Students with additional needs are supported in a variety of ways to ensure they have equal and equitable opportunities to participate, engage and succeed in all aspects of school life. This includes making excellent academic progress and support to enjoy extra-curricular activities.

We work closely with both school-based and external colleagues from local and national agencies to ensure access to support services is in place if required.

High quality teaching, tailored to the needs of our students, enables positive outcomes. However, for students with special educational needs or disabilities, additional planning, provision and tracking of progress will be put in place. We follow the “Assess, Plan, Do, Review” cycle set out within the SEN Code of Practice to ensure that any special educational needs are met appropriately allowing our students to excel. Additional needs are identified in school through year 6 transition, data analysis, screeners, ability tests, observations and liaising with other professionals.

• Our school SEND policy and information report can be found in our policy bank.

Students with additional needs are supported in a variety of ways to ensure they have equal and equitable opportunities to participate, engage and succeed in all aspects of school life. This includes making excellent academic progress and support to enjoy extra-curricular activities.

Collaboration

We believe that provision for students with SEND should be a co-production between the school, parents/carers and the student. Communication between all stakeholders is imperative and we fully recognise the expertise parents/carers offer in relation to their own children. Provision of a supportive learning environment is fundamental in enabling learners to make excellent academic progress and to develop personally in school.

For students with Education & Health Care Plans, review meetings take place annually, in accordance with the Code of Practice, wherein the young person and their parent/carer are fully involved in discussions and decisions about the support and resources the young person needs. Parents/carers do not have to wait for an annual review to discuss their child’s needs and/or progress. Parents/carers are welcome to contact the SEN team at any time throughout the school year.

Provision

We offer a significant range of additional provision and can tailor our approach to meet the needs of individuals by providing personalised support and bespoke resourcing where required.

Our offer includes:

• Access to some one-to-one support in lessons
• Access to some small groups across the curriculum
• Appropriate adaptations to the school curriculum
• Access to additional English and Maths at KS4
• Access to personal mentoring, well-being support and counselling
• Screening for dyslexic/dyscalculic tendencies
• Focused numeracy and/or literacy support for KS3 and KS4
• Whole staff training on particular SEND issues
• Teaching Assistant (TA) training on particular SEND issues
• Access to family therapy, counselling, youth workers or mentoring via EHA process
• Support at times of transition (KS2-KS3) with additional visits, meeting with parents, liaison with key staff, TA support during Year 6 New Intake.
• Social time support before school and during break and lunch

Accessibility

• Our accessibility statement can be found in our policy bank.

Staff

At Vista, all teachers are supported in meeting the needs of students with SEND; receiving half termly CPD in areas such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia friendly classrooms and children in care. Specialist teams also deliver staff training in visual impairments, hearing impairments and in speech, language and communication needs.

In addition to quality first teaching, we have a team of progress support workers who support our learners on a daily basis through interventions, in lesson support and social time. The TAs are a highly trained team offering expertise in areas such as literacy, numeracy, SEMH, autism and mental health.

Further Information

• The SEND gateway offers easy access to high quality information and resources for meeting the needs of students with special educational needs and disabilities.
• The Department for Education Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice June 2014.
• SENDIASS offers information, advice and support to parents and carers who have a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability. You can contact them in confidence and they promise to listen and offer you impartial advice and support.
• Contact a Family is the only national charity that exists to support the families of disabled children whatever their condition or disability.
• Pinpoint is an independent information, support and involvement network for parents in Cambridgeshire which helps parents to get involved in service planning and decision making so that local services meet the needs of families.
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.