SENDCo - Mrs Farheen Ashraf - 01753 520473.
• Slough Borough Council - SEND Team -01753 787676.