Danielle James is the SENDCo and supports learners with SEN across The Woodlands. The Willows and The Beeches also have access to Mr Paul Bryan who is currently completing his training. Please contact the SENDCo if you would like a copy of The Woodland’s SEN Policy.
The Woodlands supports young people with a wide range of SEN needs which have often led to them present with challenging behaviour. These needs include:
- Social Emotional and Mental Health needs such as ADHD
- Cognition and Learning Needs such as a Moderate Learning Difficulty
- Communication and Interaction Needs such as an identified ASC
- Physical and Sensory needs such as gross or fine motor difficulties
We have a SEN and Additional Need register that identifies all learners who receive support in addition to that provided for all through Quality First Teaching. These learners are supported with a SEN Support Plan.
Some learners may be identified as needing an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan). If they are with us on a short-term placement, then the responsibility for making a request to the local authority to start an EHCP assessment stays with the home school. In this situation, the SENDCo will work closely with partner schools to offer support and provide additional written evidence. If the young person has been permanently excluded then the SENDCo will initiate the request and use information obtained from other services such as CAMHS and educational psychology. The process is very person-centred and parents and carers/ learners are involved at every stage.
At the Woodlands, we welcome and value contact with parents/carers. Our Pastoral Mentors and will ‘signpost’ parents/carers to the appropriate people to help such as our PSA or SENDCo. The learner’s parents/carers are involved in SEN at The Woodlands:
- At the young person’s admission meeting where parents/carers can share SEN information
- At placement review meetings
- Through joint work on SEN Support Plans and SEN Support Plan reviews
- Contact by text, phone or face to face as and when needed, usually with the named Pastoral Mentor in the first instance
We will let families know about any concerns about the pupil’s learning through texts/phone calls as needed and invitations to come to talk about issues as they arise. Meetings are arranged promptly and someone is usually available at short notice to see parents/carers if they wish to come in to The Woodlands to discuss issues. We also liaise closely with learners’ home schools where they are with us on short-term placements.
At The Woodlands, all teachers are teachers of SEN. Our provision starts with the philosophy that, regardless of ability, all learners deserve access to a broad and balanced curriculum that is suitably differentiated to their needs. As well as special provision for SEN, we realise that all children learn in different ways therefore teachers incorporate a range of different activities within their lessons.
Staff have recently received SEN training on:
- The assess-plan-do-review cycle and writing outcomes for SEN Support Plans
- The EHCP process
- SEN processes in County Durham
- Quality First Teaching strategies for SEN learners
- Specific Learning Difficulties
- Attachment disorders
- ADHD
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.