Nurture

What is an Education Health and Care Plan?

• In cases where the difficulties are more pronounced, your child may be provided with an Educational Health and Care Plan (referred to in Wiltshire as My Plan) which will set out legal provision requirements for your child (above and beyond what is provided for all others). This replaces what was previously known as a ‘Statement of Special Educational Need’, however, it is broader and will include all aspects of a child’s health and well-being which may include special educational needs. In order to be issued an EHCP, the child needs to have pronounced need over a sustained period of time and meet the thresholds/guidelines set out by the Local Authority.

 

If my child has additional medical, physical or social needs, how will the school support them?

 

• In consultation with parents and/or health professionals a care plan will be drawn up to ensure that your child’s needs are met and that staff are appropriately trained.

 

How will my child be included in activities, both inside and outside the classroom, including school trips?

• It is our aim that all children are fully included in every aspect of school life.

• We therefore do our best to make provision for all pupils to access all areas of the curriculum including extra-curricular activities. We will always contact you before a planned activity if we think your child may require additional support. 

• A risk assessment will be carried out.

 

What training do staff supporting children with a Special Educational Need or Disability receive?

• All teachers receive regular training to make sure that they plan and deliver high quality teaching which is differentiated for the needs of each child in their classroom. All staff within the school also receive training to meet the known and anticipated needs of the children present in the school. The SENCo also attends regular training including meetings with other local SENCos. All information and training is shared with our TAs through fortnightly meetings. TAs also meet on a regular basis with their class teacher.

• The SENCO has completed training be a certified Thrive Childhood Practitioner and completed CPD to retain her annual license.

• All Teaching Assistants are fully trained in the learning/social interventions they deliver.

• We have 3 fully qualified ELSAs (Emotional Learning Support Assistant) who delivers support to pupils in groups and on a 1:1 basis.

• We have a qualified play therapist certified through Play Therapy UK (PTUK)

 

How will I be included in supporting my child’s education?  How will my child’s views be taken into account?

• As a parent, you are key in supporting your child’s development and well-being and we recognise the expert knowledge you have of your own child. We endeavour to provide support and information to parents so that we can work together as a team to help achieve the best possible outcome (in all aspects of development) for your child. We are therefore very keen to build strong relationships with the parents of the children in our school and to liaise with you to share useful strategies or techniques which are used at home as well as those which are being used in school.

• Parent consultation evenings are held twice a year and we strongly encourage all parents to make appointments to see their child’s class teacher. Alongside this, parents meetings will be offered three times a year to go through your child’s Individual Education Plan and for you to have your input.

• Fynamore also has an open door policy.  Parents are encouraged to make appointments to see teaching staff and discuss any worries or concerns they may have about their child. 

• If your child is on the SEND register, you will also have access to regular contact with the SENCo, who is happy to see parents whenever parents feel there is a need or have a concern. The SENCo also holds SENCo coffee mornings, with a theme, which anyone is able to attend.

• Provision is reviewed at least termly and your child will have informal input into this process. 

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How will the school communicate with me and how can I communicate with the school?

• The school communicates regularly with parents about daily school life through: ParentMail, website, weekly newsletters, email, text and letters home.

• If your child’s class teacher has a concern regarding your child’s well-being/progress they will try to make an appointment to meet you either at the end of the day when you pick your child up or a phone call home.

• In some case daily and weekly contact between the parent and teacher can be arranged if there are any concerns about your child.

• If you wish to discuss any part of your child’s progress or well-being, appointments with teaching staff, the SENCo, the Team Leader and Headteacher can be made via the school office.

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What measures are put in place to prevent bullying?

• At Fynamore we aim for each child to feel valued and every opportunity is taken to promote individuals’ self-esteem and confidence so that all children can approach each new challenge set before them. 

• The emotional well-being of all children is central to the provision of education for all.  Bullying is not tolerated and all children at Fynamore are involved in the reviewing and writing the school Anti-Bullying Policy.

• The following link is an excellent resource to help parents who think their SEND child may be being bullied:

A guide to dealing with bullying: for parents of disabled children

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How will the school support my child to join initially?  How will the school support my child in transferring class or to secondary school?

• During the second half of the school year, the SENCo meets with class teachers to discuss the children who will be moving classes or school, identifying those who may be more anxious and so may benefit from additional support.

• For children who find transition and change difficult and are moving schools or transitioning to secondary school a transition book is completed alongside a TA who knows them well. These books tend to include photographs of key people and places and will prepare them for the next change in their lives.

• When your child leaves Fynamore Primary School, whether to move to a different primary school or on to secondary school, there will be liaison and discussion between our SENCo and the SENCo of the child’s new school to put in place measures which will help make the transition as easy as possible.

• All children meet their new class teacher twice at the end of the year to give them ample time to find and discover their new classroom and their new class teacher. The teachers also hold several meetings together to make sure all information about the children are passed on from year to year. Additional transition is arranged for the children that will benefit.

• A highly developed transition programme is in place for when your child joins us in Foundation Stage. The key teachers involved in this are the Foundation Stage teachers and the SENCo.

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How are the Governors involved and what are their responsibilities?

• The SENCo reports to the Governors every term to inform them about the progress of children with SEND. This report does not refer to individual children and confidentiality is maintained at all times. There is a named linked SEN Governor  (Robert Parker) who works closely with the SENCo.

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What specialist services and expertise are available at, or accessed by, the school?

• Support Services are accessed according to the need of the child at appropriate developmental stages. A typical process would include internal assessment by the school using The Wiltshire Graduated Response to SEN Support (WGRSS) document, discussion of the child’s need at a multi-agency forum and referral to appropriate services identified. Services which the School frequently make use of include:

  • The Specialist SEN Support Team (SSENS) which has specialists for a wide range of difficulties;

  • The Educational Psychologist;

  • The Behaviour Support Service;

  • Speech and Language Therapists;

  • The Hearing Impairment Service;

  • The Visual Impairment Service;

  • Parent Support Advisors;

  • The School Nurse;

  • Alternative Provision Providers.

  • Early Years Includion Team

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Where can I find further information or get further support?

• Wiltshire Local Offer (Special Educational Needs (Local Offer) Regulations 2014)

• The School’s Disability Access Statement Page

• Your child’s G.P. / Paediatrician

• Parent Partnership Service

• Wiltshire Parent Carer Council

• The Family Support Adviser