Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

All children may experience some difficulties in learning from time to time during their school life. We aim to provide equal access to the whole curriculum for all children including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  All teaching staff are involved in the learning and development of pupils with SEND.  Parents and carers are involved at all stages.

We place great emphasis on identifying pupils with additional needs as early as possible, therefore ensuring a differentiated curriculum to accommodate individual needs and allow maximum access to the curriculum. Where a child has a particular individual need, we will make reasonable adjustments to help them overcome their difficulties which may include additional support. Depending on the identified need this support may take place in class, in a small group or on an individual basis. On occasion, additional support is sought from an external agency such as, School Health,  the Behaviour Support service, or the Educational Psychology Service.

All Ealing Local Authority (LA) maintained schools have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and are supported by the LA 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 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible.  The four broad ‘areas of need’ are Communication and Interaction, Cognition and Learning, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties, and Sensory and Physical Needs.

The Local Offer

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/or disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25. This is known as the ‘Local Offer’.

The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice and transparency for families. It will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.  Information is published as part of the SEND reforms under the Children and Families Act 2014.

Supporting Children with Additional Needs in Nursery

Mrs Burnip is the SEND lead and works very closely with Mrs Shaw, Nursery manager and Assistant Head Teacher. Together they oversee and plan the interventions that are delivered daily to children who may need extra support with language development, social interaction, turn taking and attention.

In Nursery we are supported to outside agencies such as:

• NHS Speech and Language – speech sound concerns, delayed speech
• NHS Occupational Therapy – fine or gross motor concerns
• Northumberland SEND Inclusion team – any concerns about cognitive learning or behaviour

Mrs Shaw will contact you to discuss any concerns about your child and together you can make a plan moving forwards, whether that is support at home or seeking more specialist advice from outside agencies. Each process can take anywhere from a few weeks to months, so the earlier interventions can begin the better outcomes for your child.