FAQ & Support for Parents
Q.What to do if I am worried?
As parent and carers you know your child better than anyone. If you are worried that your child may have Special Educational Needs you need to speak to your child’s class teacher.
Your child’s class teacher can make a referral for your child to be seen by the school SENDCO – Sian Pugh
You may then be contacted by the SENDCO to come for a meeting to discuss next steps.
You can make an appointment directly with the SENCO by contacting the school office on 01584890384, on class dojo or email [email protected]
Q. What does SEN actually mean?
A. In school, a child has special educational needs if they experience difficulty with their learning which requires provision which is additional and different to that normally available for pupils of their age. In most cases, this will mean targeted interventions to help children to make progress within the areas in which they are experiencing difficulty.
Q. Does my child require a formal diagnosis in order to have an identification of SEN?
A. No. Through regular assessment, monitoring and knowledge of the child as a whole, school can identify different learning needs without any requirement for a formal diagnosis. Our priority is to put support in place for the child whether they have a diagnosis or not. Parents may wish to pursue assessment for a range of learning difficulties and disabilities for their own peace of mind or to help to develop awareness and understanding within the child and their community, but this is not essential.
Q. Will my child stay on the SEN register for the rest of their time in school?
A. Children will remain on the SEN register for as long as they require provision which is additional and different to that normally available for pupils of their age. If they no longer require this support, the support will end and they will be removed from the SEN register. At Clee Hill Community Academy, we explain this with our SEND Journey resource which has been co-written with parents.
Q. If my child has SEN, will they get a 1:1 teaching assistant?
A. Support for children with SEN will vary according to the level of need. In many instances, support can be provided from within our existing staff structure within the classroom. This may include some 1:1 support, some small group work, or more directed teaching from an existing teacher or teaching assistant. In cases where there is a high level need, the instances of 1:1 support may be higher.
Q. If my child has SEN, will they get extra funding?
A. All schools receive delegated funding to support pupils with SEN, this is sometimes called the “notional SEN budget.” This funding is not determined by the number of pupils in school with SEN and does not equate to a specific amount of money per child with SEN. School will use this funding to employ teachers and teaching assistants who provide the support outlined above to pupils with SEN. Where a child has more complex needs which cannot be met from within the notional SEN budget, school can apply for a “top-up” which may be granted and allow additional resources to be purchased to support the child further.