Click here to download our SEN Information Report

 

SEN Information Report – Overview

Chesterton Community Sports College is committed to inclusion and ensuring that all pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), receive the right support at the right time. SEN is identified through regular assessment, progress tracking, and close collaboration with parents and professionals.

We believe that Quality First Teaching across a broad and balanced curriculum is the best way to ensure that the needs of most pupils are being met by the classroom teacher, with additional targeted or specialist interventions provided where needed. 

Pupils’ needs fall into four areas: communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health, and sensory or physical needs. Pupils receive support through a four-wave provision system, ranging from close monitoring to full Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). All pupils on the SEN register have a Pupil Passport which outlines their needs, strategies, targets, and interventions.

We closely monitor and regularly evaluate the effectiveness of our SEN provision at all levels, drawing on the wishes of pupils and their parents and advice from teachers and external services as appropriate.

 

What are Special Educational Needs?

A pupil has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability that requires provision that is “additional to or different from” what is normally offered in mainstream education.
This includes needs in:

• Communication and Interaction
• Cognition and Learning
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health
• Sensory or Physical needs

How we identify needs

We identify concerns through:

• Information from primary schools and previous teachers
• Parent or pupil concerns
• Classroom observations and assessment over time
• Baseline testing and whole-school tracking
• Specialist assessments where required

If you think your child may have SEND, please speak to their Form Tutor or Head of Year. Concerns are referred to the SENCo (Miss D. Machin), who will meet with you to agree next steps.

How we support pupils

We provide:

• High-quality teaching for all pupils
• Reasonable adjustments for pupils with disabilities
• Differentiated work and personalised targets
• Small-group or 1:1 intervention for literacy, numeracy and specific needs
• Pupil Passports with clear, measurable targets
• Regular assessment through the Assess – Plan – Do – Review cycle

Support may involve:

• Learning Support Assistants in class
• Specialist interventions delivered by trained staff
• Additional testing (e.g. GL assessments)
• External agencies (e.g. Autism Outreach, Educational Psychologist, Speech & Language, CAMHS)

A small number of pupils with more complex needs may require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Curriculum access

Teachers adapt learning to remove barriers and ensure full curriculum access. Support may include:

• Adapted resources
• Assistive technology
• Specialist equipment
• Small-group teaching
• Additional adult support

All teachers have access to Pupil Passports, provision maps and guidance via Teams and iSAMS.

How we communicate with parents

You will receive:

• Updates at parents’ evenings
• Termly progress reports
• Regular contact from the SEN team (weekly calls for EHCP pupils; termly calls for Wave 2/3)
• Meetings when new support is planned or reviewed

Parents can request meetings with the SENCo, senior staff or subject teachers at any time.

Supporting wellbeing

We offer strong pastoral support, including:

• Weekly PSCHE curriculum
• Form tutors, Heads of Year and Key Stage Leaders
• One-to-one emotional coaching and access to the school counsellor
• Peer mentoring
• Behaviour, attendance and safeguarding support
• Celebration of achievements through assemblies and rewards

Medical needs

Pupils with medical needs have a Health Care Plan created with the school nurse and parents.
Staff are trained in:

• First aid
• Epi-pen use
• Condition-specific procedures
  Medication is managed safely, including during trips and residentials.

Staff training

Training includes:

• SEND Code of Practice and Assess–Plan–Do–Review
• Autism Outreach and ADHD strategies
• Dyslexia support (SENNIS)
• Mental Health First Aid
• JCQ access arrangements
• Attachment and SEMH training
• Regular updates from external professionals

The SENCo holds the National Award for SEN Coordination.

Trips and activities

All pupils are encouraged to take part in school activities and visits.
We use risk assessments, enhanced staffing ratios and individual planning to ensure full access.

Accessibility

Our site includes:

• Ramped access at key entrances
• An accessible toilet
• Medical room
• Adaptations for hearing/visual impairments based on specialist advice

Transition

Into Year 7:

• Visits for all Year 6 pupils
• Open Evening and parent tours
• SENCo attendance at Year 6 annual reviews
• Extra transition sessions for identified pupils

Between schools or year groups:

• Liaison with previous schools
• Meetings to reduce worries and share information

Funding and resources

SEND support is funded through:

• School-allocated funding
• Notional SEN budget
• Pupil Premium (where applicable)
• Additional Educational Needs funding for complex cases

Funding is used for teaching assistant support, interventions, specialist resources, assessment tools and staff training.

How decisions about support are made

Support is planned collaboratively using the Assess – Plan – Do – Review model.
For pupils with an EHCP, support is agreed during the EHC needs assessment or annual review.

How parents are involved

Parents can engage through:

• Meetings with staff
• Parents’ evenings
• The Parent Portal
• Workshops, coffee mornings and school events

Who to contact

• Form Tutor
• Head of Year
• Key Stage Leader
• SENCo: Miss Deryth Machin
• Deputy SENCo: Mrs Laura Till
• SLT Link: Mrs Hannah Felton
• Chair of Governors: Mr Roy Dutton

Independent support

SENDIASS Staffordshire Family Partnership
https://www.staffs-iass.org/home.aspx