Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

SENDCo: Miss Lorna Brown Contactable via the school office 01947 602029 or lbrown@ruswarp.n-yorks.sch.uk 

SEND Governor: Ms Victoria Smith 

All children may experience some difficulties in learning from time to time during their school life. We aim to provide equal access to the whole curriculum for all children including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  All teaching staff are involved in the learning and development of pupils with SEND.  Parents and careers are involved at all stages.

We place great emphasis on identifying pupils with additional needs as early as possible, therefore ensuring a differentiated curriculum to accommodate individual needs and allow maximum access to the curriculum. Where a child has a particular individual need, we will make reasonable adjustments to help them overcome their difficulties which may include additional support. Depending on the identified need this support may take place in class, in a small group or on an individual basis. On occasion, additional support is sought from an external agency such as, School Health,  the Behaviour Support service, or the Educational Psychology Service.

All North Yorkshire Local Authority (LA) maintained schools have a similar approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and are supported by the LA to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school.  All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible.  The four broad ‘areas of need’ are Communication and Interaction, Cognition and Learning, Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties, and Sensory and Physical Needs.

The Local Offer

Local Authorities and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for the children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25. This is known as the ‘Local Offer’.

The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice and transparency for families. It will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.  Information is published as part of the SEND reforms under the Children and Families Act 2014.