We are a mainstream all-through school and the majority of our students are expected to reach the education standards for their age. A small number of our students do have special educational needs. Students are identified as having a SEND when their progress has slowed or stopped on a short or long term basis.

No child is refused admission based on any protected characteristic. Also, children in receipt of an EHCP (Education, Health & Care Plan) are admitted in conjunction with SENAR (Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review) either into the mainstream or Resource Base provision. Children with an identification of SEND with no EHCP are admitted through the school admission route.

At Waverley School we cater for Students with SEN in our school may have difficulties with:

• Communication and interaction
• Cognition and learning
• Social, emotional and mental health
• Sensory difficulties with sight or hearing, or physical difficulties

To prevent any discrimination or inequality we have an Equality Policy which is accessible on our website.

Support and guidance

Where there is a lack of progress, additional support may be needed. Any support provided will always be considered in the light of the type of need, the purpose of the support and expected outcomes.

• Students with SEND might be supported in any of the following ways:
• Individual or small group work which may take place before or after school or during the school day;
• In-class support from a Teaching Assistant or HLTA.
• Additional resources via our Resource Base classes (Waverley School only – secondary and primary)
• Access arrangements for examinations, based on need, history of need, and whether it is the student's usual way of working
• Intervention from external agencies
• Where completion of homework is an issue, the student homework club in the library or with TA’s for our Resource Base students

Tracking and monitoring

We have robust tracking and assessment processes. For every child, there are face to face parent consultation evenings, termly progress checks and a number of data captures (target tracker) each year for the different phases and year groups.  All teachers constantly check and review progress made by all students throughout the lesson.

• All students including those with SEND will have their progress reviewed throughout the year
• Staff will arrange to meet the parent/carer and the student to discuss their progress usually at parents’ evenings, though other meetings can be arranged if required.
• Where an external agency has been working with the student, this specialist may be invited to contribute to the meeting
• A student who holds an Education Health and Care Plan will have an Annual Review meeting involving the SENCO, parent/carer, and student, as well as any other relevant parties. Parents may invite someone to accompany them if they wish. School may invite relevant professionals to attend if advice has been sought.

 

Accessibility

We maintain an Accessibility Policy (available on the School/WSC website) which is reviewed annually and links to the Health & Safety Audit. We are always looking to improve our environment and will be completing building work to develop the Primary Resource Base area so that provision is continually improved. Alongside this we will be installing 2 self-cleaning toilets for students who require this level of personal hygiene support.

The Waverley School is comprised of two main blocks. The Secondary side is comprised of 4 levels (basement to 2nd floor) and Primary on 2 levels (Ground and 1^st floor). The other block is our 6th Form Centre which is comprised of 2 levels (Ground and 1^st floor). Waverley Studio College (WSC) comprises of 3 blocks (2 have 2 levels ground and 1^st floor) and the 3^rd is a single floor. There are lifts in each block, so upstairs areas are fully accessible to those with a disability and require this facility. Disabled access toilets are available on every floor. Some students require a supervised quiet area for social times and this is provided in the Inclusion area. We also have special areas assigned for physiotherapy for those students who require this extra support. The school supports a secondary and primary cognition and learning resource base in conjunction with SENAR. We now have our own sensory room which is used by students from reception to 6^th form.

Parental information

As a parent of a child with SEND and who is receiving a specific intervention, you will be invited into school/WSC, contacted by telephone, or emailed to update you on your child’s progress. This will happen at least termly. Parents of a child with an EHCP will be invited to discuss the progress of their child on a termly basis. Progress, attendance, behaviour, readiness for learning, self-esteem, and any other relevant area could be discussed at a face-to-face meeting, parents, SENCO and outside agency specialists may be present. We will always try to inform parents in advance of the meeting who will be present. Parents/carers can ask for any trusted adult, such as a grandparent, to accompany them to the review meeting. For children on the School SEND Register there will be additional opportunities to meet or liaise with key staff throughout the year at timely intervals, dependent on need.

Information is sent home in the most appropriate format. The Trust are endeavouring to be paperless, but realise that not all parents have access to or are IT literate, so paper copies are available for those who require it. Certain information regarding trips and consent are still completed via hard copies.

If parents have a complaint, the Trust has a formal complaints procedure that they can follow. This comes under our Concerns and Complaints Policy which is on our website. Parents can also come into the School/WSC. The School/WSC support parents who require support for a SEND child to contact Birmingham SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice and Support Service) if it is felt that level of support is required.

For further information or to request copies of any documents provided on this page please contact Our SENCO team,

• Assistant Principal - SEND – Ms C. Alexander
• Resource Base Manager - Mr A. Pain
• Primary SENCO – Mrs A. Pitt
• SENCO Waverley Studio College – Mrs P. Gohir

E-mail: SENDEnquiry@waverley.bham.sch.uk
Telephone: 0121 566 6600

 

Birmingham Local Offer

The Birmingham Local Offer website includes information about the wide range of services that are available to support all areas of a child’s life (0-25 years) especially those with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND).  This includes support with education, physical and mental health, social care, leisure activities and moving towards independence and adulthood. 

Every local authority in England has a duty to provide children and young people, (0-25 years) with support if they have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities - this is known as the Local Offer.  Every local authority has to publish what support is available on a website: this is called the Local Offer Website. 

This Local Offer website gives information about the support that the local authority expects to be available across education, health and social care. The information on the website is clear and easy to find. It says who a particular service is for, how to apply, and how decisions are made about who gets that service.

The information you should be able to find on a Local Offer Website includes:

• Sources of support, advice and information for children, young people and families including support groups and forums.
• Special educational, health and social care provision for children and young people with SEN or disabilities
• Arrangements to identify and assess children and young people with SEN, including how an assessment can be requested.
• Other educational provision, for example leisure activities, sports or arts provision,
• Information about provision to assist in preparing children and young people for adulthood including post-16 education and training provision
• Arrangements for travel to and from schools, post-16 institutions and early years providers
• Childcare, including suitable provision for disabled children and those with SEND
• Support available to young people in higher education, particularly the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) and the process and timescales for making an application for DSA
• Arrangements for resolving disagreements and for mediation, and details about making complaints

Click here to visit Local Offer Birmingham