SEND at Paradigm Trust

The SEND Code of Practice (section 6.79 p106 and 107) states that the following information must be made available in an information report:

6.79 The governing bodies of maintained schools and maintained nursery schools and the proprietors of academy schools must publish information on their websites about the implementation of the governing body’s or the proprietor’s policy for pupils with SEN. The information published should be updated annually and any changes to the information occurring during the year should be updated as soon as possible. 

Additional guidance is provided on the Department for Education website- what maintained schools must publish. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-maintained-schools-must-publish-online

The SEND Code of Practice states that “children have special educational needs (SEN) if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her” (xiii p.15).  Paradigm Trust is committed to ensuring that pupils with SEN are provided with high quality provision ensuring that all achieve academically and develop socially.

The Trust implements support for pupils in three ‘waves of intervention’, with quality first teaching as the first wave, followed by the second wave of small group intensive intervention led by a qualified teacher or teaching assistant and a third wave of intervention drawing on specialist additional support, often involving the support of external agencies.

Paradigm Trust supports pupils with a variety of SEN, within each of the four broad areas of need, including communication and interaction; cognition and learning; social, emotional and mental health; sensory and / or physical needs.

Provision will be provided and evaluated by each school using a person-centered approach adopted from the Code of Practice; Assess levels of ability- Plan appropriate input- Do, put into practice- Review, evaluate outcomes.

The Trust has set protocols and arrangements for admission of disabled pupils, with each individual pupil having a care plan to ensure his/her needs are met. The Trust uses this information to make sure that classroom teachers are aware of the needs of pupils, with specialist training and equipment being utilised when required. Paradigm Trust has made every effort to make the schools accessible for those with disabilities, ensuring that difficulties navigating the school day are minimised.

The SEND Code of Practice states that in identifying a pupil as needing SEN support, the subject teacher, working with the SENCo, should carry out a clear assessment of the pupil’s needs.  Teachers who have identified a pupil as not making adequate progress, despite high-quality teaching targeted at their areas of weakness must share their concern with the SENCo. The SENCo will then collate assessments from other teaching staff; external agencies may also be referred to for guidance and support, such as health and social care agencies.

Paradigm Trust schools adopt a ‘person centered’ approach to ensuring parents/carers and pupils are consulted and collaborated with throughout their time at school.

Tracking and assessment data can be accessed through the school’s reporting structure as well as annual parent/carer consultation evenings.  Each school’s SENCo is the primary liaison for families and external professionals working with pupils with SEN. Each school also has an extensive pastoral system to provide additional support.

Pupils with an EHC plan will have their provision monitored and reviewed, with a review of the education, health and care plan taking place annually.

Within primary, pupils are assessed termly using mainstream standardised tests (when appropriate) and pupils are reported to be emerging, expected or exceeding. In cases where pupils are working below their age-related expectations then they will be assessed using specialist tools and scales  These assessment tools track the academic and holistic progress of the pupil, such as attention skills and also track pupil progress against expected pupil progress of pupils with similar end of previous key stage starting points nationally.  In addition, external professionals, such as speech and language therapists, contribute to the assessment and review of the pupils through their assessment systems and targets.

Secondary pupils are tracked to make progress in line with the nationally average progress made by pupils with similar end Key Stage 2 starting points. Pupils are assessed against their knowledge, skills and understanding throughout the curriculum during three termly assessment points. Following standardisation, staff report whether pupils are below, at or exceeding along with a scaled score. KS4 pupils will complete mock examinations twice per year in their core and option subjects. We will then report actual grades and forecast grades for each subject to the students, parents and carers.

The Trust believes that transition should be an ongoing process throughout the academic year; ensuring good practice and vital pupil information is adequately shared.

The transition for SEN pupils coming into nursery or reception begins in the spring term when staff complete home visits.  For pupils with an EHCP and identified needs, the SENCo will arrange additional transition visits and hold multi-professional meetings to develop a transition plan.

The transition for SEN pupils from year 6 into year 7 starts in the autumn term. The primary SENCo will provide all relevant information to the secondary school to ensure pupil needs are met. The SENCo at Ipswich Academy will also conduct a number of transition visits to each feeder primary school to observe and work with relevant staff to further support transition. As well as the two standard secondary transition days for all year 6 pupils, there are six additional visits arranged with primary SENCos throughout the spring and summer term for SEN pupils to attend.

Pupils with SEN in Years 10 and 11 receive support with their post-16 pathway. The careers advisor, pastoral support and SENCo liaise with post-16 education providers to ensure that all key inclusion information is shared and relevant support is in place to give pupils the best chance of succeeding in post-16 education or training.

In cases where SEN pupils transfer mid-year, information is gathered from the previous educational establishment to ensure provision on admission date is appropriate. Support and documentation is also provided when students transfer to another placement.

Paradigm Trust is inclusive; underpinned by our values:

• Integrity- doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
• Community- working together; learning from, and supporting, others.
• Excellence- enabling everyone to achieve more through education.

We offer all pupils, including those with SEND, the opportunity to succeed and to reach the highest level of personal achievement.

To do this, we will:

• follow the Paradigm Trust lesson rubric; this is a clear and consistent approach to lesson delivery;
• monitor progress data of all SEN pupils and take action where appropriate;
• regularly update and share with relevant staff pupil profiles to inform planning and teaching strategies;
• make reasonable adjustments to ensure pupils with SEN have full access to a broad and balanced curriculum;
• provide additional learning aids and equipment specific to need;
• provide a host of additional interventions to support learning, academic progress and social, emotional and mental health needs;
• broker additional expertise around supporting pupils with additional needs;
• seek to involve all parents/carers in supporting their child’s education;
• ensure equality of access for all pupils and prepare them for life in a diverse society;
• promote attitudes and values that will challenge derogatory and discriminatory behaviour or prejudice.

Staff training and specialist expertise

All Paradigm staff receive five days of professional development (CPD) each academic year as well as weekly whole staff CPD meetings. As part of this CPD programme, specific training is provided on support strategies for pupils with SEN.

Each school’s SEN register and pupil profiles are accessible to all staff. Both inform staff of pupils’ individual needs and strategies. Supply teachers are informed of pupils’ specific learning needs for the group they are covering. Managers monitor any cover work set to ensure it meets the needs of all pupils.

Specialist teachers, teaching assistants and learning mentors undertake additional CPD including external specialist CPD, to enhance their skills in supporting pupils with diverse levels of need.