SEND
CONTACT: SENDCo – Lisa Palmer
Email: Office@stg.unity-ed.uk
Early understanding and identification is crucial for children with a special need or disability. Staff, in partnership with parents, pupils and where needed, outside agencies, monitor, assess, plan and provide the best education possible for each individual child.
At St. Germans Academy, we pride ourselves in our inclusive, community focused environment where all of our children are treated with respect and integrity. Children build up trusted relationships with staff and peers and are then encouraged to become independent learners and thinkers. Children with a special need or disability are treated in the same way and staff work hard to ensure that all children are included in every single subject and area of the daily curriculum.
This page is here to support parents and children in understanding St. Germans Academy Academy Local offer. It also offers information on some types of special needs that you, as parents and carers, have asked for support on, and suggests other local agencies who can offer more support.
What to do if I have a concern about my child’s progress or development?
Whole school approaches that support all, but are particularly helpful for pupils with additional needs.
Across our school, we use a range of whole school approaches to personal, social and academic development. These strategies can provide essential key skills for all pupils, and particularly those who may have additional needs or particular challenges in one specific area. Examples of some of the whole school approaches we currently use are:
Wellcomm
Wellcomm is a speech and language screening and intervention tool. It helps us to recognise children’s strengths and weaknesses with their expressive vocabulary (the words they use) and their receptive vocabulary (their understanding of the words others use). We screen all pupils in Reception when they join us to support early identification of need, and then use it to monitor and support pupils who may need more help during their journey through our school. Wellcomm also provides a range of activities to try to support your child’s development at home.
What supports are available for families outside of school
In our commitment to provide the highest quality of support, we will always try to signpost the most helpful services in our local area. Here is a directory of just some of the amazing services in our area:
1. Family Hubs – an amazing network of supports, knowledge and groups to help from birth to 25
Family Hubs bring together a range of existing services, so you are able to access the advice and support you need, when you need it. They are for families with babies, children and young people from conception until they reach the age of 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Family Hubs provide a place for you to access advice on how to take care of your child and ensure they are safe and healthy throughout their childhood and as they grow and develop. They are online and in person. More information can be found here: https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/family-hubs/
2. Just One Norfolk – A one-stop shop for a range of supports for adults, children and families
Just One Number is Norfolk’s single point of access for Norfolk & Waveney Children & Young People’s Health Services. This includes;
• The Norfolk Healthy Child Service
• Norfolk & Waveney Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Families, professionals and young people can get in touch with Just One Number by calling 0300 300 0123 or by visiting https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/
You may use the service for an appointment change, or you might have a parenting question or a worry about your child’s physical & emotional health, or communication development. Whatever your reason to contact them, the team is there to help you.
Just One Norfolk has lots of information to support parenting and understanding your child and their behaviour, and here are some particularly helpful sections of the website
Managing Feelings (including big emotions) for children
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/emotional-health/children-young-people-s-emotional-health/managing-feelings/
Understanding your child’s behaviours advice and training.
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/child-development-additional-needs/behaviour-sleep/norfolk-positive-behaviour-strategies-pbs/
Parental Wellbeing Supports –
https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/emotional-health/parental-emotional-health/
3. SEND and Inclusion Support Line – a phoneline for parents of children with additional needs
There’s lots of information available on both the Norfolk Schools website Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers – Norfolk County Council, and the Local Offer.
However, if you can’t find the information you need to support children and young people with SEND, or those at risk of exclusion, you can now call the Norfolk County Council SEND and Inclusion Support Line on 0333 313 7165 and speak to a professional for advice and information.
The phone line is available on weekdays from 9am until 5pm. The team can give advice on specific children or groups of children and young people with SEND. They can also provide support to help prevent exclusions.
4. SENDIASS – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Independent Advice and Support Service
Norfolk SENDIASS offers impartial and confidential advice to help you understand your rights and the services available for your child. Their comprehensive resources, workshops, and advice lines empower parents to advocate effectively for their children’s needs. For more information and access to additional resources, please visit their webpage: https://www.norfolksendiass.org.uk/
5. Norfolk STEPS – support more understanding and managing challenging behaviours
I would also like to introduce you to the Norfolk STEPS approach to behaviour management. This approach is one we follow in school, and also provides supports for parents at home.
In school, the programme equips staff with the skills to manage behaviours by focusing on understanding the reasons behind actions, rather than merely responding to the behaviour itself. Emphasising a supportive and nurturing environment, the STEPS approach aims to promote positive behaviour across the school. Staff are trained to de-escalate potentially challenging situations through empathy and constructive communication. This not only aids in the immediate management of behaviour but also fosters a positive atmosphere conducive to learning, allowing our students with additional needs to thrive.
Norfolk STEPS also provides a range of resources for parents, which can be accessed here: https://www.justonenorfolk.nhs.uk/child-development-additional-needs/behaviour-sleep/norfolk-steps/
6. Neurodevelopmental Service (NDS) – assessment and intervention for Autism and ADHD
Moreover, for parents seeking access to additional support services, the Norfolk Neurodevelopmental Service is an invaluable resource. This service provides assessment and intervention for children experiencing neurodevelopmental challenges, including autism and ADHD. Understanding the specific needs of your child is paramount, and partnering with this service can lead to more effective strategies and support in both home and educational settings.
For further details on what the NDS can offer, please visit their webpage: https://www.norfolkcommunityhealthandcare.nhs.uk/neurodevelopmental-service/
What are Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and when are they needed?
An education, health and care (EHC) plan is for children and young people aged up to 25 who have complex special educational needs and disabilities and who need more support than is available through special educational needs support.
Not all children with special educational needs (SEN) need an education, health and care (EHC) plan to have their needs met. Most children with SEN have their needs met with SEN Support in a mainstream place of learning, and examples of our SEND support plans and provisions available are provided elsewhere on this page.
If you would like more information on EHCPs, you can look here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/article/40694/What-is-an-education-health-and-care-EHC-plan
What supports are available in school?
Across our school, staff consider a wide range of possible adaptations to make sure that each child’s needs are considered within the classroom. Some adaptations are just part of our ‘Universal’ offer, meaning they are available to everyone and most children at some point will need some of these. That doesn’t mean they have/don’t have an additional need, just that those adaptations may help a little. We also have ‘targeted’ and ‘specialist’ provisions, which are more individualised or require additional support from outside agencies. These are accessed by a few children across the schools, and these most often will be for children with a SEND support plan or an EHCP.