Special Educational Needs and Disability

Please click here to access the Special Needs and Disability Policy

King's Hedges Graduated Response for SEND

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Click here to view Cambridgeshire Literacy Difficulties/Dyslexia Guidance

Click here to view Cambridgeshire SEND strategies and policies

King’s Hedges Educational Federation are committed to meeting the needs of all our pupils and prioritise raising the achievement of all children.

In the academic year 2024-2025, 2.5% of our pupils have an Education, Health and Care plan and 15% of our pupils are on the SEND register.

Some pupils will have greater difficulty in learning or developing than the majority of children of their age. This can be permanently or just for a period of time. Some may have disabilities, which prevent or make it harder for them to use the facilities provided for our pupils. We will consider the individual needs of these pupils and make reasonable adjustments as needed, working in partnership with home, school or other agencies as necessary.

All pupils have an opportunity to participate in the broad and balanced curriculum of the school and have access to a variety of activities. Pupils with SEND will be encouraged to become independent learners and take on responsibilities within the school as appropriate for their age.

King’s Hedges uses the Graduated Response approach to provide help for pupils with special educational needs as stated by the Code of Practice (2014).

Our Special Needs Co-ordinators are Abi Sharp (Early years and year 1) and Jessica Mattingly (year 2-6).

For more information, please see the report below.

'The school swiftly identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Working with external specialists, the school ensures staff are knowledgeable about how best to support these pupils. As a result, staff provide pupils with the support they need to learn well.'

OFSTED 2024

Vulnerable Pupils / Pupils with SEND.

Vision

Excellence achieved through care, creativity and challenge.

Intent

We believe that through quality first teaching all pupils can make progress and most pupils can achieve age related educational outcomes. We believe that all pupils should be taught by their class teacher in their classrooms with their peers. We include vulnerable pupils in all aspects of school life. Our pupils are inclusive of those with differences and needs.

Implementation

We use adaptive teaching groups (ATGs) to decide on the most appropriate class group for each pupil. We use our knowledge of the pupils and assessment data to decide which ATG is best suited to the pupil. These are fluid groupings and pupils transition between the groups depending on their needs and strengths within each area of the curriculum. Our curriculum is designed with a clear understanding of how to support all children to succeed. Where pupils are working significantly below their chronological age and access to an age-appropriate curriculum does not meet a pupil’s need, teachers will adapt their learning in order to meet their needs.

The school’s Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) records all support, interventions and adjustments that staff can make in order to meet pupils’ needs. Provision for any pupil is recorded on Provision Map and this is accessible to all staff. Individual children are targeted for support based on needs, attainment and progress.

Targets are set for children with SEND, in the form of the assess, plan, do, review cycles. If pupils continue to make limited progress, support can be requested from outside agencies (educational psychologist, specialist teachers, speech and language therapists, community pediatrician etc.) An Education, Health and Care Plan may be requested if pupils meet the criteria and we feel we can no longer support them through our delegated SEND budget and/or Ordinarily Available Provision.

Some of our pupils require more specialist support than the above. Where this is needed, we have well trained teaching assistants who support individual targets. Training and support is provided for staff so that they are well equipped to support pupils.

Impact

Assessment for learning shows that pupils’ needs are met in class, with their peers and class teacher. Pupils are encouraged to discuss their needs and how we can best support them. Pupils have the skills and resilience to transition successfully into Reception or to secondary school. Pupils are fully included in all aspects of school life which is evidenced in pupils’ work and roles in school.

Enhancements

These can be found in the school’s OAP and include opportunities to access further support where appropriate. We also offer wrap around provision to all pupils, where needed.