Introduction

St. James CE Primary Academy is committed to providing a learning environment that values, celebrates and develops the full potential of each child whilst recognising the uniqueness of each individual. We aim to provide a relevant broad based curriculum within a caring environment in which all pupils work towards their full potential regardless of their needs or abilities. The school seeks to raise the achievement, remove barriers to learning and increase physical and curricular access to all. All children with SEN are valued, respected and equal members of the school.

'The school is highly ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.' Ofsted 2024

What are special educational needs?
A child or young person has special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her. A learning difficulty or disability is a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age. Special educational provision means educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the St. James Primary Academy same age in a mainstream setting in England…. Health care provision or social care provision which educates or trains a child or young person is to be treated as special educational provision. Code of Practice 2014.

Children have a learning difficulty if they:

• have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age: or
•  have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in schools within the area of the local education authority
• are under compulsory school age and fall within the definition at (a) or (b) above or would do so if special
  educational provision was not made for them

Special educational provision is 'additional to, or otherwise different from, the educational provision made generally for children of their age in schools maintained by the local authority, other than special schools, in the area.' (Education Act 1996)

 

When organising additional support it is very important that we provide children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) a broad and balanced curriculum with regular access to all subjects and areas of learning. We believe that children with SEND should not be routinely segregated from their class teachers and peers but included as much as possible within their class.

We will ensure that teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) are prepared for dealing with the challenges and complex difficulties posed by children with SEND by providing structured training on a variety of SEND issues. We believe teachers are responsible for children's learning and that teaching assistants will be used effectively to provide the necessary support for children with SEND within the classroom.

'Pupils with SEND are identified without delay and effective support is put in place. They achieve very well through a determined, individualised approach.' Ofsted 2024

We are aware that depending upon their age and understanding we must discuss with pupils with SEND any decision that might affect them.
It is our intent to provide every child with the best education possible. Our objective in setting out the school's SEND policy is to make everyone aware that we want all pupils to benefit as fully as possible from the education provided within the school.

We cater for pupils who experience difficulties in: -

• communication and interaction
• cognition and learning
• behaviour, emotional and social development
• sensory and/or physical and medical conditions

The school has full provision for pupils who are disabled.

We wish to work closely with the School Council and to hear their views and opinions as we acknowledge and support Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child that children should be encouraged to form and to express their views.

We as a school community have a commitment to promote equality. Therefore, an equality impact assessment has been undertaken and we believe this policy is in line with the Equality Act 2010.
We believe it is essential that this policy clearly identifies and outlines the roles and responsibilities of all those involved in the procedures and arrangements that is connected with this policy.

The St James CE Primary Academy SENCo is Mr C Dobson (Executive Principal)

• Click here for the Staffordshire's Local Offer

We believe this policy relates to the following legislation:

• Children Act 1989
• Education Act 1996
• School Standards and Framework Act 1998
• Education (Special Educational Needs) (Information) Regulations 1999
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001
• Education Act 2002
• Education and Inspections Act 2006
• Education (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) (England) Regulations 2008
• Education (Special Educational Needs Coordinators) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
• Equality Act 2010
• Education Act 2011
• School Discipline (Pupils Exclusions and Reviews) (England) Regulations 2012
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
• Special Educational Needs (Local Offer) Regulations 2014
• Special Educational Needs (Personal Budgets) Regulations 2014

The following documentation is also related to this policy:

• Quality Standards for Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support and Outreach Services (DCSF)
• School Admissions Code (DfE)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 Years. Statutory Guidance for Organisations
  Who Work With and Support Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (DfE)
  and (DoH)
• Supporting Pupils at School with Medical Conditions: Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools and Proprietors of Academies in England (DfE)

We wish to comply with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 Years. Statutory Guidance for Organisations Who Work With and Support Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and with sections 29, 34, 35, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

We have a duty to provide appropriate SEN provision for children and young people in order to meet their needs. It is also our duty to 'make reasonable adjustments for disabled children and young people, to support medical conditions and to inform parents and young people if SEN provision is made for them.' We believe it is our responsibility to publish all details of the SEN provision that we have available in the Information Report and to work with the Local Authority in compiling and reviewing the Local Offer.