City of London Academy Shoreditch Park is an inclusive community which offers a range of specialist support for students who have a special educational need or disability. Our expectation is that all students, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, will receive an education which enables them to make progress so that they:
- Achieve their best
- Become confident individuals living fulfilling lives
- Make a successful transition to adulthood, whether to employment, further or higher education or training
We regard students’ self-esteem to be vitally important to their learning and believe that students should not feel stigmatised by their need. When appropriate and possible, we hope students will become advocates for their needs.
Our SENDCO is Laura Mckenzie. To contact the SEND team please email SEND@shoreditch.cola.org.uk.
What are special educational needs?
Many children and young people a special educaional need or disability (SEND) at some point during their education and their level of need may change over time. A child or young person with SEND may find it harder to learn than other children of the same age.
Special educational needs or disabilities may include:
- Behavioural or social needs, e.g difficulty making friends
- Reading and writing needs, e.g dyslexia
- Concentration difficulties, e.g Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD )
- A medical condition which affects learning
- A sensory or physical need which affects a child’s learning, for example blindness or deafness
How will a pupil’s needs be identified?
We use a range if methods to identify students who may have special educational needs or other needs which include:
- Information from parents, including during the admissions process
- Information from primary schools
- Information from external agencies
- End of KS2 levels
- Cognitive Ability Tests
- Subject teacher feedback
- Tutor and Achievement Team Leader feedback
We follow a staged and graduated approach to identifying and assessing needs, using the ‘Assess, Plan, Do, Review’ model. Where a pupil is not making expected progress, teachers, the SENDCO and parents collaborate on problem solving, planning support and teaching strategies. All of our teachers teach students with SEND and recognise the importance of identifying SEND early so that effective provision can be made available quickly.
How do we support students with additional needs?
All students are supported through consistent SEND-first teaching. Where necessary, additional support is guided by the student’s Individual Learning Plan, a document which is co-produced by the student, parents/carers and a member of staff. Staff use this information to inform their lesson planning, teaching and students’ Iearning activities. Further support may be provided through:
- In class support from a Teaching Assistant
- Small group in-class learning
- Evidence-based, outcomes-measured interventions including emotion regulation, Lego Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Counselling and counselling drop-ins
- Social skills groups
- Additional literacy and numeracy
- One-to-one support
- Referral to outside agencies
- Special exams arrangements such as extra time or help with writing
- For longer term medical needs, individual Health Care Plans are developed in conjunction with the school nurse and parent/carer
How will pupils’ progress be monitored?
The school tracks all students’ progress, but additional monitoring is in place to ensure that students with SEND make the appropriate levels of progress. This may include:
- In-class observations
- Assessments by specialist SEND staff
- Assessments from outside agencies
- Pupil feedback
- Parent/carer feedback
- What social, before and after school, and other activities are available for pupils with SEND
All KS3 pupils attend Additional studies which runs on Tuesdays until 4.25pm. These sessions aim to develop the skills and values that will aid students for the rest of their lives. Additionally, a wide range of extra-curricular trips and activities occur throughout the year. The needs of SEND students are assessed when planning these activities.
How will parents/carers be kept informed?
The academy provides parents with regular data to ensure they are informed of their child’s progress. Reports are compiled three times a year and sent home to parents. Additionally, there are two Pastoral days and one Parent Day per year scheduled for each year group, at which parents can meet with tutors and subject teachers to discuss their child’s progress and set targets.
What local support is available for parents/carers of pupils with SEND?
Information about local support in Hackney is called The Local Offer and can be found here: https://www.hackneylocaloffer.co.uk
To find out about the range of services on offer in nearby boroughs, go to:
Hackney Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Guidance Service (http://hackneysendiags.co.uk) provides impartial and confidential information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and children and young people (up to 25 years old) with SEND.