SEND

Transition

The Learning Support department assesses each student’s skills and levels of attainment on entry using information from previous settings and key stages. There is a systematic and extensive transition programme, which involves the department and pastoral leaders working closely with primary schools and parents several months in advance of entry, culminating in transition day visits in July each year. Extra transition visits can be arranged for students.  

High Quality Teaching – Wave 1 support

Teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of all the students in their classes. High quality inclusive teaching is therefore the first step (Wave 1) in responding to students who are not making expected levels of progress for their age and individual circumstances. The SENDCo and Assistant SENDCo provide support and guidance for staff in meeting this responsibility.

The importance of regular attendance to lessons so that students can access high quality inclusive teaching is essential if they are to make progress across the curriculum.

Wave 2 support

If a student is not meeting expected levels of attainment or progress following Wave 1 support from teachers, then a referral to the Learning Support department is made. This starts a response known as the Graduated Approach, which is coordinated by the SENDCo and involves parents, teachers and pastoral leaders completing an assess, plan, do and review cycle aimed at identifying specific learning needs and removing barriers to learning.

Students may require access to specific intervention at this point or be placed on a referral pathway which aims to identify specific conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) via the Multi Agency Map (see below).

Learning Support provides the following Wave 2 interventions:

• Emotional Literacy Support – delivered by Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs)
• Lexia literacy intervention for identified year 7 and 8 students
• Paired Reading – delivered by trained teaching assistants
• Tailored Speech and Language programmes – delivered by ELKLAN trained teaching assistants
• Social communication intervention (Wellbeing toolkit) – delivered by trained teaching assistants

Wave 2 interventions aim to enable students to overcome their barriers to learning, develop independence and resilience as learners and subsequently engage more successfully in lessons. Interventions are subject to regular monitoring and evaluation and some may involve removal from specific lessons, usually for a maximum of half a term.  

Wave 3 support

If a student’s progress following Wave 2 support and intervention continues to be less than expected, further graduated approach cycles are conducted. This may involve school procuring support and advice from an outside agency (Wave 3). A list of the agencies that school works with include:

• Cheshire West and Chester SEND team
• Speech and Language Service
• Cheshire West and Chester Autism Service
• Educational Psychologist Service
• Community Paediatrics and School Health
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
• Hearing Impaired and Visually Impaired services
• Occupational Therapy Services
• Young People’s Services

Multi-Agency Map

Students who consistently exhibit social communication or attention needs which are consistent with conditions like Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), will be referred to Community Paediatrics services for a possible diagnosis using the Cheshire West and Chester Multi-Agency Map. 

If a student is still not making expected progress following numerous graduated approach cycles and outside agency involvement, school will consider securing additional support by applying for top-up funding or an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) from the Local Authority. This may lead to a student receiving personalised support for their SEND across the curriculum from a teaching assistant.

The Quiet Room

School has a permanently staffed social communications resource base, known as the Quiet Room. This base supports students who have social communication needs such as Autistic Spectrum Condition and has been designed specifically to help regulate their anxiety and stress.

Small class resource provision

Some students who join us in year 7 are often not secondary ready and have needs which make the transition to high school difficult for them. To enable a successful transition into our high school environment, these students are placed in a small class that provides a tailored timetable and higher levels of adult support. Once they have adjusted to high school life, they progress from this class and join their peers on the wider school curriculum timetable.

Our small class provision has also been extended into other year groups, given that we recognise some students have needs which mean they are not able to regularly access learning in larger classes. These classes benefit from increased levels of adult support to help students reduce anxiety and engage with learning.