SEND
Local Offer
From September 2014 Local Authorities (LA) and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) aged 0-25. This is called the ‘Local Offer’.
The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice for families and will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.
Further information about the Local Offer can be found on the Northamptonshire County Council website: https://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/
SEND Information Report
Welcome to our SEND Information Report which is part of Northamptonshire County Council’s Local Offer for children and young people with Special Educational Needs. This will provide details about how we implement our policy for children and young people with SEND.
At Southfield School we recognise that all students are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. We believe in positive intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and levels of achievement and working in partnership with other agencies in order to provide a positive educational experience for all our students including those with a special educational need or disability.
Our school recognises there are particular groups of students whose circumstances require additional consideration by those who work with them to support their SEN.
There are now four broad areas of SEND, these are:
- Communication and Interaction
This area of need includes children with Autism Spectrum Condition and those with Speech, Language and Communication Needs
- Cognition and Learning
This includes children with Specific Learning Difficulties, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties
This includes any students who have an emotional, social or mental health need that is impacting on their ability to learn
- Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties
This area includes children with hearing impairment, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment and physical difficulties.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail, please email Mrs Sallee Carter: [email protected] to arrange an appointment.
Referring a child for a SEND assessment
Please remember that a parent/carer, teacher or any other educational professional at Southfield, plus of course any child them self can request an SEND assessment.
Should you wish to refer a child to our SENCO for an SEND assessment then please contact Mrs Sallee Carter : [email protected]
A Guide to our provision
Southfield School is a girls secondary school for 11 – 18 years with a mixed 6th form offering students a personalised post-16 experience.
At the heart of everything we do is a belief that every young person has the ability to achieve great things, coupled with a desire to provide the highest standards in teaching and learning. We have high expectations of all our students and are dedicated to creating an inclusive school where every student can feel safe, enjoy and achieve.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report at the bottom of this page
Southfield School will create a learning environment where valuing and caring for the individual are at the centre of our priorities.
The focus is very much on providing learning opportunities which excites, motivates and challenges students and encourages lifelong learning and an interest in the world around them. We want students to be happy and able to realise their full potential whilst demonstrating diligence, self -discipline, good manners and a concern for others.
The School will take a student centered and personalised approach to learning which will recognise and value the skills and talents of each individual. The pervading culture of the School will be one in which every student feels that they can succeed and in which their aspiration to be lifelong learners will be supported and encouraged. In addition we believe in and are committed to the development of the whole child, nurturing their personal and social skills, sense of enquiry, as well as their resilience to face life's challenges.
Southfield School fully endorses the academic, vocational, social and moral development of students in such a way that they emerge as independent, responsible and co-operative young people, ready to make a positive contribution.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report
- Identification of SEN at our school
Our school identifies special educational needs in a variety of different ways namely:
- Primary transition including attending EHCP review meetings, observation of students in primary settings and transitions visits
- Information provided by professionals outside school such as ASD Outreach Team, GP’s, Educational Psychologists
- Parental concerns and/pupil self-referral
- Detailed screening and assessments upon entry
- Subject teachers concerns/observations
If you have concerns your child may have special education needs please contact the SENDCO Mrs Sallee Carter.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report
- How we support students with special educational needs (SEN)
The SENDCO manages a team comprising of a deputy SENDCO, a part time specialist SEND teacher, a Teaching Assistant and a part time SEND Administrator. There are three Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA’s) who hold a range of qualifications including NVQ Level 3. These are based in English, Maths and Science but liaise regularly with the SENDCO.
The emphasis is on Quality First teaching in the classroom and teachers are provided with detailed information sheets giving suggestions of how to support students with SEND.
Students in Y7 who did not make expected progress at KS2 access ‘catch-up’ sessions once a week run by the English and Maths departments. There is also a ‘Read On’ programme for years 7 and 8 to develop literacy skills.
The specialist SEND teacher supports a range of students on a one to one basis, particularly those with Social, Emotional and Mental health issues.
The support we put in place is dependent on the level of “need” of a student and where appropriate we adapt the learning environment.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report
- How we adapt our teaching for students with SEND
All staff at Douthfield are aware of pupil’s special educational need and are given training and strategies to use in the classroom in order to meet the students’ needs through Quality First Teaching. Effective differentiation/personalisation will enable your child to participate fully in all aspects of learning to make the best possible progress.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report
- How we decide what resources to give to a student with SEN
The SENDCO works in conjunction with outside professionals, teachers and TAs to determine the level of need. TA support is allocated according to the level of need and the type of provision needed, as they are no longer quantified as ‘hours of support’. This is based on discussions and guidance from the local authority. The school budget may be used to target individuals.
We monitor the effectiveness of our SEND provision by regular monitoring, contact with Progress Leaders, Tutors, tracking and observations and also at Education Health and Care Plan review meetings.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report
In addition to the normal reporting arrangements to parents/carers, children and young people to discuss progress, to plan and review support, specific approaches and/or programmes we offer:
- Annual review meetings, parent/carers meetings, email, parents evening
- Contact with tutors
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report
- Support we offer for Wellbeing
Our school offers pastoral, medical and social support to students by:
- Tutors who oversees the well-being of your child on a daily basis along with a named member of staff for children with EHCP’s
- Progress Leaders
- Deputy Progress Leaders
- Form tutors
- Teaching Assistants and HLTAs
- Student Services staff
- Director of Health and Wellbeing
- Mental Health first aiders
- Education Healthcare Assistant – who offers medical advice and assistance and administers medicines as authorised and directed by parents/carers
- School Nurse
- Links with outside agencies
- The PSHE and form time programme
- Extra-curricular activities
- Assemblies
- PCSO
We encourage our students to contribute their views by discussing their concerns with the Students services Team, the student council or their tutor.
See the full SEND Provision SEND Information Report below
SEND information Report
SEN (Inclusion) Policy