SEND
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Welcome to Lancaster Academy Learning Support Area
Welcome to the Learning Support Faculty, where a team of well-trained and caring staff provide a range of support for young people at Lancaster who may need additional help, guidance and information so that they can reach their true potential. You can see from the list below that the year-based teams are well placed to offer students in class support so that they can access learning and make good progress.
Lancaster Academy Learning Support Team:
Mr S. Aldis: SENCO
Mrs P. Lee: SENCO
Mrs D. Lockington: SEN Administrator
Ms W. Limbert: Learning Support Assistant/Reading Lead
Ms E. Taylor: Reading
Miss G. Quinn: Mental Health Mentor
Mrs J. Moss: Learning Support Assistant/Science Technician
Mr L. Sahota: Learning Support Assistant/Food Technician
Mr D. French: Learning Support Assistant/Exams Concessions linked to Year 11
Mrs S. Holland: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 7
Miss S. Gore: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 8
Mr A. Boyd: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 8
Mrs F. Saleem: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 9
Miss A. Musa: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 10
Mrs M. Aman: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 10
Miss C. Mahogo: Learning Support Assistant linked to Year 11
Mrs S. Ali: EAL/EE4
We also have a number of adult support staff who work on a 1 to 1 basis with students, supporting progress in reading, catch up in English and maths or working with small groups in class. There is also an intervention for Dyslexia called Literacy Gold.
The role of the Learning Support department is to provide additional learning support for students across the curriculum. For some students this will be for a short period of time for others it will be more long term.
The Codes of Procedure 2014
Usually a student’s learning needs can be met by suitable teaching strategies, differentiation of resources, or by being part of an intervention programme. Where a student’s needs are more complex, we will seek further advice from outside agencies, for example the Education Psychologist or Speech and Language Service and where appropriate provide in-class support and/or intensive tuition by a SEN qualified teacher.
We recognise that student needs are best met when parents, school and other professionals work together.
Key Stage 3
Students’ learning needs should be identified and met as early as possible. To do this we carry out the following:
- liaise with primary schools
- assess basic literacy and numeracy skills on entry
- communicate closely with both parents/carers, students and professional partner agencies.
Once any additional needs are identified, parents are informed and students are provided with individual learning programme which may be classroom based activities, intervention/s or be a mixture of both.
This may include the following:
- Ruth Miskin Literacy (RML)
- Numeracy intervention groups
- Language Groups
- Social Communication Group
- Small groups for additional help with spellings, comprehension, reading, writing etc
- 1:1 teaching from specialist teachers to support students with dyslexic and dyspraxic tendencies
- Speed-up group for handwriting
- Touch typing classes
- Exercise sessions to help with coordination
- Reading groups
- Nurture Curriculum Withdrawal
- Commando Joe's
Students who have received learning support during Key Stage 3 will be automatically assessed to determine whether support is required for GCSE exam access. This could include extra time, a scribe, a reader or use of a laptop computer.
Key Stage 4
Students who have not made expected progress at the end of Key Stage 3 will be identified at Key Stage 4 through on-going observation and assessment and given extra support to help achieve their potential where needed. Subject specific TAs in core subjects will be utilised for this.
Additional Information
A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:
- Has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age.
- Has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream post-16 institutions.
All children and young people are entitled to an education that enables them to make progress so that they:
- Achieve their best
- Become confident individuals living fulfilling lives, and make a successful transition into adulthood, whether into employment, further or higher education or training.
The SEN Code of Practice states that there are four broad areas of SEN give an overview of the range of needs that should be planned for:
Communication and Interaction
Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have difficulty in communication with others. This may be because they have difficulty saying what they want to, understanding what is being said to them or they do not understand or use social rules of communication. The profile for every child with SLCN is different and their needs may change over time. They may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of speech, language or social communication at different times of their lives.
Children and young people with ASD, including Asperger's Syndrome and Autism, are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction. They may also experience difficulties with language, communication and imagination, which can impact on how they relate to others.
Cognition and Learning
Support for learning difficulties may be required when children and young people learn at a slower pace than their peers, even with appropriate differentiation. Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD), where children are likely to need support in all areas of the curriculum and associated difficulties with mobility and communication, through to profound and multiple learning difficulties (pmld), where children are likely to have severe and complex learning difficulties as well as a physical disability or sensory impairment.
Specific learning difficulties (SPLD), affect one or more specific aspects of learning. This encompasses a range of conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties.
Children and young people may experience a wide rane of social and emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in may ways. these may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or attachment disorder.
Sensory and/or physical needs
Some children and young people require special educational provision because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided. These difficulties can be age related and may fluctuate over time. Many children and young people with vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) will require specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning, or rehabilitation support. Children and young people with an MSI have a combination of vision and hearing difficulties.
For a small number of students whose needs are severe and enduring, the LEA may issue a Statement of SEN. A Statement is the result of a multi-professional assessment and includes Statement objectives used to inform Individual Education Plans and to assess learning.
The Lancaster Academy in line with the Equality Act 2010, will not discriminate any student and will take all reasonable steps to provide effective educational provision.
The Local Offer
A short animation sharing what the Local offer is:
Family Information | What is the Local Offer? (leicester.gov.uk)
The SEND Local Area Review took place at the end of April 2018. This was a review of the Local Area (which includes the local health care providers, the local authority and partners including schools and colleges) and focused on three key areas:-
1. How effectively the local area identifies the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and all disabilities;
2. How effectively the local area assesses and meets the needs children with special educational needs and all disabilities; and,
3. What evidence there is of the impact of partnership working on improving the outcomes overall for children and young people with special educational needs and all disabilities.
The review found strengths and 5 key areas of concern identified by Ofsted and CQC (Care Quality Commission): -
1. The lack of strategic planning to improve the outcomes for children and young people who have SEN and/or disabilities.
2. The poor quality of the education, health and care (EHC) plans
3. The assessment of children and young people’s social care needs
4. The lack of joint commissioning of services to support young people’s health needs post-19
5. The disjointed approach to preparation for adulthood.
Following the inspection, a Written Statement of Action was co-created by the LA, Health and partners aiming to address each of the identified areas of concern. The plan was reviewed and accepted by Ofsted as a viable plan.
A SEND Improvement Board was created for the purpose of “owning” this action plan and to make sure all the actions were being completed in time. This Board meets on a bi-monthly basis to review the actions and discuss any other matters relating to SEND.
Ofsted also identified positive areas that the local area does well including: -
1. The early years SEN team works well with other health and care professionals to meet the needs of younger children
2. Inspection evidence indicates that children and young people who have SEN and/or disabilities are kept safe
3. Those parents and carers who have accessed the mediation service (special educational needs and disabilities information, advice and support service – SENDIASS) are very satisfied with the help and support they receive
4. Children and young people have high aspirations of what they want to achieve in life.
5. Leaders have commissioned a project to improve the outcomes of children in school.
For further information on the Local Area Review and the Written Statement of Action, please click here.
ChatAutism is a messaging service that provides a safe and easy way to send a text message to a healthcare professional and get confidential help and advice.
ChatAutism- text messaging support serviceThe Dynamic Support Pathway (DSP) is an all-age early intervention pathway for people with Learning Disabilities, Autism or both. The DSP is for people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).
