What is SEND?

SEND

SEND is an abbreviated term meaning Special Educational Needs and/or Disability. A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning disability or difficulty that requires special educational provision to help him or her.

SEND is split into four main areas of need

• Cognition and Learning
• Communication and Interaction
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health
• Sensory and/or Physical

At Gorsewood we closely monitor all our pupils progress, achievements and wellbeing. If any staff have any concerns about a child they will follow a graduated approach to ensure the pupils needs are met.

The Graduated Approach at Gorsewood

Wave One

We aim to provide Quality First Teaching to all pupils.

• Broad and balanced curriculum
• Well-planned and differentiated lessons
• Read, Write Inc and Language and Literacy.
• Mastery Maths.
• Communication Friendly classrooms
• Specialist P.E Teachers.
• The Happy in School Project
• Use of multi-sensory approaches (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic)
• Assemblies, trips, visiting speakers and themed day
• Encouraging and nurturing philosophy
• Use of Emotion Coaching
• Staff work to foster relationships with children
• School Council to promote pupil voice
• High expectations of behaviour and effort
• Opportunities to share work and achievements
• Inclusive ethos which celebrates difference
• Fully qualified teachers for every class
• Skilled teaching assistants
• All staff encouraged to attend a range of CPD.
• Midday assistants included in training opportunities
• Family Support Worker to provide additional support to families
• Classrooms are organised to encourage independence
• Visual timetables displayed in classrooms
• Learning prompts are displayed on classroom walls
• Booster Sessions
• Classroom rules are displayed and referred to
• Areas available for group and 1:1 work
• Attainment and progress of all children assessed and tracked throughout the year
• Personalised Success Criteria
• Combination of verbal feedback and quality first marking.
• Good communication with parents  
• High Quality resources
• ICT resources.
• Varied outdoor areas.

Wave Two

• Beat Dyslexia intervention groups
• IDL Software
• Five Minute Box Intervention
• Word Wasp and Hornet
• Toe by Toe Intervention
• Cogmed intervention groups
• Building Blocks Intervention
• 1:1 Read Write Inc intervention groups
• Handwriting intervention programmes
• Fine motor skill activities
• Gross motor skill activities
• Heart Math Software
• Dragon Speak Software
• Clicker 6 Software
• Coloured Overlays
• Move n Sit Chairs
• Initial Dyslexia Screening
• Initial Dyscalculia Screening
• Chunking of activities.
• Individual Workstations.
• Nurture Group
• ELSA trained professionals
• In-class support from TA
• Input from Speech and Language Therapy
• Use of Social Stories
• Use of visual prompts e.g. task planners or visual timetables.
• Speech production activities
• Language development activities
• Transition Plans for pupils.
• Team Teach techniques.
• Lunchtime club
•  Individual and group reward systems
• Mentoring (group session)
• Ear defenders available
• Adapted resources such as pencil grips, seat wedges,writing slopes

Wave Three

•  Educational Psychologist
• Specialist Teacher support for Reading, Writing and Maths
•  1:1 support from TA
• Communication and Interaction programmes
• Involvement of Speech and Language
• Speech Therapy Service
• Positive Behaviour Service Outreach Team
• CAMHs
• Attendance and Behaviour Team 
• Family Support Worker
• Specialist Equipment including changing facilities
• Positive Behaviour Support Service
•  Mentoring and Counselling
•  Occupational Therapist
•  Involvement of Physiotherapist