Special Educational Needs and Disability Report
We are committed to ensuring every student, regardless of their needs, can reach the highest possible level in their education.
Our school aims to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that meets individual needs and abilities. Students may receive Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) support throughout their education journey or at a specific time if needed.
The school’s curriculum planning and assessment processes enables our students to participate effectively in all curriculum, assessment, extra-curricular activities, and other important aspects of school life as far as it is possible.
Talk to a member of our SEND team
There are times when parents and carers need to discuss their child’s specific needs. That is why we dedicate time in our school week for them to talk to a member of the SEND team. If you would like to arrange a chat with the team please email contactSEND@kingsmeadow.org.uk with a brief outline of your enquiry and a preferred date and time. Subject to availability, our team will arrange for a discussion during one of the following dedicated sessions.
Monday
from 10 to 11am
Wednesday
from 2.15 to 3.15pm
from 3.30 to 4.30pm
Thursday
from 10 to 11am
from 2.15 to 3.15pm
What is SEND?
The SEND Code of Practice 2014 states that a child or young person has a special need if they “have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age,” or “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 schools.”
SEND support addresses four areas of need.
- Communication and interaction
- Cognition and learning
- Social, emotional mental health difficulties
- Sensory and physical difficulties
Our school’s SEND provision
Our expert team of staff includes the SEN Coordinator, Higher Level Teaching Assistants and Teaching Assistants. The SEN Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day operation department including:
- developing and reviewing the Special Educational Needs Policy;
- updating the Special Educational Needs Register and pupil information so staff can plan and deliver learning appropriately.
- monitoring and reviewing the progress of pupils on the SEND Register
- consulting with parents so they are fully informed, and with outside agencies that provide support to our students.
- identifying students who require additional arrangements during exams.
- collaborating with other schools and colleges to ensure a smooth transition for SEND students when needed.
The SEN Coordinator consults regularly with class teachers to monitor students’ progress and if this progress is slower than expected, further interventions and support are developed.
Differentiated curriculum
A differentiated curriculum, also known as differentiation, is an effective teaching framework that involves providing all students within their diverse classroom community of learners a range of different avenues for understanding new information. It involves acquiring content, processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas, and developing teaching materials and assessment measures so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in their ability.
Ninety-five percent of differentiation and differentiated curriculum is delivered in our school. Other opportunities include small group work, additional differentiated extra-curricular activities, and parallel and personalised schemes of work.
There is a range of services in Gateshead that can help you to understand the different SEND processes and provide you with support. Click the button below for information and advice available in Gateshead Council’s Local Offer directory of services.
Miss Hutchinson
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCo)