Special Educational Needs (SEN)- Key information

At Lynsted & Norton Primary School, we pride ourselves on providing an inclusive, nurturing environment, where all children are valued, respected and welcomed to the school, whatever their additional educational need. We endeavour to support their learning and wellbeing, enable them to take a full and active part in all school activities and support them to thrive and achieve their full potential.

Our staff recognise that all children in their care are unique.  We take time to make sure we know all our children well and strive to ensure that the needs of each individual child are met.  Every child has access to a broad and balanced curriculum, enriched with a variety of hands on learning activities in our beautiful school grounds and surrounding area.

We use a graduated response to meet the needs of our pupils, founded on the principle of high quality, inclusive classroom teaching as the foundation of our support for every child.  To achieve this, we use the mainstream core standards to guide the planning of our provision in each class. 

< Mainstream Core Standards >

For a Parent guide to the mainstream core standards please click the link below.

< A parent guide to Mainstream Core Standards >

More information about the support that we offer for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can be found in our SEND policy. This document sets out the school’s systems for identification, assessment, supporting, monitoring, reviewing and evaluating provision for pupils with SEND.

Please click the link at the top of the page to view our policy.

 Our policy fully supports the 2014 SEND Code of Practice; Inclusive Schooling of Children with Special Education Needs and the Disability Rights Code of Practice for Schools. 

Any concerns you may have about your child should be shared with your child’s class teacher, as they will usually know your child best.  The class teacher may then seek advice and support from the school’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo).

The SENDCo at Lynsted & Norton Primary School is Mrs. Wickham. She is in school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can contact Mrs Wickham via the school office.

Our governor with responsibility for SEND is Graeme Bowden he can be contacted via the school office.

Further useful external links for parents

Here you will find additional useful information and links to support which is available to you and your children.

  Information Advice and Support Kent (IASK) The Information and Advice and Support Kent (IASK) Service offers support and advice for parents - and families of disabled children - and children with SEN. Here is there latest leaflet.

   Special educational needs (SEN) KCC education website.

Here is the Kent local offer for those with additional needs.

Strategies we use in school

Dyslexia

Dyslexia-friendly classroom practices are reflected throughout the school. Please see the attached whole school provision map as a guide to what we are able to offer pupils with dyslexia. Staff are supported to ensure they are meeting the needs of dyslexic children and we seek the advice of the Educational Psychology Service where appropriate. You can read more about dyslexia by visiting the British Dyslexia Association where you can read their latest newsletters. Other websites that might prove useful are Kent West Dyslexia Association and Dyslexia Action.

Dyslexia and Literacy Strategies for Parents

Dyslexia Provision Map

Irlen Syndrome

For those with Irlen Syndrome, the brain is unable to process full spectral light. This can results in a range of distortions in the environment, a range of distortions on the printed page or physical and behavioural symptoms.  Where a diagnosis is in place the school will adapt practice as appropriate. Adaptation can include coloured books, coloured screens on the interactive whiteboard etc.

Gifted and Talented

We aim to ensure that children who display exceptional gifts and talents are provided for. Every year, the children with exceptional gifts and talents are identified by members of staff as well as their families. This process enables the school to ensure that provision is in place to challenge and enrich the learning of this group of children. The school works to offer a variety of enrichment opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom, and aims to harness and develop the gifts and talents that our children display.

More able children are catered for through layers of learning and quality first teaching.

Speechlink

A speech programme which targets sounds that children have difficulties in producing. Children are tested within the school using this specialised computer programme and then the class teacher or teaching assistant delivers the suggested individualised programmes. There are occasions when the tests show that a child needs to be referred to a Speech and Language Therapy for additional guidance and/or intervention.

Speech and Language

Individualised programmes submitted by a Speech Therapist assigned to this school which is delivered by the class teacher or teaching assistant. These are for children who have been referred, by the school or by a medical professional, to be assessed by the Speech and Language Therapy Service. These programmes can include speech sound production, language development and social skills, depending on the child’s needs.

EAL - English as an Additional Language

This is for children who have a first language other than English and may need further intervention with their English language understanding in order to aid their academic development however we will initially follow the immersion technique.

Fizzy

The Fizzy programme has been developed by Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. It is graded and measurable in three stages and works on three specific areas- balance, ball skills and body awareness.

Toe by Toe

This is a highly structured, multi-sensory individual reading programme which is specially designed for children needing additional support in acquiring reading and phonic skills.

Emotional support/counselling

This intervention is accessible to all pupils who may be experiencing difficulty with some aspects of home/school life e.g. a family bereavement which may impact on their school life.  The Village Academy employs a fully qualified counsellor to support pupils.

Anger management

This is provided to help young people understand why they are angry and how to deal with it in a positive and safe way.

Fine motor skills

Fine motor skills are vital to the development of many competencies in young children. Activities are divided into sections focusing on warming up, hand and finger strength, manipulation and eye-hand co-ordination. A programme called Clever Fingers is used for this purpose.

Autism

For advice or information on autism spectrum disorders please visit the National Autistic Society on www.autism.org.uk or the Kent Autistic Trust on www.kentautistic.com.

If you wish to discuss any of the above or a specific issue regarding your child, Mrs Wickham can be contacted via the school office.

Tel: 01795 521362

or Email: [email protected]