How we support children/young people with SEND starting at our school
If children have not attended our Pre-School, Early Years Staff make visits to local Nurseries to meet the children who will be starting our school. They spend time working with the children, observing them in a familiar environment and talking to their key workers. Following this, parents will be invited to visit school for an induction meeting. Parents will be invited to meet the staff and share any concerns they have. We also have a series of visit days. These are timetabled so that children can experience the Early Years Unit and what we have to offer. For children with SEND, if required, we have further visits, where the children can meet key staff and we would provide a transition booklet for them to review at home. Additional visits to the Nursery to meet with the Head Teacher/SENDCo can also be arranged.
How we support children/young people with SEND moving between classes in our school
At Tanfield Lea Community Primary School, staff work closely within each milestone, so children become familiar with each staff team. Every year we have a ‘Move up day’ where children spend the morning in their new classroom, meeting their new teacher, and learning about the next year. Staff have a meeting each year to share information. For those children who require provision that is additional to or different from quality first teaching we make additional arrangements to support these children through the transition. This can include spending additional time in their new classroom, visiting their new classroom with their current member of support staff, beginning transition arrangements earlier in the Summer Term. The support provided is tailored to the needs of individual children and will be discussed with parents and carers and the child. Children with SEND within the school may be given a ‘transition booklet/pamphlet’ each year as they move from year to year to help them feel secure about school.
How we support children/young people with SEND leaving our school
We work with dedicated staff from local Secondary Schools who visit our school and liaise with staff to ensure that information about individual children can be shared and provision made. This member of staff spends time during the summer term with the children in year 6 who will be transitioning to their school.
Time is given for transition workers to spend time with children and for information to be shared concerning their SEND. Extra visits are arranged for the children as well as meetings for parents to meet the new SENDCo.
Additional transition sessions are provided within our school to support the development of key life skills which will help ease transition. We have a designated member of staff who focuses on key skills such as road safety, accessing the bus service and spending money in a local shop.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
