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SEND

The Learning Support Department consists of a team of dedicated staff, committed to meeting pupils' individual needs. Our SENCO is Mr Earnshaw and two Assistant SENCOs are Mrs Clossick and Mrs Lucas. The department has qualified, experienced teachers who work closely with teaching assistants and mainstream staff to provide a whole school approach to learning support. We believe that every pupil should be valued as an individual and the curriculum is designed to be broad, balanced and scaffolded to meet individual needs. Educational inclusion is about equal opportunities for all learners whatever their age, gender, ethnicity, impairment, attainment and background and this is something that we strive to achieve.

The department has high expectations of pupils and promotes a positive ethos which builds on their strengths. Pupils are placed in classes where they will be able to fulfil their potential. In each of the years in KS3 there is a smaller teaching group which is appropriate for some pupils, which in turn provides the opportunity to maximise teacher time and expertise. Currently there is a bespoke provision which provides specialist teaching to a very small cohort of pupils which is delivered by two primary school trained teaching staff to meet their needs. 2024 will see the opening of a SEND Unit which will focus on Communication and Interaction (Speech and Language) and will be based in the brand new, purpose-built facility with a sensory garden and life skills room.

Support for a wide range of individual needs is available on an in-class or out of class support basis. Careful monitoring of progress, target setting, reviewing and assessment are an integral part of departmental work, which is child centred in order to promote the highest potential in each pupil. We believe that the encouragement and support of parents, working in partnership with school is the best way to meet special educational needs.

Several extra-curricular activities, such as social club, paired reading, craft club, sensory circuits and study group are available to help meet specific difficulties. Pupils of all abilities are welcome to join. Close relationships with professional outside agencies are maintained. Support for a wider range of individual needs is available on an in-class or withdrawal basis is available to all pupils.

As a department we aim to ensure that:

  • Pupils with SEND are educated, wherever possible, in an inclusive environment alongside their peers to enable each pupil to reach his or her full potential in and out of appropriate classes.
  • Pupils with learning difficulties are able to access their entitlement to a broad ambitious, balanced and relevant curriculum as part of the whole school community.
  • Levels of additional support for learning are provided for the wide variety of individual learning difficulties, while enhancing the self esteem of the pupils.
  • We identify and assess pupils with SEND as early and as thoroughly as possible using the revised Code of Practice (2014).
  • Parents/carers and pupils are fully involved in the identification and assessment of SEND, and that we strive for close cooperation between all agencies concerned, using a multi-disciplinary approach.
  • The needs of all pupils with SEND are met by offering appropriate and flexible forms of educational provision, by the most efficient use of all available resources.
SEND Policy

    Further information can be found in our SEND policy document

    If you are unsure of some learning support acronyms, please read the acronyms document.

Useful Links

In learning support we use IDL which provides a unique, specialist dyslexia intervention program, which is highly effective for improving reading and spelling.

      IDL Cloud online link

The Learning Support Parent Support Group

 

Ribble Valley Parent Carer Forum

    Link here

Spring Into Action

    Latest news - visit link

 

Supporting your child 

Useful websites for all parents

 

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