SEND

Contacts

At SMSG, our special education needs co-ordinator is Mrs Atkins.

You can contact Mrs Atkins by emailing jatkins@smsg.uk.com

Mrs Atkins works Mondays - Thursdays

Special Educational Needs (SEN) at SMSG

At SMSG all teachers are teachers of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Classroom teachers are at the heart of the SEND Support System involving parents and young people at every stage. We have high aspirations for every pupil and set clear progress targets for pupils. Our Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinators (SENDCo) support class teachers to ensure early identification of need, appropriate quality support and regular evaluation.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the SENDCo at SMSG?

Mrs Jo Atikns is the SENDCo and they can be contacted via the school office.

What is SEND Provision?

The SEND Code of Practice (2014) defines Special Educational Provision as:

Educational or training provision for children aged two or more that is additional to or different from that made generally for other children or young people of the same age by mainstream schools, maintained nursery schools, mainstream post-16 institutions or by relevant early years providers’

When we refer to a child with SEN we are not necessarily referring to a child with a disability and disabled children do not necessarily have SEN so sometimes the term SEN is used on its own.

What are the areas of Special Educational Need?

The four broad areas of need are:

Communication and Interaction
Cognition and Learning
Social, emotional and mental health
Sensory and/or physical needs

How will I know if my child needs SEN Provision?

Staff at SMSG will use assessments and other information to make a clear analysis of pupil’s needs. Parents and pupils are at the centre of this process and will be kept fully informed at every stage. If it is agreed that the pupil will have SEN support, a support plan will be developed which will specify the impact and will be regularly reviewed with pupils and parents.

What if my child continues to make less than expected progress?

If your child continues to make less than expected progress despite appropriate plans and interventions outside specialist advice will be sought. If despite following specialist advice your child still makes less than expected progress then a request to the Local Authority for an Education, Health and Care assessment will be considered. The way that children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) are supported changed on 1 September 2014. The Children and Families Act 2014 has seen the introduction of Education, Health and Care Plans and a ‘Local Offer’ for families with a child or young person with SEND. More information on the Sept 2014 Regulations can be found here: SEND Regulations 2014

What is the Local Offer?

The Local Offer is a directory of information that helps families to find and access support and, through getting families feedback on the Local Offer, will become a useful tool when considering what services need to be changed and developed. All local authorities are required to have their own local offer as part of the government’s SEND reforms. More details are available at: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/schools-and-lifelong-learning/special-educational-needs/send-local-offer/further-information-on-the-send-local-offer

How does SMSG fulfil its duty to co-operate with the Local Authority?

SMSG co-operates with the Local Authority by producing an SEND Information Report: which includes information required by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014. SMSG also has an SEND Policy which is reviewed annually.