Send FAQ | George Betts Primary Academy

Here is a list of FAQ about SEND. Hopefully, this will answer all of your questions. If you have more please contact Whitney Plant, our SEND Leader or Sophie Blackburn, our Deputy SEND Leader

What should I do if I think my child is not making expected progress? Who can I contact for further information?

If you are concerned about your child’s abilities, please talk to the class teacher about it. The school will be able to monitor your concerns and agree on a plan of action.

What should I do if I think my child may have a special educational need or disability? Who can I contact for further information?

Ask to speak to the SENDCo (Mrs Plant) or the Deputy SENCo (Miss Blackburn) if you feel your child has a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). If you are concerned about your child’s language, please ask to speak to the Enhanced Speech and Language Therapist. If you are interested in finding out about more about SEND at George Betts, please download the SEND information report from the website.

How does George Betts listen to my child?

Pupil views are very important to us. They are given regular opportunities to: Self assess Take part in Child Conferences Attend review meetings (where appropriate) Suggest possible targets and next steps Suggest how the school can better provide for their needs Be part of the school council or Junior Leadership Team

How will I know if George Betts Primary is supporting my child? How will I know how my child is doing? How is student progress monitored?

If you have any questions in regards to your child’s level of support and/or progress, please talk to the class teacher. Please don’t wait for the termly parent meetings or Annual written report. If your child has a SEND you will be invited to: a termly target plan review linked to individual targets (Target Plan Reviews) an annual review if your child has an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) School are always happy to talk about your child’s progress. Please contact the class teacher or SENDCo

What is an EHCP?

An Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) is a legal document that identifies a child’s SEN needs and focuses on the support required to meet agreed outcomes. The Local Authority has a criterion that needs to be met and followed for an EHCP to be request. Please check out the Local Authority’s Local offer http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200295/schools_and_learning/3697/what_is_the_local_offer

Will my child be able to access the school environment?

Here is a link to the Federation Accessibility Plan http://www.georgebettsprimaryacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Federation-Accessibility-Plan-June-2019.pdf

What specialist services and expertise are available at the school?

We have access to... Sandwell Inclusion Support (for learning, social, emotional and mental health difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, training and advice) Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy services Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service (including the enhanced SLT service) School Nurse CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) Head2Head Counselling Service The Orchards Outreach Programme Family Support Services Social Services Looked After Children (LAC) Service Sandwell Transport Services The SENCo maintains a professional dialogue with all external agencies involved with a child or will initiate a professional dialogue if external support is required. External agencies regularly attend George Betts Academy to review children with SEND in order to ensure the correct and appropriate provision is in place. CRB checks are sought by the school before external agencies have access to any children.

Who is the SENDco?

The SEND Leader at George Betts Primary Academy is Whitney Plant, who has completed ‘The National Award for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordination’. whitney.plant@gbshp.org Sophie Blackburn is Deputy SEND Leader sophie.blackburn@gbshp.org Sophie Blackburn started ‘The National Award for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordination’ in September 2018

What is the role of the SENDCo?

The key responsibilities of the SENDCo may include: overseeing the day-to-day operation of the school’s SEN policy coordinating provision for children with SEN liaising with the relevant Designated Teacher where a looked after pupil has SEN advising on the graduated approach to providing SEN support advising on the deployment of the school’s delegated budget and other resources to meet pupils’ needs effectively liaising with parents of pupils with SEN liaising with early years providers, other schools, educational psychologists, health and social care professionals, and independent or voluntary bodies being a key point of contact with external agencies, especially the local authority and its support services liaising with potential next providers of education to ensure a pupil and their parents are informed about options and a smooth transition is planned working with the Executive Principal and school governors to ensure that the school meets its responsibilities under the Equality Act (2010) with regard to reasonable adjustments and access arrangements ensuring that the school keeps the records of all pupils with SEN up to date

What provision is provided to pupils with SEND?

We will: provide high quality teaching that is differentiated and personalised to meet the individual needs of our children. use our best endeavours to ensure that the best provision is made for those who need it. ensure our special educational provision is underpinned by high quality teaching. know precisely where children and young people with SEN are in their learning and development. ensure decisions are informed by the insights of parents and pupils. have high ambitions and set stretching targets. track progress towards goals. keep under review the additional or different provision that is made (observations, learning walks, data analysis, book monitoring etc). promote positive outcomes in the wider areas of personal and social development. ensure that the approaches used are based on the best possible evidence and are having the required impact on progress review the provision and support of all pupils with outside agencies. ensure our staff receive relevant training/guidance/support to meet the needs of all pupils with SEND. For more information on the provision, please see the provision overview on the information report

How can I get additional SEND advice outside of school?

TEFAT believes that close working partnerships with parent/carers of pupils with SEND are essential if the learning process is to be maximised. In keeping with the guidance contained in the 2014 Code of Practice, the Academy aims to ensure that parent/carers are fully involved and consulted over their child’s progress and provision, including the drawing up of individual Target Plans. We also encourage parents to contact the free and impartial SEND support service for parents of children with SEND. SEND IASS Greets Green CC, Wattle Road, West Bromwich, B70 9EZ Sandwell Telephone - 0121 500 4010 Email: SENDIASSEnquires@actionforchildren.org.uk

When are Target Plan Reviews?

All Target Plans are reviewed termly. Parents, children and teachers will be invited to these reviews which will be held in school with the SENCo. Achievements and next steps will be discussed, and new SMART targets set with an emphasis on achieving the targets at home as well as at school.

How do I raise a complaint?

If you are unhappy about something, please always come to school and discuss this. You can talk to the class teacher, the SENDco or the Senior Leadership team. Should you feel the matter remain is unresolved: The case will be passed to the Executive Principal for further investigation.