SEND Information Report

School/Academy Name and Address	Red Marsh School Holly Road Thornton Cleveleys FY5 4HH	Telephone Email	01253 868451 admin@redmarsh.lancs.sch.uk
		Website Address	www.redmarsh.lancs.sch.uk
Name and contact details of your school’s SENCO	Jenny Slater                               Headteacher                              Red Marsh School Holly Campus                                  Willow Campus  Holly Road                                       Ringway  Thornton Cleveleys                        Cleveleys FY5 4HH                                           FY5 2NL

Parent Questions

1. What kind of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision is available at Red Marsh School?

Red Marsh Special School offers places for pupils aged 2 – 19. Pupils have a wide range of needs including pupils with Moderate Learning difficulties (MLD) pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), pupils with Autism (ASD) and pupils with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).  Throughout the school some pupils have additional needs arising from sensory impairments and physical disabilities. Our dedicated and experienced staff team have expertise in all these areas. All pupils attending school have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  For the arrangements of admissions, see our admissions policy. 

Red Marsh School is designated as a National Support School by the National College for Teaching and Leadership supporting pupils and staff in mainstream and special schools.  

2. How do we know if your child needs extra help and what should you do if you think your child or young person has Special Educational Needs?

Our school staff  are experienced in assessing the needs of pupils with SEN and Disability, where necessary assessments are sought from a multi-disciplinary team including an Educational Psychologist and Health Care professionals. If you think your child has Special Educational Need which our school can meet you should contact the Special Educational Needs office on 01524 581138.  Once you have contacted the office school will be happy to arrange a non-prejudice visit where you will be shown around our outstanding provision. 

3. Where can you find information about the school’s Special Educational Needs policies?

Red Marsh School has a wide range of policies to ensure we meet the needs of our pupils all of whom have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  These policies are available and many are included on our school website www.redmarsh.lancs.sch.uk

3a. How do we evaluate the effectiveness of our Special Educational Needs provision?

The school uses a wide range of strategies to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of our provision this includes: observation of pupils and their work; analysis of performance data and targets; views of parents /carers, pupils, staff and a range of multi-agency staff. The school also uses a range of external audit tools to ensure outstanding provision.

Awards successfully gained by school include:

• Rated 3 x as an Outstanding Provider for SEND Education (Ofsted)
• Basic Quality Marks for English and Mathematics provision;
• International Schools Award;
• Leading Parent Partnership Award
• Healthy School Status.

3b.How do we assess and review the progress of your child?

Rigorous assessment techniques are used throughout school these include observation of pupils and their work; discussion with parents and cares and the systematic tracking of pupil progress against expected outcomes. 

EHC Plans (EHCP) are formally reviewed each year in line with the guidelines from the current Code of Practice.  The EHC Plans can be reviewed more frequently at the request of anyone working with the pupil.  In line with current legislations, for pupils aged 2 – 5, the EHC Plans are reviewed every 6 months. 

The EHC Plan and, subsequently, the Annual Review are used to inform each child’s Personalised Learning Intention Targets (PLIT).  Personalised Learning Intention Targets are monitored daily and reviewed five times a year. Interim reviews can be held according to need. 

3c.How does school approach teaching pupils with Special Educational Needs?

Our dedicated staff team ensures the curriculum is accessible for all in an inclusive environment. The team employ a wide range of teaching and learning approaches to inspire learning and ensure progress for all.

All our pupils receive, as appropriate:

• A stimulating curriculum with personalised learning outcomes and activities to meet individual need, appropriate to the age of the pupils
• Personalised targets and strategies including: communication and interaction; cognition and learning including literacy and numeracy; social, emotional and mental health and physical and sensory
• Small classes with a high ratio of staff to pupils
• A total communication environment
• Personalised sensory intervention programmes
• Modified resources and strategies to support learning and recording of pupil’s work
• A wide range of resources including: inclusive ICT resources; objects of reference. visual timetables; signs and symbols and multi-sensory resources
• Programmes to develop attention and concentration skills
• Programmes to support personal and social development including self-help, independence skills and behaviour management skills
• Advice from Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists and Occupational therapist
• Specialist adult support to structure learning situations.
• High levels of supervision to ensure safety particularly at unstructured times.
• Programmes to support social and emotional development with individual targets
• Individual behaviour targets and strategies  shared with home and school
• Staff trained in de-escalation techniques
• Support for mobility and healthcare needs enabling safe and full access to all learning opportunities.
• Support to develop fine and gross motor skills.
• Individual physical targets and strategies shared with home
• Swimming lessons with differentiated targets from Reception to KS4
• Accessible PE lessons
• Implementation of Individual Care Plans Opportunities to learn outside the classroom in the community
• Homework opportunities
• All sixth form students  have personalised work experience programmes and college placements
• All key stage 4 and sixth form students have accesses to a range of accreditation and qualifications which meets their needs
• An online learning classroom, ‘Showbie’ for home school learning

Additional need is met through: increased staffing levels, specialist resources; individual therapy programmes; a range of intervention strategies including specialist physical education programmes and sensory intervention programmes; advice from specialist Inclusion and Disability Support Services.

3d.How have we adapted the curriculum and learning environment to meet the needs of your child?

The school provides a highly specialist curriculum to meet the needs of all our pupils including: 

• A total communication environment including specialist curriculum delivery by a teacher and TAs.  These staff have understanding of how to adapt the curriculum to meet individual need including how to simplify  language and use assistive communication such as Makaton, PECs,  communication aids
• Modified resources and strategies to support learning and recording of pupils work
• Wide range of resources including: inclusive ICT resources; objects of reference. visual timetables; signs and symbols and multi-sensory resources
• When recommended by a therapist specialist Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy aids are incorporated into the daily routines of school.

The school is a purpose-built, recently modernised accessible single storey building with a calm and friendly atmosphere. The school building is fully wheelchair accessible and comprises of:

• Well-resourced classrooms including a nursery and two FE bases
• A 4D Immersive Learning Zone
• Access to age appropriate play and or leisure areas
• Access to a food technology room
• A large hydrotherapy pool for swimming lessons and water therapy sessions
• A sensory room
• A wide range of inclusive technology
• Fully accessible toilet and changing facilities
• Specialist furniture including adapted seating
• Two mini buses, with lift and provision for wheelchairs are available to facilitate learning in the community
• A kitchen that prepares healthy lunches; all lunches can be adapted to meet dietary and feeding requirements
• A gastrostomy food preparation area
• An exercise track’ developing woodland area and an orienteering trail
• Horticultural areas and poly tunnel where pupils are encouraged to grow their own food
• Therapy and health care base / family support room

3e.How do we decide about the type and amount of support your child will receive? 

We constantly review our provision to ensure we are meeting all our pupils’ individual needs. 

Resources including staffing are allocated according to the principle of equality of opportunity taking into account the individual needs of each child as identified in their EHC Plan, banding documentation and the schools provision mapping.

Where a learner’s EHCP indicates the need for additional resources to those specialist resources we provide for all our learners or where need is identified following a formal assessment and review, resources will be allocated as soon as possible.

3f.How will school support your child to engage in the many activities that take place at Red Marsh?

Red Marsh School prides itself on being a totally inclusive school.  All pupils are engaged in all aspects of the curriculum including physical activities this is achieved through the dedication of our highly trained staff; specialist resources and specialist curriculum programmes.  When education provision is provided off site, all pupils are supported by a member of school staff, who is familiar with the needs of the pupil.

3g.How will we support the Emotional and Social Development of your child?

Personal and Social Development (PSD) including emotional development and nurture provision is a core curriculum entitlement for all pupils.  In addition, in order to meet the needs of all our pupils, the school accesses the following specialists’ provision:

• Therapy services on site including, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy,
• A specialist health care team is on site and pupils can also access orthotics clinics through school. Paediatrician clinics are also held within the school.    
• Where need is identified school can access support from an educational psychologist, clinical psychologist and the Learning Disability Team services
• School works closely with social workers to help meet the needs of pupils and their families
• Transition workers support pupils moving into adult services
• Transition workers and the Education Business Partnership (NW) Ltd provide impartial advice regarding opportunities available in adult life. 

4 Who is responsible for the Special Educational Needs of all the children at Red Marsh School?

The overall responsibility lies with the headteacher and through her with the staff of the school.  .

5. How will we ensure that your child is taught and supported by staff who are well trained and experts in working with children with Special Educational Needs?

To ensure we provide the best possible education for our pupils, all our staff have regular SEN disability and awareness in-service training, this begins with a rigorous induction programme supported by an experienced mentor and continues with an annual programme of continuous professional development. 

6. How accessible is the school environment for your child?

The school environment both indoors and outdoors is fully accessible. 

7. What arrangements are available for consulting with you as a parent or carer? 

The school values the strong relationship built between parents/carers and school staff; believing that the sharing of information between home and school is essential in ensuring all our pupils are challenged to meet their true potential in all aspects of learning. As part of the school’s induction programme parents are introduced to school staff. During the induction to school parents are made aware who they should contact if they have concerns.

There are many opportunities for parents to communicate with and provide feedback to school these include:

• Induction visits and meetings
• Parent Teacher and Friends Association
• Parent / carer workshops
• Coffee and chat afternoons with other parents our therapy team and home school link worker
• Electronic home school diary, accessed through each child’s online classroom, ‘Showbie’
• Annual parental questionnaire
• An open door policy

In addition parent/carers are encouraged to ring or visit school if they: require support; have any concerns or wish for further information regarding their child. To ensure optimum engagement with parent/carers the school is audited through the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) and has successfully been accredited with LPPA status. If a parent/carer requires support accessing information or attending school steps will be taken where practical to provide support

The educational progress of the pupils is shared throughout the year through a formal planned programme including;

• Annual Review meetings
• Personalised Learning Intention Targets
• Meet and Greet the teacher evening
• Parent/carer evening
• End of Year Reports
• Interim meetings
• Information shared via our online classroom, ‘Showbie’

Opportunities to discuss a child’s progress can also occur at any time and informal opportunities to share achievements with parents are encouraged for example through star of the week certificates, home school diaries, telephone calls and meetings.

8. How will we consult and involve your child in their education?

Communication strategies personalised to meet the needs of all our pupils allow the school to be confident that everyone has a voice. Strong relationships between pupils and staff ensure pupil voice is heard and acted upon. The School Council meets regularly and the views of the School Council are valued and acted upon.

As many of our learners have communication difficulties it is vital to elicit the views of parents and carers as an important safeguard. School provides many opportunities for parents and carers to communicate their views with school.

9. What can you do if you have a complaint concerning the provision made for your child at school?

Parents/carers are encouraged to express their opinion about the effectiveness of the provision at Red Marsh School. If a parent or carer has any concerns they should speak to the teachers or Senior Leadership Team. If unhappy with the response from the class teacher or Senior Leadership Team parent or carers are guided to the Governing Body, L.E.A. or OFSTED.  The schools complaint procedure is available on our school website.   

10. How will we involve other bodies including health and social services bodies, local authority support services and voluntary organisations, in meeting the needs of your child and family?

As an outstanding special school we are committed to meeting the needs of our pupils and families through a multi-agency approach.  When a need is identified the school works hard to draw these services together.

11. What additional help and support is available for your family?

We strongly value our partnership with parents/carers If parent/carers require support, have any concerns or wish for further information they are encouraged to ring or visit school and speak to the class teacher, Senior Leadership Team or home school link worker.  If a parent/carer requires support accessing information or attending school steps will be taken where practical to provide support

School is able to sign post families to a range of support including advice and guidance from

• Our health and therapy care team
• LCC Transport
• The Young People Service
• Social Care
• Advocacy Services
• Support agencies and counselling services
• Educational and clinical psychologists

12. How will we support your child when they transfer between phases of education or prepare for adulthood?

The school works with parent /carers and other professional involved in the life of the child to create individual transition programmes matched to the needs of each pupil The transition plans may include home visits, visits to other settings, visits to school, gradual transition programmes and the sharing of booklets/information containing photographs. Successful transitions to a new class or school are ensured by information sharing and individual transition plans.

Pupils aged 12 – 19 work with school, parents/carers, transition workers from Social Care and Young People Services to support their preparation for adulthood. Impartial careers advice is provided by the Transition Workers. 

Pupils aged 12 -19 have a transition plan highlighting their aspirations for the future.

‘Opportunities Fair’ are available where parents and young people can explore the opportunities open to them in adult life, including further education, employment, independent living and participation.

Our whole curriculum builds from nursery to the end of EOKS5 helping all our pupils to develop the skills knowledge and attitudes to live fulfilling lives in the wider community. 

Our sixth form curriculum specifically designed to prepare students for life beyond school; for example

• Preparation for supported or independent living the curriculum develops a student’s independent living skills
• Preparation for further education the curriculum provides planned opportunities for all students to explore different colleges and courses they offer
• Preparation for supported employment or apprenticeships. Students have planned opportunities for work experience placements

The school works hard to ensure 100% of leavers successfully transfer to their chosen destinations.

13. Where will you find information about the LEA Local Offer?

You can find our Local Offer on our school website www.redmarsh.lancs.sch.uk.  You will also find a link to the Local Authorities Offer by clicking the SEND tab on our home page.  This will lead you to Lancashire Schools Local Offers and additional SEND information. 

This policy has been written with regards to the following: section 69(2) of the Children and Families Act 2014; regulation 51 and schedule 1 of the SEND Regulations 2014 and section 6 of the SEND and Disability code of practice 0 to 25 years.