A child is likely to have special educational needs if they need resources which are ‘additional to or different from’ those generally available for other children of the same age. This goes beyond the normal approaches and learning arrangements provided by the teacher as part of high quality, personalised teaching.
The 2014 Code of Practice identifies four areas of special educational needs.
If you have any complaints about the support provided by the school related to Special Educational Needs, please contact your child’s class teacher and/or Mrs Thombs (SENCo) or Miss Roberts (Assistant SENCo) in the first instance. The full complaints procedure can be found in the Policies section of this website.
This is a group that provide support for parents whose children have special educational needs. They can provide a whole range of advice both on the phone and in the form of leaflets. Their contact details are:
Teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of the pupils in their class, even where pupils access support from teaching assistants or specialist staff.
The Head Teacher has overall responsibility for learning and monitoring progress of all children in the school; class teachers identify what is needed and how they will meet those needs; the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) monitors the provision, liaises with outside agencies and provides advice for both parents and teachers.
Currently, the SENCO for the academy is Mrs Deborah Thombs. (National SENCO Award Qualified). Miss Roberts is Assistant SENCO and is training towards the NPQSENCO qualification.
Educational Psychologists give advice to schools, parents and Local Authorities on the needs and difficulties of children and on ways of helping them. The psychologist may want to give your child some things to do individually. They may also observe your child in a classroom or nursery, visit you in your home and talk to the teacher and anyone else who knows your child well. Educational Psychologists focus on how to help your child learn and offer advice around this. They do not offer therapy.
Occupational Therapists are trained to help your child be as independent as possible, advising on equipment if necessary.
The Physical Disability Support Service has been developed to improve co-ordination of Local Authority services to meet the needs of pupils with physical disabilities. The service provides mainstream schools with advice, support and training.
Physiotherapists are trained to assess your child’s mobility and physical development. This might include things like co-ordination, ability to sit, stand and walk. They can advise the school on how best to help your child develop, how best to keep your child as mobile as possible and on any appropriate specialist equipment your child might need. A physiotherapist can work with you and the school to deliver a programme to help your child’s mobility.
They are qualified nurses with extra training in child health and can also advise the school about health and medical needs.
The Specialist Family Support Service is organised on an area basis (North and South). Each area has a team of specialist teachers and teaching assistants with a wide range of skills and experience. They work with pupils, parents, staff in schools or early years settings and other professionals.
If your child is having problems speaking or communicating with other people, the school may seek advice from a speech and language therapist. Speech and Language Therapists are trained in providing assessment and support with speech and communication development in children.
If you are experiencing difficulties at home with your children and would like some support, school can refer to a Family Support Worker from the Children’s Centre. A Family Support Worker can offer support such as behaviour management, help with routines, advice re-accessing benefits and signpost to other support within the community. Contact Mr Green or Mrs Thombs for more details.
The Marton Academy are able to utilse their local offer in Lincolnshire for assistance with Dyslexia screening and advice/support. Please see below for more details about how to support a child with Dyslexia.