The school SEND offer is inclusive, accessible provision which supports children with special educational needs and disabilities to thrive.

As a fully inclusive school, Heage Primary School is committed to identifying and providing for the needs of all children. Every teacher is a teacher of every child or young person, including those with SEND; and all staff are trained in and adhere to our model of good practice.

Children are recognised as individuals, with abilities and developmental needs which will vary across the curriculum. Class teachers and support staff are able to identify individual development requirements, and to provide lessons and activities which ensure good progress for pupils at all levels of ability.

Where children’s needs require support beyond the level that can be appropriately be provided by the class teacher, the school plays a co-ordinating role, which may include working with the local authority to source additional specialist support.

As part of changes implemented by the Department for Education in 2014, all local authorities must publish information about how they support SEND pupils. This is called the ‘Local Offer.’ The purpose of the local offer is to enable parents and young people to see more clearly what services are available in their area and how to access them. Our SENDCo liaises closely with service providers in Derbyshire, and is a point of contact. Parents and young people can use this link person to find information about services and advice on how to access them directly.

Our SEND Lead is: Mrs Natalie Lane. You can contact Mrs Lane via email: nlane2@heage.derbyshire.sch.uk or on 01773 852188 about any concerns that you may have about your child’s needs at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you identify pupils?

Additional needs are wide-ranging and can change over time. Every child’s needs are assessed on a pupil-by-pupil basis and our SEND Lead works together with external agencies when required, to build a provision to support every individual.

• Observations
• Teacher assessments
• School-based test results
• Information from parents and carers
• Information from the child
• Specialised assessments carried out by members of the school’s support services
• Information from previous schools or settings
• Discussions with adults who work with the child

Once a child is identified as having a special educational need, a graduated approach to support is taken. The child’s needs will first be assessed, then support will be planned, carried out and then reviewed. At the review any necessary changes will be made.

How will you communicate with me about my child?

Communication with our parents and carers is key, and we will work hard to ensure that you are listened to, and your knowledge and advice is taken into account when making decisions for your child. You know your child, what works for them and what doesn’t and any details you can provide from the beginning will be a great help.

An initial meeting with parents/carers to establish any needs, wants and concerns is our first step. This will happen before your child attends school if a parent/carer/previous provision requests it. However, this may happen at any time if we feel that your child would benefit from additional support.

How are pupils with Special Educational Needs involved in their own education?

We aim to involve all children in our school in the evaluation and implementation of their own education. For children with Special Educational Needs, we use a variety of strategies to support this, including:

• Involve children in setting their own targets where appropriate
• Self-assessment at the beginning and end of learning to use a variety of ways, e.g. traffic light colours or thumbs up and reflective comments
• Having a range of equipment available for the child to choose to use, e.g. left-handed scissors, timers, pencil grips
• Ensuring the child works with a range of different partners
• Ensuring the child has a designated adult to go to if they need help
• One-page profiles
• Communication cards
• Visual timetables
• Prompt cards to promote independence
• Personalised areas/work stations learning breaks

How does the Governing Board support SEND children and their families?

At Heage Primary School, we have a Governor who is responsible for special educational needs. Her name is Mrs S Coope.

Her job is to meet with the SEND team regularly. In these meetings, the SEND Governor makes sure that children and families are supported by the right services in and outside of school. The SEND Governor will also visit the school, observe what happens in classrooms and meet with class teachers, support staff and children. The SENCo writes a report for every Governing body meeting.  The SEN Governor shares this report with the other Governors so that the whole Governing Board is aware of how special educational needs are being supported in the school and how well this support is working. The governors will challenge, support and advise the Headteacher if appropriate provision is not being made.

How does the school know how much progress is being made by pupils with Special Educational Needs?

All children’s progress, including those children with special educational needs, is tracked using the school’s assessment tracking system. Pupils are assessed regularly using teacher marking, observations and questioning as well as more formal assessments such as curriculum tests and standardised tests.

In addition, for children with special educational needs, we also set individual targets that are reviewed at least three times a year. This helps the school to monitor how well interventions are working. The progress each child is making is discussed at pupil progress meetings with the Class Teacher and Headteacher.

How will I be involved in the education of my child?

Heage Primary School has an open-door policy for parents, ensuring we are always approachable, so parents feel involved in the education of their child. In addition, our school aims to regularly involve parents in the education of their child in a variety of different ways, including:

• Meetings with SENDCo, class teacher and/or support staff
• Target setting so parents can see what their child is working on next
• Home reading diaries
• Information on the school website
• Parents’ evenings two times a year
• Workshops
• SEND Forums for parents
• Signposting to parent groups
• Parents’ views on Annual Review documents

How accessible are your school building(s) and grounds?

We have two single-storey buildings where classrooms are based - these are fully accessible.

The school car park can be accessed from the main gate up the drive.  Please buzz the office to enter the car park. There is some (but limited) on-street parking and there is access on foot via the school driveway.

Our SENDCo is Mrs Natalie Lane

• A copy of the Derbyshire County Council Local Offer is available here.
• A copy of the school SEND policy is available  and the Code of Practice ?????
• The SEND Information Report 
• The school Accessibility Plan 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inclusion and SEND (Supporting children with individual needs)

What kinds of Special Educational Needs does Heage Primary School make provision for?

The broad areas of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Pg.86 SEND Code of Practice, 2014) catered for at Heage Primary are:

• Communication and Interaction
• Cognition and Learning
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties
• Sensory and/or Physical Needs

Heage Primary School - Inclusive Provision (SEN)

Who should I contact if I have concerns about my child’s learning and/or progress?

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress or well-being, then please in the first instance speak to either your child’s class teacher as they are responsible for all children in their class. The majority of concerns can be addressed at this level. If your concern is not resolved then speak to:

1. The SENCO- Mrs Natalie Lane
2. The Headteacher - Mrs Donna Hallam
3. The Deputy Head - Mrs Lindsey Roberts
4. SEND Governor - Mrs Edwina Bamford
5. The Chair of Governors- Mr Stuart Hill

Please also refer to the school’s complaints policy which can be found on the school website and from the school office.

• Equality and Diversity Policy
• Send Information Report May 2023

Who should I contact to find out about other support for parents and families of children with SEND or disabilities?

Your child’s class teacher and the SENCO are available to discuss your child’s needs and progress. All outside agencies will contact parents to keep them informed of their involvement.

Derbyshire Parent Partnership can be contacted on

Telephone: 01629 533660

Fax: 01246 273155

Email: parent.partnership@derbyshire.gov.uk

Derby and Derbyshire Parent Partnership

c/o Chesterfield Register Office, New Beetwell Street

Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1QJ

Where can I find out about other services that might be available for our family and my child?

Find out more about the local offer of support which is available for disabled children and young people and those who have Special Educational Needs on the Derbyshire County Council website:

• Derbyshire Local Offer