SEND & Pupil Wellbeing

Welcome to the SEND department page

Introduction:

The department is led by Mrs. Chloe Carter-Miles (SENDCo) who is ably supported by Ms. Amelia Dipple (SEND Manager) and Mrs. Claire Davies (Learning Mentor, Behaviour and SEMH).  The department comprises of a team of specialist staff who support students across the school.

The SEND department is located right in the heart of the school and provides students with easy access to a sensory room, Learning Mentors and The Study. The Study is permanently staffed by Miss. Amy Burgess and offers a quiet, nurturing environment in which to learn and access pastoral support.

Here at St Osmund’s, we believe that all teachers are teachers of SEND and pride ourselves in being fully inclusive. All our students attend mainstream lessons with their peers to ensure that they gain the high quality curriculum and specialist subject knowledge from their teachers. In line with the DfE Code of Practice, we invest heavily in our Quality First Teaching, our pedagogy and our CPD for all staff around SEND and how best we can meet the needs of all of our students within the classroom. Students requiring additional support have access to a range of interventions, provisions and mentoring provided between 8am through to 4.30pm. 

Interventions include but are not limited to:

•          1:1 reading
•          Numeracy support
•          Small group phonics
•          Maths pre teaching
•          Speed up handwriting
•          Touch typing
•          Fit to Learn
•          Start of the day club
•          Small group maths intervention
•          2:1 online Literacy intervention
•          SALT (Speech and Language Therapy)
•          Homework club (after school)
•          ELSA (Emotional Literacy)
•          Nurture groups
•          1:1 Counselling
•          Small group nature therapy

We work closely with a range of external agencies who provide specialist support and advice for individual students depending on their needs.

These agencies include:

•          SALT (Speech and Language Therapy)
•          Educational Psychologist
•          Pediatrician
•          Auditory and Visual Support Services
•          CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
•          Specialist teaches in Specific Learning Difficulties, Sensory Processing and SEMH (Social Emotional and Mental Health)
•          Family Workers
•          Local Authority SEN/ Inclusion team

Assessment and Monitoring:

Students are baselined on entry and then assessed regularly throughout their time at St Osmund’s. Results are analysed and students who are not making expected progress may then undergo more specialist assessment to identify what additional support could be put in place in terms of intervention. Intervention sessions are provided to target specific needs and the progress of each student is monitored closely. Students who do not make progress despite intervention, may then be placed on the SEN register and further assessment and intervention will be offered. The SEN register is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that students are moved through the SEN stages of the Code of Practice in an accurate and timely manner.

Our Stakeholders:

Students

Each week, the SEND Team meet with 4 -6 students to discuss their provision. This enables students to share what secures progress for them, what helps them in lessons and what worries or concerns they might have. Information is then collated and disseminated to staff as appropriate.

Parents

Once a month, the SEND department run a parent support group after school. This offers parents a chance to meet as a group with one of our Learning Mentors offering support and advice. During this time, there will also be the option to book a 15 minute appointment with the SENDCo.

Staff

At St Osmund’s, all teachers are teacher of SEND. Staff benefit from regular CPD around SEND both offered internally and externally. Once a week, the SENDCo offers a ‘working Lunch’ where any and all staff are welcome to drop in to discuss specific students, ask questions or raise concerns.

Professionals

St Osmund’s, like all schools in Dorset, have a link Educational Psychologist. Once a term, there is a planning meeting between the SENDCo and the Educational Psychologist. This is sometimes attended by Specialist Teachers involved with the school. The purpose of these meetings is to collaboratively look at the Graduated Approach for individual students and decide upon appropriate strategies and next steps, including which professionals should be involved.

Local Authority

St Osmund’s work closely with the Local Authority, contribute to and are part of their local offer which can be found at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/children-families/sen-and-disability-local-offer/dorsets-local-offer