What are Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?

A Special Educational Need and is a difficulty or barrier that affects a child's ability to learn and to access the curriculum, whether long term or short term.  A disability is a long-term health condition which causes a difficulty or barrier to learn or accessing the curriculum.  We are committed to meeting the educational needs of all our pupils and recognise that some of our children will need additional support.

Information Report and School Offer

Below is our personalised Information Report and School Offer, which outlines the support available across our school and federation for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

We encourage parents and carers to have a read and, if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s needs further, please contact your child’s class teacher or a member of our SEND Team.

Lincolnshire SEND Local Offer

We are fortunate to have access to the Lincolnshire SEND Local Offer, which provides a wealth of information, advice and resources for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families.

The Local Offer includes information about support from charities and specialist agencies, as well as local services, groups, clubs and networking opportunities that may be able to support children and families with a range of needs.

If you would like help finding or accessing additional support for your child or family, please speak to a member of our SEND Team. We are more than happy to meet with you and help you explore this valuable resource.

Follow the link below to explore the Lincolnshire SEND Local Offer:

• www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/send

Families who live in or access services in neighbouring counties may also find the following Local Offers useful:

• Nottinghamshire SEND Local Offer – Follow this link for further details

• Leicestershire SEND Local Offer  –     Follow this link for further details

Graduated Approach

The Graduated Approach is the way schools identify, assess and support children who may have additional needs. It is a four-part cycle: Assess, Plan, Do and Review. This approach helps us to understand each child's individual needs, put appropriate support in place and regularly review whether the support is helping the child to make progress.

Support may begin with strategies and reasonable adjustments within the classroom. Where a child continues to experience difficulties, the school will work with the child and their parents/carers to identify further support or targeted interventions. Parents/carers will be informed termly about any additional support or interventions their child may receive. Progress is monitored and support is reviewed regularly so that provision can be adapted as the child's needs change.

Where a child's social, emotional or mental health needs have a significant and persistent impact on their ability to access learning, the school will work with the child and their parents/carers to consider whether additional provision is required as part of the graduated approach to SEND support.

Community Paediatrician

Community Paediatrics can provide specialist assessment and support for children and young people where there are concerns about their development, health or additional needs, including neurodevelopmental needs.

There are specific steps that schools and families may need to follow before a referral can be made. Referral pathways can vary depending on where your GP is based, and processes in Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties, such as Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, may differ.

Our SEND team can work with families to help them understand the appropriate pathway and provide information from school where this is required as part of the referral process. If you are unsure which pathway applies to your child, please speak to a member of our SEND Team, who can help you understand the process and signpost you to the relevant information.

Please see the relevant support guide below for further information.

If you have any concerns or complaints about the support the school provides with regards to SEND, please refer to the school's complaints policy in our policy section.