SEN – Parents’ Frequently asked Questions

Parents ask …

How does your school know if my child needs extra help?

• If your child is transferring to Brooklands and already has special educational need, your current school will inform the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator at Brooklands. These children form the majority of SEND students at the school.
• There is planning between the schools and with parents/carers to support the student’s move from school to school.
• Some children do well at one school but find the transition to another more difficult. The teachers are highly alert so that such areas of need are spotted early and referred to the Pupil Care Team (PCT) so that supported can be coordinated promptly.
• The school listens to parents. Sometimes, the first signs of difficulty are picked up through conversation at home so parents are always welcome to contact the school to talk about concerns.

What should I do if I think my child may have a special educational need or disability? Who can I contact for further information?

• If you are concerned about your child’s abilities, the school will listen to your concerns, discuss them with you and agree on a plan that might only need light monitoring or might require assessment by specialist staff or external agencies.
• You can contact the school by phone, letter, email or fax (please see contact details on the homepage of the school website).
• It will be OK to contact the school through a family friend or professional translator if you feel more comfortable using a language other than English
• If your child is still at another school/setting, talk to your child’s teacher there who can help you look at any issues and make links with Brooklands to help prepare for their next step.

What is an EHCP?

An EHCP is a legal document that identifies a child’s SEN needs and focuses on the support required to meet agreed outcomes. The key difference between a statement of SEN and EHCPs is that, as well as the educational elements covered in statements, EHCPs also outline the child’s health and social care needs, outcomes and support.

How will I know if your school is supporting my child? How will I know how my child is doing? How is student progress monitored?

• The school will always send you a letter to let you know if we are proposing to offer your child support that is additional to or different from what is already in place for all pupils.
• Parent’s evenings are opportunities to discuss your child’s progress and needs and to find out about support options.
• Parents are always welcome to contact their child’s class teacher at any time to discuss particular concerns as they arise.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

• All staff are trained, (through a yearly programme of Continuing Professional Development), in adapting lesson plans to increase the use of elements known to support students who need extra help. For some students with lighter needs, this is all that is required to help them make progress.

• Teachers also have access to the profiles of pupils known to have specific needs and they can collaborate with the specialist staff to build adaptations to activities especially for those individual students.

• All Teaching Assistants receive regular Continuing Professional Development training and coaching for specific issues / pupils, from the relevant specialists.
• The school brings in additional expertise (assessment, staff training and intervention) from outside agencies, including:
• Educational psychology
• Occupational therapy

How will the I know how well my child is doing ?

Ongoing monitoring takes place by class teachers to identify pupils who are not making progress or who have emotional, social and/or behaviour needs which are affecting their ability to engage in learning activities.

After discussions with key staff and parents, if appropriate additional support will be put into place to provide enhanced resources and targeted small group and / or individual support to help overcome any difficulties.

The views of the pupil or young person about their support will be given consideration at this stage.

This additional support is documented in an individual provision map, SEN or behaviour support plan. In consultation with the SENCo and parents, short term targets are agreed which prioritise key areas of learning or behaviour to address and by which progress can be measured. Where external agencies are involved, their advice and recommendations are included in these support programmes. Actions agreed take into account each pupil’s strengths as well as their difficulties.

In some cases support from a Teaching Assistant may be allocated. This support is provided to ensure your child can engage in lessons and wider school activities and to facilitate independent learning.

Where this is the case, formal review meetings are held at least termly. Parents, relevant external agencies and when appropriate, pupils are invited to this review and their contribution is encouraged and valued. The impact of support offered is considered along with the progress towards targets set. Support arrangements will be updated and revised accordingly. If not involved already, this might include referral to external agencies. The outcomes of these meetings will be formally recorded.

If a child is continuing to have significant difficulties, further/on-going external expertise may be requested.

How will you help me in supporting my child’s learning at home?

• The school provides parents with advice on how to support your child’s homework Parents are always welcome to contact their child’s teacher for more specific advice at any time.
• Parents will be invited to attend other specific events during the year e.g. Parents Evening which give further support to parents and students.
• Your child’s recent reports will include a section on support strategies, many of which apply to home as well as school life. If you are not sure how you can apply them, contact the author of the report for further information.
• Annual reports written at Brooklands School often contain advice that will be discussed and developed with you at the face-to-face Annual Review meeting.
• Parents are always welcome to contact their child’s support team for ongoing advice.

What support will there be for my child’s well-being?

• It is vital that all pupils in our school feel valued, cared for, confident and supported.
• Staff providing additional support to pupils with special educational needs automatically include:
• Ensuring that the student knows who they can talk to if they have any
  worries
• Lessons about making and keeping friends, having successful relationships
• Independence in school
• Screening for well-being is part of your child’s daily classroom routine
• Pupils who have social, emotional and mental health issues or develop them later on are offered additional measures to help them cope.