SEND
(Special Educational Needs, Disabilities)
“Pupils with SEND are supported well..….leaders have a strong focus on helping them to make progress through the use of teacher ‘SEND Champions’.”
At The Marvell College our view is that all young people deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We welcome young people of all abilities and provide individualised support to ensure that pupils with SEND feel comfortable and confident to progress in their learning environment.
Through our pastoral systems and curriculum, we seek to provide opportunities to shine a light on and celebrate the talents that children and young people possess.
Within The Marvell College, all teaching and non-teaching staff work hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment for our young people with SEND. We work in compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements and have due regard for the need to eliminate all forms of discrimination, promote and advance equality and foster good relations with all.
If you would like to contact the SEND team please email senddepartment@themarvellcollege.com or call the school on 01482 799132 and we would be happy to help.
Procedures for the identification and assessment of pupils with SEND
We identify the needs of students as early as possible by gathering information from parents, education, health and care services and feeder schools prior to the child’s entry into the college. We fully support the SEND Code of Practice January 2015, The Equality Act 2010 and the definition of special educational needs taken from section 20 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
If you think your child may have special educational needs, you should contact The Marvell College in the first instance and speak with the SENCo. You can email us at senddepartment@themarvellcollege.com or call the school 01482 799132
TYPES OF SEND WE PROVIDE FOR AT THE MARVELL COLLEGE
We provide for and support children with a range of Special Educational Needs, Disabilities (SEND) and impairments. These include some of those identified in the broad areas of need set out in the Code of Practice, January 2015:
Communication and Interaction, including Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Cognition and Learning, including Moderate Learning Disabilities (MLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) and Specific Learning Disabilities (SpLD), including Dyslexia
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Disabilities, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as other issues that are rooted in mental health and wellbeing
Sensory and/or Physical Needs, including a range of Physical Disabilities (PD) Multi– Sensory Impairment (MSI).
At The Marvell College we have a team of experienced and well trained Teaching Assistants (TAs) who deliver specific programs and interventions to support the learning and personal development of children identified as having SEND.
How does the college evaluate the effectiveness of its provision for students with special educational needs?
In order to make consistent continuous progress in relation to SEND provision The Marvell College encourages feedback from staff, parents and pupils throughout the year. This is a continuous process including listening to the perceptions of students and parents, personal tutor meetings, parents’ evenings, provision mapping and the analysis of progress and achievement data.
Students progress will be monitored three times each year and reviews held in line with the SEND Code of Practice for students on the SEND Register. Progress of students undertaking interventions will be reviewed and evaluated at the end of each block of intervention.
School leaders provide the Local Governing Body with an annual report on the impact and effectiveness of our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision in accordance with section 69 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Evidence collected will help inform college development and improvement planning.
How will I know how my child is doing, and how will the college help me to support their learning?
The Marvell College values the role that parents and carers play in contributing to the effective provision of education for children with SEND. Consequently we strive to develop close working relationships with parents and carers built upon candour and sensitive but open dialogue.
We believe that through our relationship with parents and carers we can ensure early and accurate identification and assessment of SEND leading to the correct intervention and provision continuing social, emotional and academic progress of children with SEND personal and academic targets are set and met effectively.
In some cases and at certain times in a child’s journey through The Marvell College, more frequent and regular contact with parents/carers is necessary. When this is appropriate it will be arranged in partnership with the Head of Year, SENCo and in some cases, senior pastoral staff.
The SENCo may also signpost parents/carers of students with SEND to the Local Authority Parent Partnership service where specific advice, guidance and support may be required.
If an assessment or referral indicates that a student has additional learning needs the parents/carers and the student will always be consulted with regards to future provision. Parents/carers are invited to attend meetings with external agencies regarding their child, and are kept up to date and consulted on any points of action drawn up in regards to the provision for their child.
What is The Marvell College approach to teaching students with special educational needs?
At The Marvell College, we believe that all students deserve to receive the best education. Each individual requires varying levels of support with their learning and we strive to provide pupils with the tools they need to achieve their full potential. Provision for students with special educational needs is a whole college responsibility involving all staff, teaching and support. We believe that all teachers are teachers of children with special educational needs. All teaching staff have access to the full SEND register, together with information on individual students’ special educational needs and suggested strategies that enable them to plan their lessons accordingly in a way which allows all students to access the curriculum.
How will the curriculum and leanring be adaptedto my child's needs?
Learning activities are planned to match individual learning needs. The learning environment is stimulating, supportive and well resourced. Students identified as requiring SEND support will where appropriate, be supported by a teaching assistant within the main school curriculum.
We also consider social time part of our wider ‘curriculum’ as children negotiate unstructured time and develop social and communication skills. We provide a range of extra curricular clubs and activities specifically for children with SEND along with our friendship club which is available at break and lunchtime every day in the SEND teaching space and benefits from a high staff to student ratio.
We will ensure that all staff know and understand the needs of students. All staff will have access to training, advice and resources to enable them to contribute to developing fully inclusive practice. This remains an on-going College priority.
How are decisions made about the type and amount of support my child will receive?
In the first instance we carefully consider the needs of all children through the process of their transition into the College. For most children this is part of the primary to secondary transition process. For children who transfer into The Marvell College during the school year, we will seek information from their previous school or setting in order to enable us to plan for their arrival with us.
We identify students who would benefit from additional interventions and support with their learning or their personal development and wellbeing and plan provision and interventions accordingly. Most of the provision and interventions are already in place but we constantly review how we are supporting all children and refine and alter provision/interventions accordingly.
The decision to consider an application for additional funding is made after careful consultation between the SENCo key college staff and families.
The amount and type of support for children with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be detailed within their own document. The school will provide this support and the impact of this will be reviewed formally each year as part of an annual review process. In some cases an interim review is called in order to consider the effectiveness of the provision and recommend adjustments to the detail within the EHCP.
Some students may also be entitled to additional support through other means such as the Pupil Premium funding. Details of how the school intends to use this and the impact of our strategy for the previous academic year can be found on the Pupil Premium page of the website.
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom, including events and trips?
As an inclusive college, we ensure that students with SEND take as full a part as possible in all curriculum activities. We deliver practice that ensures that statutory obligations with regard to SEND are met. We will carefully consider the needs of individual students with SEND to enable them to access and experience all aspects of the curriculum alongside children without SEND. If necessary, a Health Care Plan will be drawn up with the First Aid Team in The Marvell College and we will ensure the staff are fully aware of students with SEND and what those needs are and are given training and support to help them meet those needs, both in and out of the classroom.
What support will their be for my child's overall well-being?
We work hard to ensure that students are included in all aspects of College life. We believe that all our students should be valued equally, treated with respect and be given equal opportunities in all aspects of academy life.
Form Tutors liaise with other staff within the school, including the Head of Year, SENCo, Subject Teachers, Year Group Achievement Mentors, Teaching Assistants and those delivering interventions in order to ensure that the student makes good rates of progress socially, emotionally and academically.
We provide breakfast club provision and specific break and lunchtime clubs for children with SEND as we know that less structured time can be a cause of anxiety.
What training have staff supporting special educational needs had and what is planned?
We aim to keep all college staff up to date with relevant training and developments in teaching practice in relation to the needs of students with SEND.
The SENCo and the wider support team attend relevant SEND courses, Trust SEN meetings/training and all staff have access to relevant SEND focused internal and external training opportunities.
We recognise the need for on-going training with regards to SEND issues and we generously allocate The Marvell College funding to ensure on-going professional development is a key feature of our continual school improvement work, particularly in relation to SEND.
The SENCo with the senior leadership team, ensures that training opportunities are matched to college development priorities. Often this involves support and training from specialist services or colleagues from special schools in the locality.
On-going training for Teachers and Teaching Assistants is organised as and when required. If a particular students needs require specific staff training then this will be put in place for example manual handling and fire evacuation procedures for students with severe medical needs.
What specialist services and expertise are available or accessed by The Marvell College?
The Marvell College invites and seeks advice and support from external agencies in the identification and assessment of, and provision for SEND. The Marvell College continues to build strong working relationships and shares information and links with external support services in order to fully support our SEND students. Sharing knowledge and information with our support services is essential to the effective and successful SEND provision we offer. If a concern is raised it will be brought to the attention of the SENCo who will then inform the child’s parents/carers in line with our safeguarding policy.
Below are examples of some of the services who we might work and liaise with in order to provide effective support for families and children with SEND:
- CAMHS
- Social Care
- Family support service – Early Help
- FISH
- Parent Partnership
- KIDS
- IPaSS
- Educational Psychology Service
- Speech and Language Service
We invite colleagues from a range of support services, both public sector and charitable, where appropriate to meetings throughout the year to contribute to our SEND provision.
In cases where a child is under observation or a cause for concern, focused meetings will be arranged with the appropriate agency. Parents/carers will normally be invited to and informed about any meetings held concerning their child unless there are over-riding safeguarding issues.
How will we facilitate students with special educational needs to make the college accessible?
In addition to support from teaching assistants in the classroom and through specific intervention groups, The Marvell College provides the following additional resources, facilities and procedures for our Special Needs Students:
TRANSITION
We work closely with the Trust and other feeder primary schools to make sure that all students feel comfortable with their move to a secondary school. SEND students will have the opportunity to have extra visits to The Marvell College in order to familiarise themselves with the environment and some of the staff they will be working with in the future. In some cases we also liaise with the primary school and parents to arrange a longer transition program which starts in the summer term. In some cases, particularly for children identified as SEND by type SEMH this transition program continues into the autumn term that the student arrives at The Marvell College. The purpose of this is ensure that we identify the most effective strategies to support a child and provide direction, training and support to staff in order to ensure a consistent approach to the provision across subject areas.
HOMEWORK SUPPORT
Homework clubs are available within the SEND classroom area before and after school and also at lunchtimes. This ensures we are able to provide close support for students in order that they can benefit from additional learning opportunities that teachers set through homework.
In some cases, Teachers and Teaching Assistants also ensure that students are given additional time to complete tasks or write their homework in their planner so that it is clear and legible.
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Students on the Special Needs register at SEND Support and who are externally funded will be allocated Teaching Assistant support. Teaching Assistants work closely with the child, parents and staff to meet the child’s needs within The Marvell College. The SENCo and Year Pastoral Team are always available for students to talk to.
EDUCATIONAL TESTING AND SCREENING
In addition to standard testing and assessments and tracking within college there is provision for further assessment and screening. This can be to identify conditions such as Dyslexia or to identify specific gaps in literacy such as phonics. This helps identify students who may need additional support within lessons or may benefit from a more individualised programme of support. It may also provide evidence for examination boards if applications for additional access arrangements for examinations are to be made.
We also use the Boxall Assessment Tool to provide a precise assessment of identified students developmental, social, emotional and behavioural needs. This information is then used to inform specific interventions and curriculum content to support the students.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS
The Marvell College incorporates facilities for students and staff with disabilities. It is easily accessible for all visitors and has marked parking bays at several points around the academy for blue badge holders. A loop hearing system is available on request. There are several disabled toilets in all areas of the building, all equipped with handrails and emergency alarms.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
The Marvell College provides access to a limited number of laptops and IPads on a needs led basis to support students with temporary and long term physical needs and/or literacy related barriers to learning.
EXAMINATION ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS
An identification of SEND does not result in automatic exam access arrangements. The process of examination access arrangements is governed by the exams regulatory board – JCQ. Students are assessed by a series of tests and if identified as requiring access arrangements, this is co-ordinated between The Marvell College Exams Officer, a Qualified Assessor and the SENCo, students and parents/carers are notified of their exam access arrangements and support, as approved, is provided.
More details of access arrangements can be found at www.jcq.org.uk
COLLEGE TRANSPORT
Where students with SEND require specific transport to and from The Marvell College, this is arranged by Hull City Council.
What are the arrangements for consulting young people with SEND and involving the in education?
We believe that students who are capable of forming views have a right to express their opinions and to have that opinion taken into account. SEND students will be encouraged to be involved in the setting of their own learning targets and in evaluating their own progress through personal tutor meetings and EHCP annual reviews. Their views will be taken into account when planning support.
The Marvell College is an environment where students feel safe to voice their opinions regarding their own needs. This means we will seek the views of the students and take them into account during the decision making process and will be made easier by carefully monitoring the progress of all pupils.
Student participation is a right. This will be reflected in decision-making but also encouraged through wider opportunities for participation in college life, for example, through the student voice.
What do I do if I have a concern or complaint about the SEND provision made by the college?
We value the partnership between parents/carers and The Marvell College but should a problem arise, parents/carers are asked to contact the SENCo in the first instance to discuss the issue.
If a parent/carer has any concerns or complaints regarding the care or welfare of their child, an appointment can be made by them to speak to the SENCo, who will be able to advise on formal procedures for complaint.
Any complaints will be treated in accordance with The Marvell College complaints procedure. For a copy of the complaints procedure, refer to the The Marvell College website, Contact Us - The Marvell College.
How does the governing body involve other organisations and services (eg, Health & Social Care, Local Authority Support Services and voluntary organisations) in the meeting the needs of students with special educational needs and supporting the families?
The Marvell College invites and seeks advice and support from external agencies in the identification and assessment of, and provision for, SEND. The College continues to build strong working relationships and links with external support services in order to fully support our SEND students and aid college inclusion.
Representatives from voluntary organisations and other external agencies are invited to meetings throughout the year to discuss SEND provision and progress and keep staff up to date with legislation.
The governing body is kept informed about the involvement of other organisations and services through meetings with the SEND governor and governors’ reports.
How does the college seek to sign post organisations, services etc who can provide additional support to parents/carers.young people?
The Marvell College has very good working relationships with outside agencies. Parents/carers receive information about external events which may be relevant to them by email or post.
How will the college prepare my child for the future?
- Join the College?
- Transfer between phases of education (e.g. primary to secondary, secondary to post 16 provider)?
- Prepare for adulthood and independent living?
To facilitate the smooth transition for students with support needs both from Trust and other feeder primary schools, there will also be, prior to admission:
A transition programme co-ordinated by the Assistant Headteacher responsible for transition and the SENCo
The gathering of additional relevant information from the current setting
The making of appropriate transition arrangements with regard to the transition plan put into place in Year 6, including a bespoke/extended transition package
A timetable for transition planning for all students with SEND
Special evening events where prospective students meet staff. Students with special educational needs, together with their parents/carers, are also invited to talk to SENCo about the provision for students with SEND. There are extra visits for some students to ensure a smooth transition.
Staff training may also have taken place where students with high level needs are to be admitted.
Students with special educational needs admitted to The Marvell College, at times other than Year 7 transitions, are carefully assessed on admission to ensure their needs are met.
The Marvell College aims to support transition at each stage from Year 7 to 11. EHCP reviews in Year 8 and Year 11 plan for transition to key stage 4 and post 16 education. The Careers Advisor meets Students with SEND in Year 11 to ensure a robust plan is in place for their future education.
Our curriculum and enrichment offer provides all Students with opportunities to experience things that will prepare them to succeed in the next phase of their lives. In Key Stage 4, some students with particular needs follow a Life Skills curriculum which covers a range of everyday, practical tasks designed to support them in leading happy and confident lives.
All students receive information, advice and guidance on Post 16 options and SEND students are escorted on visits to local colleges and Post 16 centres.
Where can I access further information?
More details about the reforms and the SEN Code of Practice can be found on the Department for Education’s website Click here
Information on the Hull SEND Local Offer can be found at https://hullsendlocaloffer.org.uk/
Keeping children active, entertained and safe during the school holidays
To keep your children entertained check out the websites below:
| Page Downloads | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Support - Supporting Reading at Home | 28th Feb 2024 | Download |
| SEND Information Report 2024 | 28th Aug 2024 | Download |
