Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

What does SEND mean?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. It refers to a child or young person who has a learning difficulty or disability that requires special provision to be made for them in order to enable them to access the educational curriculum.

This could include children and young people with conditions such as:

• Moderate Learning Difficulties
• Multi-Sensory Impairment
• Physical Disability
• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
• Speech, Language and Communication Difficulty
• Autistic Spectrum Condition
• Behavioural, Emotional and Social Difficulties
• Hearing Impairment
• Social Emotional Mental Health

Children and young people with SEND often require additional support, specialist equipment, or adaptations to the learning environment in order to achieve their full potential in school.

Who do I contact if I think my child has SEND?

The first point of contact is the form tutor and Head of the year. They will liaise with the SENDCo to start a screening process.

If the school thinks that my child has SEND, how will I know?

If we believe your child may have additional needs, the head of year will assess their progress through a roundrobin and submit an internal SEND referral to the SENDCO. The SEND team will then review the referral, and your child may be considered for further screening. Please note that the school cannot diagnose your child's needs. Following observations and data collection, you will be invited to a meeting at the school to discuss the best ways to support your child. Together, we will make a decision about whether your child should be placed on the SEND register and an LSP will be created to support you child access the curriculum any other aspect of need.

If my child has SEND, how will s/he be supported?

It will depend on your child's needs. Every student with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will have a personalised learning support profile that outlines their needs and includes specific targets. This profile is shared with all of your child’s teachers. Your child may receive support in some lessons or may be taken out of class to work with a specialist teacher in small groups or one-to-one. You can talk to the SEND team to discuss this further.

How will I be informed about my child’s progress?

The most common way to discuss your child's academic progress is through the parents' evening and Academic Review Day. You are free to call the Head of Year as the first point of contact to discuss academic progress at any time. You can also reach out to your child’s key worker.

How can I support my child at home?

It is important to consider your child's individual needs when providing support. The SEND team can provide personalised advice.

1. Empower your child to understand their needs and feel confident using strategies to support them.
2. Encourage your child to read at home, and if possible, read with them to improve their language skills and vocabulary.
3. Provide a quiet place for your child to work, free from distractions, which can help them regulate their emotions.
4. Engage in conversations with your child about school to understand what is going well and what is troubling them.
5. Check their online planner to ensure that homework is recorded and completed on time.
6. Encourage your child to participate in activities outside of school, such as youth clubs, sports clubs, and visiting museums, to foster hobbies and interests.

What are the admission arrangements for students with SEND?

It's important to note that selecting and applying for a secondary school for a child with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) differs from the general school admissions process. This is to ensure that children with additional needs and disabilities receive priority consideration for school placements and that the school can accommodate a student's specific requirements.

SEND admission are managed by the local authority (Tower Hamlets). For advice on secondary transfer for pupils with EHC Plans, contact the SEN Service on 020 7364 4880. Tower Hamlets aims to offer every child a place in a local mainstream school. Places at these schools are authorised by the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Panel following a statutory assessment or annual review.

Where can I find the school's SEND policy?

Our SEND policy and SEND report can be viewed in the policies section of our website.