Ethos
At PCHS we value all of our pupils and aim to treat each of our students as individuals with differing interests, knowledge, skills and needs. We aim to do all we can to meet the additional needs of learners to ensure they can access the curriculum and make the most of their unique talents and abilities.
Learner Profiles
At PCHS we routinely screen new learners on entry to the school to correctly identify and assess SEND. Each student on our SEND register will have a learner profile outlining their needs and detailing strategies for support.
The SEND Code of Practice (DfE2014) describes four main categories of need. These are:
Working with Students, Parents and Carers
We understand the importance of the student and parent/carer voice in order to carefully and appropriately meet individual needs. In order to do this:
- All students on SEND register have a Student Profile which is co-produced with the students and their parent/carer.
- It is written in the student voice and actively promotes them building skills in advocating for themselves.
- It promotes open and thoughtful dialogue between students and their teachers.
- Where there are more complex needs, students, parents and carers are consulted and involved in planning SEN Support plans or where a student has an Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs), short term plans that sit alongside this.
Graduated Approach and First Response
At PCHS we follow the Northumberland Local Authority – Graduated Approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), more information can be found here. This approach broadly follows an Assess-Plan-Do-Review cycle.
Our first response to any student who may be struggling in class is Quality First Teaching (QFT). This strategy ensures a SMART targeted approach is taken in order to maximise student progress.
External Support
We have a range of external services and agencies that we can refer into when we have exhausted our expertise and feel we would benefit from another viewpoint. These include:
- Social care and Early Help
- Health Services – School Health – Primary mental Health – Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS) – Speech and Language Therapy
- Local Authority SEND Services – HINT – Speech, Language and Communication, Literacy, Autism Support, Emotional Well-Being and Behaviour – LINT – Sensory Support, EAL
We always seek the consent of parents and explain how we think the service can help before making the referral. These services also provide expert advice and training for staff in school.
Transitions
We foster a close working relationship with our two feeder Middle Schools in order to support the transition to High School. In preparation for students joining us we:
- Have detailed conversations between SENCos in the Spring term to prepare a plan for those who will require additional support.
- Send TAs to the Middle schools to meet with small groups of students who require additional preparation and information before beginning visits to PCHS
- Organise additional visits for those who need them as well as invite parents to come for an informal coffee morning with the SEND department and a look around school where required.
- Hold 1:1 meetings with parents of students who are on the SEND register to discuss their needs and how we can make the transition as smooth as possible.
- Spend time talking to Middle school staff to learn about what has worked for the students there.
If a student is joining us mid year from a school out of catchment, we work closely with parents and their current school to provide as much of a transition as possible.
The Local Offer
Northumberland County Council (the Local Authority) is duty bound to publish a ‘Local Offer’. This is an online page on which they will publish information about the support and opportunities for children, young people and their families with SEND within Northumberland. It also shows how the Local Authority is responding to local need by involving children, young people, parents and carers in the development and review of the Local Offer. The Northumberland Local Offer can be found here:
SEND Local Offer in Northumberland
You can also find more information, advice and support for families with children with special educational needs and disabilities in Northumberland here:
Policies
