SEND

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Our Vision for children with SEND

We aim to ensure that children in our school feel included in school life, feel that they can achieve academically and that they belong in school. We aim for our school to be an inclusive environment which supports and challenges pupils to develop their independence and achieve their full potential.

How we do this in classrooms:

• Teachers provide an inclusive learning environment that maintains high expectations for all learners.
• Staff have an excellent understanding of learners’ needs.
• Students with SEND learn alongside their mainstream peers.
• Learners receive quality first teaching in all their lessons.
• Learners with SEND have access to a broad and balanced curriculum.

At Bishop Tufnell Primary School, we believe that all children have individual or "special" needs and that Every Child Matters. Most of our children’s needs can be met within the classroom with typical adaptations to the learning or their environment, whilst others may need more specialist, individual learning experiences either in or out of the class at times.

Class teachers are supported to meet the needs of the children in their class by our SENCO and our Learning Mentor. Additionally, we have a team of Teaching Assistants who are qualified to help and teach both in and out of classrooms as directed by the class teacher.  Some hold additional qualifications and have more specialist knowledge in the areas of speech and language disorders, physical difficulties and strategies for teaching children with dyslexia and dyscalculia. With their help, we have been able to work more closely with parents and carers to help solve any problems children may be experiencing in school or at home.

Whilst children are all supported to learn within their classrooms, we use other spaces across the school to support children when they need intervention or additional support for periods of the day. 'The Snug' is a breakout space used particularly by the learning mentor to support children in structured sessions. ‘The Studio’ and ‘The Harbour’ and more sensory spaces which children can access for short periods of time if they need support to regulate or need additional input. These facilities enable us to meet a diverse range of needs across the school.

Some children need an individual programme of work, where targets are set and evaluated termly. Parents are invited to share in this "Individual Learning Plan" (ILP) on parent consultation evenings and their support and input is invaluable. In addition, as children pass on through the School they take an increasingly active part in drawing up their targets.

If you would like to access the West Sussex County Council's information regarding the Local Offer, please click on this link: 

Local Offer