Special Educational Needs
This page provides information on special educational needs; our SENCO is Mrs A Reed
If you wish to discuss any matters with Mrs Reed please contact the school office.
Our SEND Mission Statement:
At Mersey Drive we are committed to helping every child reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. We recognise that every child is unique and support and value the abilities of all our pupils. It is our duty to provide equal opportunities and a safe learning environment which caters to the needs of every child as an individual. We are committed to inclusion within the school curriculum and participation in all aspects of school life. We provide an exciting, creative and effective learning environment, recognising and responding to individual learning styles. We aim to help each child experience success and to reach their full potential by providing the highest standard of education and care. Some children may require additional support in order to experience this success.
Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND):
A child has special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision made for them. At Mersey Drive we recognise the definition of Special Educational Needs described in the Special Needs Code of Practise 2014
A child has a learning difficulty or disability if they:
- Have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or
- Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream school
Children are not considered to have a special educational need if they speak English as an additional language.
Categories of SEND
Children’s SEN are generally thought of in the following main areas:
Cognition and learning - this includes children who have moderate or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia
Communication and interaction - this includes children with speech and language delay and those with difficulties with social communication
Social, emotional and mental health - this may include children who may be withdrawn or isolated, disruptive, hyperactive or who lack concentration
Physical or sensory issues - this includes children with impairments including hearing or visual difficulties, or other physical difficulties
Special Educational Needs are categorised in this way in order to enable school to plan provision accordingly.
Our Aims:
Our ethos is inclusive and we work hard with families and outside agencies to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for all of our children irrespective of their level of need.
Our aims are:
- To identify children with SEN as early as possible and to ensure their needs are met
- To provide an environment where barriers to learning and participation are reduced to a minimum
- To provide all children with an engaging, exciting and inspiring curriculum that is differentiated to the needs and abilities of the individual
- To ensure all pupils take a full and active part in school life
- To provide a strong partnership between children, parents/carers and outside agencies to ensure a child’s needs can be met
Staffing:
Our SENCO, Mrs A Reed is part of the inclusion team working at Mersey Drive. This team consists of:
Mrs Reed – SENCO and Inclusion Manager
Mrs Wilcox – Wellbeing Lead
Miss Shaw – Attendance and Wellbeing
The SENCO'S key responsibilities are:
- Overseeing the day-to-day operation of the school’s SEND policy
- Co-ordinating provision for children with special educational needs
- Liaising with and advising fellow teachers
- Co-ordinating the work of the learning support assistants
- Overseeing the records of all children with SEN
- Contributing to the in-service training of staff
- Liaising with parents of children with SEN
- Liaising with external agencies including the LEA’s support and educational psychology services, health and social services, and voluntary bodies.
Mersey Drive’s Local Offer and SEN Policy
The SEN reforms place a statutory requirement on schools from September 2014 to make information available to young people and parents about how the school supports children and young people with SEND. This information forms the basis for the school’s Local Offer.
Click here to view our Special Educational Needs and Disability Policy
Click here to view our Special Educational Needs and Disability Report
Click here to view our Accessibility Policy
Click here to view our Graduated Response Plan
If you are looking for information on the ASC resourced Provision, please click here.