Lyndon School aims to support all students who have Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) to achieve to their full potential. As for every student in the school, we aim for students with SEND to make three levels of progress during their 5 years with us. We achieve this by advice and guidance to class teachers, in class support and other appropriate mechanisms.

Central to the provision is close monitoring of the progress students are making and immediate action if they are not making sufficient progress.

We will work in partnership with parents and carers and also be realistic and honest about our ability to meet the specific needs of students as our environment and provision is not appropriate for every student.

• Give all our students, irrespective of their ability, culture or gender
• An equal chance to take part in all that we teach and do
• Encouragement to think in a positive way about themselves and to receive and demonstrate tolerance and respect to others
• Intellectual stimulation to give them the skills they need to take part in our technological society
• Work in partnership with the local community to give all our students a quality education
• Work in partnership with parents/carers by giving professional advice and support
• Identify all students who are experiencing learning difficulties, to make appropriate provision for their needs within available resources and to monitor their progress
• Give such students the greatest possible access to a broad and balanced education, including the National Curriculum and to integrate them as far as possible into the mainstream groupings
• Ensure that all staff, Academy Councillors  and parents are aware of the part they can play in supporting such students
• Safeguard the rights of children in line with the relevant Acts

The Special Educational Needs Policy is monitored by the Board of Directors.

The SENDCO presents SEND issues to Academy Councillors at Governors meetings, through the Head teacher’s Report, and through meetings with the Academy Councillor with responsibility for the school’s arrangements and provision for meeting Special Educational/Disability Needs.

The Academy Councillor with responsibility for SEND is appointed annually at the first full Academy Council meeting of the school year. (Approach Clerk to the Council for further details).

The Academy Councillor with specific oversight for the provision for students with Special Educational Needs for the academic year 2018 – 2019 is Zabun Nasar.

Lyndon School is currently undertaking a review of the Special Educational Needs Policy to meet the new requirements for SEND in line with the new SEND Code of Practice effective from 1 September 2014. To provide an improved, compliant policy we are committed to co-producing our policy with families, children and young people.

In the next half term we will be revising our SEND policy to coincide with the publication of our school offer.  The Local Authority website also provides information about the Solihull local offer.

SEN Support Plans or an Education Health Care Plan will eventually help replace the current system of Statements.  Conversions by the Local Authority will take place between the 1 September 2014 and the 1 April 2018.

The Local Offer has two main purposes:

• To provide clear, comprehensive, accessible and up-to-date information about the available provision and how to access it
• To make provision responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving children and young people with SEND, their parents, and the professionals who work with them in its development and review.

What will the Local Offer cover?

The Local Offer will help you to find information about what universal, targeted and specialist provision is available for children and young people with SEND in Solihull and Birmingham and how to access different types of services and support.

Solihull’s Local Offer

Solihull has a SEND 0-25 service based at Elmwood Place, 37 Burtons Way, Smiths Wood, Solihull, B36 0UG. This service brings together key professionals to provide services for eligible children and young people with SEND.

http://socialsolihull.org.uk/localoffer

Birmingham’s Local Offer

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/localoffer

Solihull Special Educational Needs & Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) aims to:

• Provide information, advice and support to children and young people up to the age of 25 with SEND
• Provide information, advice and support to the parents/carers of children and young people up to the age of 25 with SEND
• Provide impartial advice about matters relating to SEND, including issues relating to health and social care
• Offer support to parents/carers and children and young people with SEND in participating in decisions made about the child/young person’s education, health and social care

https://www.family-action.org.uk/solihullsendias/

Birmingham SENDIAS Service

Offers impartial information, advice and support to children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities.

The service is impartial, confidential, and free. If you’re a parent or young person being assessed, the service can:

• Help you to understand the referral process
• Act as a named contact throughout the process
• Help you to communicate with everyone involved in the assessment process
• Provide information about personal budgets
• Put you in touch with other people who can help, if necessary

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/sendiass

Route 2 Wellbeing Directory

Route2wellbeing Birmingham is the definitive guide to local voluntary and community health and care services in Birmingham. Route2wellbeing makes it easy to find local services and activities that promote good health and wellbeing.

https://r2wbirmingham.info/

Family Information Service directory

The Family Information Service have a wealth of information and advice on choosing childcare (including accessing 2, 3 and 4 year old funding), finding activities for your children and helping you to access any support you may need.

http://socialsolihull.org.uk/localoffer/family-information-service-directory/