Speldhurst C of E Primary School is dedicated to being an inclusive school with the aim of ensuring that all children achieve their potential. Some children have special educational needs and the school is committed to providing appropriate support so all children have an enjoyable school experience and make the best possible progress, whatever their need or disability.

What do we mean by Special Educational Needs?

Children have Special Educational Needs if they have a learning difficulty that calls for special educational provision to be made for them. They may have: 

• a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age;
• a disability that presents them from making full use of the educational facilities provided for children of the same school age.

 They may have difficulty with one or more of the following: 

• Communication and Interaction
• Cognition and Learning
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties
• Physical and/or Sensory Needs

How do we support our pupils with Special Educational Needs?

High quality teaching, differentiated for individual pupils, is the first step in responding to pupils who have or may have SEN.  We follow the Mainstream Core Standards advice developed by Kent County Council to ensure that our teaching conforms to best practice, and these can be found at:

The Mainstream Core Standards - KELSI

Mainstream Core Standards guide for parents (kelsi.org.uk)

Some pupils may benefit from support through additional intervention. Some pupils who take part in interventions may have special educational needs and others will take part because they need to ‘catch up’ or just need some extra support in a very specific area of learning.

If more intensive, specialist help is needed a child may have an EHCP.

What do I do if I think my child might have Special Education Needs?

If you have any concerns about your child, always talk to your child’s class teacher.  You can also talk to our school SENCO, Michelle Heap, she is available on 01892 863044 or at senco@speldhurst.kent.sch.uk . She is in school on a Monday and Wednesday.

If your child needs support in one, or more, of the four areas the class teacher, together with the SENCO, will decide the type and level of support, which may change throughout their time at school.

What support is there for parents?

At Speldhurst Primary School, we offer support for parents through informative workshops as well as parenting programmes, alongside our school counsellor, focusing on support for parents of children with Special Educational Needs.

Information Advice and Support Kent (IASK) provides a free and confidential, information, advice and support service, for parents of a disabled child or child with special educational needs and to children and young people up to age 25 who have a special educational need or disability. www.kent.gov.uk/iask

They can be contacted on:

HELPLINE: 03000 41 3000

Office: 03000 412412

E-mail: iask@kent.gov.uk

The local authority’s local offer can be found here:

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) - Kent County Council .

This provides information and support services available to families in the local area.

SEND Awareness

At Speldhurst, we pride ourselves on developing an inclusive environment, where all pupils can thrive. Through our curriculum and enrichment days we strive to develop the pupils’ understanding of SEND.

Follow the link below to find out more about our latest Disability Awareness Day. The pupils’ developed their understanding of what it might be like living with a disability and a greater knowledge of what students with a variety of disabilities can achieve.