Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND)

Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) Department Aims

1. To adopt an inclusive approach, enabling all students to develop their interests and abilities and aptitudes as fully as possible.
2. To ensure that all students can access the curriculum where possible.
3. To liaise with and gain support from external agencies and Local Authority Support Services to ensure that the needs of pupils are met.
4. To work with parents/carers, students and outside agencies to meet the additional needs of SEND students.
5. To inform, advise and train staff regarding the support of students with additional educational needs.
6. To use diagnostic tests to address and support the needs of the students.
7. To prepare the students for appropriate future opportunities within education and employment.
8. To celebrate the achievement and contribution of those students with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Learning Support Department works with all members of school staff to actively promote the development of students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Staff working within the Learning Support Department have specialist training in working with children who have specific learning difficulties. There is one specialist room with computers and a range of additional teaching resources.

Available resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible. A wide variety of support is put into place depending on the needs of the child. This can range from individual and small group withdrawal sessions to support in class. Students with the greatest need are placed in classes with a smaller number of students and a higher teacher/student ratio. Quality first teaching ensures that progress is maintained and often exceeded. Other support includes: reduced and personalised curriculum, visual timetables, a lunchtime safe room with full computer access, a nurture group and after-school support for invited students.

Early transition days are offered to some students with SEND and for those who may benefit from early transition, regardless of the level of their need. The SENCo attends transition reviews for students with Educational Health Care Plans and all students from feeder and non-feeder primary schools, attend transition days in the summer term of Year 6.

Disabled Access

Please click here to view Painsley’s Accessibility Plan.

Department Staff

Mrs A. Comfort
Special Educational Needs Coordinator & Teacher of English

Mrs V. Keates
Special Educational Needs Tutor Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Ms A.  Alcock

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs H. Wood

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs T. Horleston
Teaching Assistant Coordinator Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Mrs A. Redfern
Counsellor and Intervention Manager