What kinds of Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are provided for at West Moors Middle School?
At West Moors Middle School, we have supported pupils with the following needs:
- Learning Difficulties;
- Speech and Language Difficulties;
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder – ASD;
- Specific Learning Difficulties/Dyslexia/Dyscalculia;
- Development Coordination Disorder (Dyspraxia);
- Physical Difficulties;
- Medical Needs;
- Sensory Difficulties;
- Hearing Impairment;
- Visual Impairment and
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties.
Further information can be found in the Learn about SEND section.
We work very closely with our local first schools. If you are considering West Moors Middle School for your child in year 5, you are encouraged to meet with us as soon as possible when your child is in year 4. We will then discuss and agree a bespoke transition plan which might include extra visits for you and your child, meetings with other professionals, staff training etc.
Details of SEND are shared between schools and recorded on SIMs (the school’s database). All teachers will be informed about pupils’ needs through the SEND register held on SIMs.
If necessary, pupils, parents and the SENCo will agree a SEND Pupil Passport (previously IEP) outlining what support pupils can expect and what targets they are working towards. This may be in the form of a home/school book.
If a young person starts the school and we are concerned that there may be an ‘undiagnosed’ SEND, we will contact you to discuss these concerns. Likewise if you have concerns, please contact us to discuss these. If we agree that further advice needs to be obtained eg from the Paediatrician, we can help make the referral or provide supporting evidence.
All students are assessed on arrival in year 5. If these assessments raise any concerns we may complete additional reading or spelling tests. At this stage we may agree that some catch up intervention is needed. We can screen for dyslexia in school but need to make an external referral to SENSS for a full assessment and diagnosis.
In Year 6, pupils with SEND are tested to see whether they qualify for additional support for their SATs exams. If eligible, pupils can have a reader, scribe, extra time or rest breaks.
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The SENDCo/Inclusion Manager is Miss Lucy Smith.
She can be contacted on 01202 872474 or by email lsmith@westmoorsmid.dorset.sch.uk
The SENDco works part time on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Miss Smith is a qualified teacher and SENDCo. Miss Smith is also the Deputy Safeguarding Lead and Looked after Children Designated Teacher. Miss Smith also writes the Individual Care Plans if your child has a medical need.
Mrs Beavan is the Pastoral Support Officer.
She can be contacted on 01202 872474 or by email kbeavan@westmoorsmid.dorset.sch.uk
Mrs Beavan works part time on Monday to Thursday.
Mrs Beavan manages The Hive and provides support for children for whom attendance is an issue. Mrs Beavan works closely with other support providers if families need extra support.
The school prides itself on being fully inclusive. We encourage independence and resilience from all of our students. Teachers will differentiate the curriculum to meet the needs of all learners in their classes. Teaching Assistants are allocated, as required, where additional support is needed to access the curriculum.
We expect our SEND students to participate in all aspects of school life including school productions, sports days and trips.
The SEND department offers a range of Intervention Programmes to address the varied needs of pupils. These include Reading, Spelling and Mathematics programmes and work for Self-Esteem and Social Skills.
Some support is provided in class by teachers or TAs. Interventions may be 1:1 or as part of a small group. Sometimes it is necessary for interventions to take place in lesson times: we will only do this with your consent.
The Rapid Readers intervention is for pupils who have severe literacy difficulties. It supports pupils with standard scores below 85 and who are not making expected progress. The intervention includes highly engaging books, online activities and homework tasks.
Additional reading comprehension intervention is offered to year 6 students to help them prepare for SATs.
Maths intervention is delivered to pupils who have not reached age related expectations and/or have gaps in their knowledge. This intervention is tailored to meet the needs of the individual child.
Some pupils may have access to a laptop in some lessons. This will be determined by the Specialist Teacher / assessor after relevant tests are completed.
Nurture sessions are available for students in years 5 and 6 for those who may need extra support with self-confidence, friendship issues etc. The Hive is open before school and at break and lunchtimes for those who may be feeling anxious. (See Section 11)
ELSA is available for students who are experiencing emotional difficulties or anger management issues. (See section 11)
The Medical Room officers keep medicines in locked cupboard, including insulin, epipens and inhalers. Pupils can come to the Medical Room when necessary to take medicines. When pupils are too unwell to stay in school, parents are contacted to arrange collection.
If you child has a serious medical need, Miss Smith will arrange to meet with you and agree an Individual Health Care Plan detailing. Further information can be found in our policy “Supporting children with medical conditions and managing medicines”. This can be found on the website http://westmoorsmid.dorset.sch.uk/
The school building remains open throughout the day. It is maintained in order to make sure it is safe and accessible for pupils with a Visual Impairment or Physical Disability. The school conforms with current disability legislation and is fully accessible. The school has disabled parking bays as well as a disabled toilet and changing room. The school will make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to accommodate disabled users including pupils, staff and visitors. (For further information, please refer to the school’s Accessibility Policy, which can be found on the school website http://westmoorsmid.dorset.sch.uk/
If you are thinking of joining West Moors Middle School you are invited to attend an open evening in the Autumn Term. We encourage new parents to contact the school to arrange a visit during the school day.
As a parent, you know your child best. If your child is new to West Moors Middle School and/or you have any concerns please arrange a meeting with their tutor, the SENDCo (Miss Smith) or the Pastoral Support Officer, Mrs Beavan.
Your child will have a planner for recording homework and other updates. This can be used to contact their tutor. The planner should be signed regularly by your child’s tutor and yourselves every week.
Miss Smith and Mrs Beavan hold informal drop in coffee afternoons at least once a term. Please look on the website or contact the school for more information.
If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan the SENCO should be invited to your child’s Annual Reviews in Year 4.
Annual Parents’ Evenings are an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with individual subject teachers and/or the SENCo.
In year 5 a parents evening will be arranged in the first half term to give you the opportunity to meet your child’s tutor and the SENCo.
All staff are provided with specific information about your child’s needs and copied into any professional reports eg SENSS assessments. Teaching staff receive regular training on INSET days.
The Teaching Assistant team meet regularly to share good practice and cascade information from training events. The following table sets out some of the expertise on our team and some of the training recently attended.
The Accessibly Policy sets out how the school is fully accessible to people with a range of disabilities eg the school is all at ground level and fully wheelchair accessible. The grounds were modified in 2015 to make them more accessible for those with vision difficulties.
If you have any specific request or concerns please contact the SENDCo who will be happy to meet with you, the Site Manager and other professionals.
West Moors Middle School works closely with a number of outside agencies including:
- Teacher Advisors for Hearing Impaired (HI) / Visual Impaired (VI)
- CAMHS
- Occupational and Speech Therapy
- Paediatric Services
We can refer to CAMHs or the Speech and Language Service on your behalf or you can ask your GP to refer. You would usually access Paediatric services through your GP but we have found it helpful to provide a report for you to take with you.
We can refer to the following to assess your child. There is a cost to the school to engage these services so we would usually complete internal assessments before doing so.
- SENSS
We also work closely with other agencies. See section Other places to get advice and support
Independent Advice and Support for parents/carers
Independent advice is available from a number of organisations. We work closely with SENDIASS and Rose Road.
Tel: 07823 353896
Independent Support mainline: 0300 303 8603
Email: vanessahenderson@roseroad.org.uk
W: www.roseroad.org.uk
F: www.facebook.com/Rose-Road-Association
T: www.twitter.com/Rose_Road
Jane Schmidt
Dorset Special Educational Needs and Disability
Information, Advice and Support Service
(SENDIASS)
Co-ordinator
Tel: 07748624609
East Dorset family Partnership Zone
The East Family Partnership Zone encompasses Children’s Centres, Family Workers and Targeted Youth Workers who have come together under one management structure. However, the zone’s workforce is seen as including all of the partnership agencies (including the DCC staff) where there is a common aim to stop things getting worse when a problem is identified.
The East Family Partnership Zone Team has its base at Cedar House in the Ferndown Industrial Estate. It serves the East Dorset area, including the towns of Ferndown, Wimborne, Verwood, Corfe Mullen, West Moors and the surrounding villages, the school pyramids and communities. The zone recognises the need to be using community knowledge and building relationships with key partners. Ensuring effective Early Help for vulnerable children and their families delivering shared overarching outcomes:
- That people in Dorset are Safe, Healthy, Independent and Prosperous
- Our partnerships will also be working to ensure:
- Children are ready for School
- Children attend their School or Education setting regularly
- Children do well in their Education
- Families make good choices
- Young People are ready for Adulthood
How do we do this?
- By following the Dorset Families Matter principles and the proactive and early identification of difficulties for children and young people that are emerging within their family, school and/or their wider community. We will use predictive measures and data to support this.
- By ensuring there are range of opportunities to work in partnership with schools, health professionals and voluntary and community organisations.
- By using a partnership approach to build resilience in children, young people and their families and helping them to effect sustainable change.
- By using the vision & values of Dorset Families Matter ensure a whole family approach to engaging with and meeting the needs of vulnerable children and other family members.
- By empowering partners to work in ways which provide early solutions to difficulties that prevent escalation and enable sustainable change.
- By using an evidence based approach to problem solving which includes practical solutions alongside creativity and innovation.
Requests for support can come from a partner agency or young person, parent or carer. We operate a ‘no wrong door’ principle to enabling requests for support to be actioned accordingly, be this by signposting, by advice and assistance, by facilitating & enabling a partner agency to take action or by undertaking direct work. Contact eastfamilypartnershipzone@dorsetcc.gov.uk
As a school we regularly seek the views of our students.
We encourage students to take an active part in all aspects of school life.
Young people with Education and Health Care Plans are asked their views before the Annual Review and invited to attend. All reviews are held using a Person Centred Approach.
Transition arrangements from First School
- Transition within school.
- Transition to Upper School.
From First School
If your child has a Statement of Special Educational Need (SEN) or Education Health and Care Plan (from September 2014) your child’s First School should invite Miss Smith (SENCo) to the Year 4 Annual Review before transfer to West Moors Middle School.
You are also welcome to come and meet with the SENCo Miss Lucy Smith to discuss any concerns. Tel: 01202 872474
Additional visits can be arranged and agreed between schools according to your child’s needs.
In the summer term of year 4, Miss Smith and Mr Dover (Deputy Head) visit the First Schools, meet the children and SEND information about your child is passed on. This information is, in turn, passed on to all teaching staff, your child’s tutor and the Teaching Assistants.
Parents of Year 5 are invited to a New Intake Parents’ Evening in the Summer Term at West Moors Middle School
West Moors Middle School holds an Open Evening during September where prospective parents are able to look at what is offered by the School. There will be an opportunity to come and speak to the SENDCo at this time.
The First School SENDCo will inform Miss Smith whether your child still has SEND needs by the end of year 4 and discuss the intervention they have had. They will advise us if this intervention needs to be continued and/or make recommendations as to how we might best meet the needs of your child.
You are encouraged to meet with Miss Smith to discuss any concerns or questions you might have about the support your child will receive at West Moors Middle School.
If your child’s needs are still present by the end of Year 4, your child will automatically be placed on the SEND register in Year 5 in line with the New Code of Practice (September 2014)
The SEND register is reviewed twice a year. When your child’s needs are above the criteria for SEND, s/he will be removed from the register. However, the description of his/her needs remains in the school database (SIMS) throughout their time at West Moors Middle School. The following codes are used on the SEND Register – I for intervention only, K where outside agencies are or have been working with the child, E for EHCP and N when a code has been removed as it is no longer necessary.
All teachers and support staff have access to the data on SIMs.
If necessary, pupils, parents and the SENCo will agree a SEND Pupil Passport (previously IEP) outlining what support pupils can expect and what targets they are working towards. This may be in the form of a home/school book.
Within School
Some students find any change to routine difficult. At West Moors Middle School we support any young person with these anxieties whether it is attending assembly, a school production, going on a trip or wet play. See section 11 The Hive and ELSA.
Leaving for Upper School
Most of our students move on to Ferndown Upper School and we have a good working relationship with their SEND and Pastoral Department. We meet in the autumn term to discuss individual young people, attend Annual Reviews of EHCPs and arrange additional visits as needed. Young people and parents are involved throughout.
Information help on our database and any professional reports are shared with the Upper School.
If you have any worries about your child, you can raise your concerns by contacting their tutor, the SENDCo or PSO.
The Hive
The Hive is staffed by Mrs Beavan and other TAs.
The Hive is open from 8.30 in the morning for those children who find coming into school an anxious time.
The Hive is open at break times for children who feel they need a little extra support or are having friendships concerns. Children play games together and have the opportunity to talk through anything that is worrying them.
Lunchtime Hive is by invitation only. Students eat together and have the opportunity to chat/develop social skills and grow in confidence.
ELSA
Any member of staff can refer a young person for ELSA. Session take place during lesson time and can be 1:1 or in a group depending on need.
The impact of ELSA is monitored closely and referrals to other professionals made where necessary and after consultation with parents.
Progress is initially measured by the subject teacher and reports are sent to parents regularly. Parents evenings are also help regularly and details can be found on the School calendar.
Progress of all students is measured and monitored closely. The performance of students with SEND is compared to non-SEND. The impact of interventions and in class support is regularly monitored through pupil tracking and lesson observations/performance management.
When students arrive in Year 5 they are tested to provide baseline data. This data, along with data provided by first schools is used to measure progress. Students are regularly assessed by teachers in their lessons.
Mr Dover as head of maths and Mrs Watkins as head of English also monitor the date held in these subjects and work closely with the SEND team to target support.
If there are any complaints relating to the provision for pupils with SEND, these will be dealt with in the first instance by the head teacher. The Chair of Governors may be involved if necessary. In the case of an unresolved complaint the Local Authority may be involved.