SEND Overview
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
At Polehampton, we believe every child is unique and deserves support that recognises and responds to their individual strengths, needs and ways of learning. We are committed to creating an inclusive, nurturing environment where all children feel safe, valued and able to thrive.
If a child is finding aspects of school difficult, we will work closely with parents and carers to understand their experiences and identify the best ways to support them. Any assessment and support will follow the school’s Special Educational Needs policy and the SEND Code of Practice.
SEND Team
Our SEND team includes our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENDCo), Mrs Slater, SEND Assistant, Mrs Potter, and Family Support Worker, Mrs Lloyd, who work across both schools. We also have a designated SEND Governor, Sarah Tang. Together, they help to oversee and develop SEND provision throughout the school community.
Plans & Paperwork
Class teachers, sometimes with support from the SENDCo, plan appropriate support for each child. In many cases, children’s needs can be successfully met through high-quality teaching, classroom adaptations and ordinarily available provision.
Where a child benefits from specific approaches, strategies or adjustments being used consistently, but does not require targeted SEND outcomes, a pupil profile may be created. Pupil profiles are working documents that help staff understand how best to support a child in the classroom by outlining helpful strategies, adaptations and approaches tailored to their individual strengths and needs.
If a child continues to experience difficulties despite ordinarily available provision and classroom adaptations being in place, an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) may be introduced. ILPs identify more targeted outcomes, strategies and provision to support a child’s learning and wellbeing. These plans are reviewed regularly in partnership with parents, carers and, wherever possible, the child themselves, so that support can be adapted as needs change over time.
Queries, Questions or Concerns
Your child’s class teacher is always the first point of contact if you have any questions or concerns, as they know your child best and work with them every day.
We value strong partnerships with parents and carers and believe that working together helps children feel understood and supported. We will keep you regularly informed about your child’s progress and involve you in decisions about the support and strategies that may help them both in school and at home.
We recognise that understanding and responding to a child’s needs is a process that can take time, and we ask families to work in partnership with us, remaining patient as strategies are explored, reviewed and refined. We also encourage parents and carers to make use of supportive services and trusted online resources to help build understanding and confidence along the way.
Please see our policies section for details of our SEND Policy and SEND Information Report.
