A Parent’s Guide to SEN Support in Our Trust
Navigating the world of Special Educational Needs (SEN) can sometimes feel overwhelming, but Paradigm Trust is committed to making the journey clear, supportive and effective for every child and their family.
Our core mission is to ensure every pupil receives high-quality provision, helping them to achieve their potential both academically and socially.
To do this we structure support in three ‘waves of intervention’, so assistance is always targeted, timely and proportional to your child’s unique needs. This tiered model allows us to adapt support seamlessly when needed.
Wave 1: Quality First Teaching.
This is the foundation of all learning – high-quality, inclusive teaching in every classroom, tailored to meet pupils’ diverse needs. Before we consider any specific intervention, we make sure every teacher is providing the best possible classroom environment and instruction, differentiating lessons so children can access the curriculum.
Wave 2: Small Group Intensive Intervention.
If a pupil requires more focused support that goes beyond the classroom provision, they are offered small group sessions, led by a qualified teacher or member of the SEND team. This allows the pupil to receive teaching in an environment which is more suitable for their particular circumstances.
Wave 3: Specialist Additional Support.
The third wave involves using the expertise of external agencies such as educational psychologists, therapists or specialist advisory teachers.
The Cycle of Support
Everything we do is driven by a ‘person-centred’ approach – putting your child at the heart of our decision-making, so support is relevant. We use a continuous, four-part cycle, often referred to as ‘Assess, Plan, Do, Review’ to evaluate and monitor:
1. Assess: We start by looking at your child’s abilities and needs, identifying any barriers to their learning.
2. Plan: Based on this assessment, we collaboratively plan appropriate input.
3. Do: We put the plan into practice, delivering it by dedicated school staff and/or external agencies.
4. Review: We evaluate the outcomes, then make necessary adjustments for the next cycle, so we see continuous improvement.
For pupils with disabilities, Paradigm Trust has established protocols for admission. Every pupil has a detailed support plan so teachers are aware of their specific needs. We also use specialist training or equipment when it’s required, to minimise the difficulties a pupil might have navigating the school day. We continuously work to make our school environments as accessible as possible.
Identifying and Tracking Progress
When a teacher observes a pupil is not making expected progress, despite receiving high-quality, targeted teaching (Wave 1), they raise their concern with the school’s SEND team.
The SENCo then takes the lead, coordinating a clear, holistic assessment of the pupil’s needs. This involves collating observations and assessments from all teaching staff and, where necessary, referring to external support, such as health and social care agencies, for expert guidance and assessment.
Our assessments are comprehensive and diverse, so we can accurately track both academic and holistic progress.
In our schools we use standardised tests termly where appropriate. If a pupil is working below their age-related expectations, we use specialist tools and screeners that track academic progress (e.g., literacy skills) and crucial developmental aspects (e.g., attention skills and working memory). As well as these specific assessments, we conduct whole-school screening for cognition and learning difficulties, as well as social, emotional and mental health concerns.
We will carry out baseline entry and exit assessments for any pupil receiving a targeted intervention, so we can precisely target their need, and make sure we can clearly measure and report effective progress. External professionals, like speech and language therapists, can also contribute significantly to the overall assessment.
A True Partnership with Parents and Pupils
Effective SEN support is built on partnership. Our person-centred approach works with full consultation and collaboration with parents/carers and the pupils themselves throughout their time with us.
The school’s SEND team is your primary liaison, coordinating communication with families and any external professionals involved. All pupils on the SEND register have a detailed support plan, copies of which are sent to parents termly.
Beyond the SEND team, each school maintains an extensive pastoral system designed to provide additional emotional and practical support.
By combining our professional expertise with your unique knowledge of your child, we can create the best possible environment for them to thrive. Collaboration is the best way to achieve our shared goal of seeing every pupil reach their full potential.