Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) at Southfield Primary Academy is Mrs Nichola Comben, who can be contacted by email: ncomben@southfield-primary.co.uk 

At Southfield Primary Academy we believe in achievement, ambition and progress for all children.
We aim to meet the needs of individual children through highly effective teaching and learning.
There is an emphasis on early identification of needs through supportive and preventative strategies which reduce barriers to learning.
 

We work in a flexible way to develop effective partnerships with children and their parents/carers, the SENCo,  specialist teaching staff both within the school and external professionals such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and child and adolescent health services (CAMHS) to ensure that the school can meet a broad range of special educational needs. 

We undertake a rigorous system of monitoring children’s progress, supporting academic achievement and personal achievement by removing barriers to learning and using a wide range of strategies to foster a culture of lifelong learning and independent living skills for all children.

Identifying and organising support

• Teaching staff will inform the SENCo of initial concerns regarding a pupil who is not making adequate progress or if a barrier to learning has been identified.
• The class teacher will discuss the concern with parents.
• The SENCo will examine the evidence. If appropriate, then a decision is made in consultation with the class teacher as to whether to maintain normal differentiated provision or to place the child on the School Support register. This is discussed with the parents and a form is signed to enable the school to add the child to the register, put relevant support in place and monitor closely. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) may be put in where necessary.
• The SENCo may seek advice and consultation from external agencies at this point, if it is appropriate, and with the permission of the parents.
• Further support may need to be considered if barriers remain to children’s long-term learning.

Key Staff and Communication

Parent/carers are given the opportunity to discuss their child’s progression and any concerns with the class teacher at termly parent evenings and IEP reviews. Parents are also able to book appointments with class teachers and SENCo throughout the school year, via the school office. The SENCo is available to talk to parents/carers during the organised parent evenings. 

Other ways of communication information will happen through:

• Meetings/parent consultations
• Letters/ParentMail
• Home/School books
• Formal reports - Termly
• Structured conversations

Support for Parents

Parents/carers can receive a variety of help and support if their child has been identified as having special educational needs. Within school, this support may be through the SENCo, the Pastoral Team or the Class Teachers.

Parents and carers are made aware of the different support groups that are available such as FLAG, SWAN, Autism Bedfordshire etc. The dates of these are printed in the weekly newsletter. Parents and carers are also able to meet with members of the special needs team, when appropriate. This can be arranged via the SENCo.

Please refer to the School SEND full report to find out about the range of support we can offer our children at Southfield Primary Academy.