Special Educational Needs and Disability

At The Vale Primary Academy, we are committed to being fully inclusive, ensuring that all members of our school are treated fairly and equally. The Vale Primary Academy’s approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) shows our commitment to being fully inclusive. By working in partnership with children, families and partner agencies, we ensure that all children receive the support they need to access all aspects of school life. We respect each child as an individual and have high expectations and aspirations for all.

Our vision for children with special educational needs and disabilities is the same as for all children and young people – that they achieve well in their early years, at school and in college, and lead happy and fulfilled lives.

As a school we support and implement SEND provision inline with the Department for Education Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice.

Parents Resources

Please find below a link to some collated resources for parents.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Contact

SENDCo – Mrs Steph Rowse

Tel: 01977 722 485

Email: info@thevpacademy.org.uk

What is the SEND Local Offer? 

The government has listened to what parents say about their experience of services and have put in place a number of things to bring about improvements. One of these is the ‘Local Offer’. In 2012 the former Children’s Minister Sarah Teather explained that: 

“The current system is outdated and not fit for purpose. Thousands of families have had to battle for months, even years, with different agencies to get the specialist care their children need. It is unacceptable they are forced to go from pillar to post, facing agonising delays and bureaucracy to get support, therapy and equipment”. 

“It is a huge step forward to require health, education and care services work together. The reforms will give parents better information and a comprehensive package of support that meets their needs”. 

Local authorities and other services will set out a local offer of all services available to support children who are disabled or who have SEN and their families. The local offer will enable families to understand what services they can access and what support they can expect from a range of local agencies, including from the local authority, health services, schools, leisure services and the voluntary sector. The offer will include provision from birth to 25, across education, health and social care. 

The potential outcomes of the Local Offer are: 

  • To provide clarity and confidence for parents; 
  • To support earlier intervention; 
  • To reduce the need for assessment; 
  • To identify need and gaps in provision; 
  • To provide an evidence base for improving progress and securing better outcomes, at school and local level.   

SEND Information Report 

All DELTA academies have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities and are supported by the Local Authority to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school. All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities being met in a mainstream setting whenever possible, if families want this to happen.   

At The Vale Primary Academy we believe every pupil with a special educational need or any disability has an entitlement to fulfil his/her full potential. This is achieved by ensuring the wellbeing of all pupils in relation to: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making positive contributions and achieving social and economic wellbeing. 

The Vale Primary Academy provides a broad, balanced and inclusive curriculum for all children. Teacher set suitable learning challenges and respond to children’s diverse learning needs. Some children have barriers to learning that mean they have a special need which may require particular action by the academy. 

Children may have a special educational need at some point during their school career. This policy outlines the planning, identification, assessment and provision needed for any child who experiences difficulties. 

Acting Head of Academy : Miss Sally Cartwright 

She is responsible for: 

  • The day to day management of all aspects of the academy,  this includes the support for children with SEN and/or disabilities. 
  • She will give responsibility to the SENCO and class teachers but is still responsible for ensuring that your child’s needs are met. 
  • She must make sure that the Academy Advisory Board is kept up to date about any issues in the school relating to SEND. 

AAB Member: Mrs A Wilkosz

He is responsible for: 

  • Making sure that the academy has an up to date SEND Policy.
  • Making sure that the setting has appropriate provision and has made necessary adaptations to meet the needs of all children in the school.
  • Making sure that the necessary support is made for any child who attends the setting who has SEN and/or disabilities.
  • Making visits to understand and monitor the support given to children with SEND in the academy and being part of the process to ensure your child achieves his/her potential during their time at the academy. 

How can my children get help at the academy? 

Children in the setting will get support that is specific to their individual needs. 

This may be all provided by the class teacher or may involve: 

  • Other staff in the setting.
  • Staff who will visit from the Local Authority central services such as the Educational Psychologist, ASD Outreach Team (Northcott) or Integrated Physical and Sensory Service (IPASS).
  • Staff who visit from outside agencies such as the Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Service. 

You can read our SEN Report in full on our Statutory Information page.

At The Vale Primary Academy, we take great pride in being a Thrive school. But what exactly is Thrive? Thrive represents a unique approach to working with children, focusing on nurturing their social and emotional well-being, thereby empowering them to actively participate in life and learning. This approach aids in cultivating their self-confidence, competence, and adaptability while also addressing any challenging behaviors, thus providing a solid foundation for academic achievement.

At the core of Thrive lies the cultivation of positive relationships with our dedicated staff. These relationships, combined with play and creative activities, offer children essential experiences tailored to each stage of their development. Consistent exposure to these activities fosters their growth, enabling them to truly thrive.

Our commitment to Thrive extends throughout our entire school community, with all staff members actively engaged in identifying, profiling, and supporting our students’ mental and emotional well-being. Within our academy, we are fortunate to have a dedicated Thrive practitioner, Mrs. Iveson, who conducts personalized one-on-one and group support sessions for our children. Through these sessions, we identify and address developmental gaps, helping our students build resilience.

Within our academy, we have created a specialized Thrive room that is thoughtfully equipped to provide all the resources necessary for staff and children to interact, create, and manage their emotions. Children have the freedom to read, paint, and build at their own pace in this space. While primarily utilized for Thrive sessions, this room is open to all students and staff members to support mental and emotional well-being, foster relationships, and promote development throughout the school day, including lunchtimes.

Our ultimate goal is to witness every child at The Vale Primary Academy thriving!