Special Educational Needs and Disability

At Bude Park Primary School, every child is equally valued. Through our ethos, mission, aims, policies and daily practice, we work to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, creating an environment where all children feel safe, supported and able to flourish. We are committed to giving every child the opportunity to achieve the highest possible standards.

We believe inclusion means equal opportunities for all learners – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, ability, background or need. We place particular focus on supporting different groups of learners to ensure they can succeed.

Bude Park Primary is proud to be an inclusive school. We support every child, whatever their level of need, ensuring that all pupils access the National Curriculum at a pace and level suited to their abilities. Where appropriate, we adapt or modify the curriculum to ensure that every child is able to engage fully and make progress.

At Bude Park Primary we match the curriculum to each pupil’s individual needs. To achieve this, we may take the following actions:

• Ensure all pupils have access to the full school curriculum and activities
• Help every child achieve to the best of their abilities
• Support staff in being aware of, and responsive to, the needs of all pupils, adapting teaching approaches where appropriate
• Encourage pupils to develop confidence and self-esteem
• Work in partnership with parents, carers, pupils and external agencies to meet children’s individual needs
• Identify, at the earliest opportunity, children who may require additional support (educational, social, physical or emotional)
• Make suitable provision for pupils with SEND to fully develop their abilities, interests and aptitudes, and to access the curriculum as fully as possible

Where needed, we may seek advice and support from outside specialists, such as health professionals, speech and language therapists or educational psychologists. These specialists can:

• Carry out further assessments of a child’s needs
• Provide advice to school staff on the best ways to support pupils
• Suggest resources or interventions to help children make progress

We are committed to ensuring every child receives the right support. If your child has SEND, we will:

• Put in place the right support through a SEN Support Plan, detailing how their needs will be met in school
• Arrange training for staff so they fully understand your child’s needs
• Work closely with you on a regular basis, listening to your ideas and concerns and keeping you updated on your child’s progress

SEN Support Plans

• A SEN Support Plan is written for any child with SEND and includes:
• Short-term targets tailored to your child’s needs
• Details of any extra support they will receive in school

Education, Health and Care Assessments

If a child’s needs are very complex or severe, we may ask the Local Authority to carry out an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Assessment. This is a detailed assessment of a child’s needs, and involves written reports from:

• Parents or carers
• The school
• A range of professionals

The Local Authority will use this information to decide whether to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for the child. Parents and carers also have the right to request an assessment directly, although it is usually best to do this with the support of the school.