At The Meadows Primary Academy, we strongly believe in the importance of inclusion for all pupils. This belief is at the heart of our SEND practice and drives our ambition to ensure our pupils reach their full potential. Our creative and challenging curriculum is carefully designed to ensure all pupils, irrespective of their needs, thrive and succeed. Pupils with SEND will have the same opportunities to take part in enriching experiences, both in school and in the wider world, as their peers.

We are committed to a whole-school approach towards providing an inclusive curriculum. Therefore, we ensure that our staff are well equipped with the knowledge and skills required to effectively support all pupils. Quality First Teaching is embedded within the practice of all staff, underpinned by extensive subject knowledge across the curriculum. Subject leaders plan a highly differentiated curriculum which facilitates access for all children, thinking carefully about the needs of all pupils.

For pupils requiring additional support, small-group interventions are led by experienced TAs; these interventions are closely monitored and their impact is evaluated regularly. Where pupils require personalised provision, we draw on specialist knowledge in order to tailor their learning experiences so that they are given every opportunity to progress and succeed.

Collaboration is central to our SEND policy; we work alongside external professionals for advice and additional support. Most importantly, we value and listen to parents and carers by ensuring that they are involved in key decisions and when reviewing targets.

There are times when some children need additional support during their school life. Through our special needs programme, and with assistance from parents/carers, outside agencies and special schools within our multi-academy trust, we endeavour to identify promptly a child’s particular needs, so that individual programmes can be provided when appropriate.

We ensure that problems are identified as early as possible - the earlier action is taken the more quickly support can be given. If a child has been identified as having a special educational need, they will have full access to the National Curriculum. Partnership work with parents/carers is crucial in this process. The school endeavours to make all adjustments to ensure every pupil has access to all aspects of school life.

Local Offer

The Stoke SEN and Disability local offer is a comprehensive website created for parents and young people with Special Educational Needs or a Disability in Stoke-on-Trent. It allows you to search for local services and agencies including, schools, child care, health services, information and advice. Here you will also find The Meadows Primary Academy SEND overview for parents. Click Here to take a look.

Parents with children with special needs children are able to access lots of activities locally and all you need do is contribute a small amount of money to attend the activity and then transport is included.

Please take a look at the Activities brochure below or click here to visit the website.

Contact Information

To contact our SEND Team Laura Mooney (Assistant Headteacher & Acting SENDco) and Tracey Deakin (SEND Assistant), please use the following details:

Activities/Groups/Support

Glossary of SEN Terms

ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder

HI

Hearing Impairment

ADHD

Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder

PP

Pupil Passports

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

LAC

Looked After Child

SEMH

Social, Emotional & Mental Health

LEA

Local Education Authority

CAF

Common Assessment Framework

LM

Learning Mentor

CAMHS

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service

MLD

Moderate Learning Difficulty

COP

Code of Practice

OT

Occupational Therapist

CP

Child Protection

SEN

Special Educational Needs

DCD

Developmental Co-ordination Disorder

SEND

Special Educational Needs & Disability

EAL

English as an Additional Language

SENCo

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

EP

Educational Psychologist

SLCN

Speech, Language, Communication Needs

FSM

Free School Meals

SpLD

Specific Learning Difficulty

FLO

Family Liaison Officer

VI

Visual Impairment

 

Social, emotional and mental health needs can be very different in different children and young people. Some of the issues that might be involved are:

  • Having problems with peers
  • Difficult times at home
  • Experience of a traumatic situation
  • Special educational needs and or disabilities such as autism conditions, learning disabilities or physical disabilities.
  • Any other issue which is affecting how a child or young person feels and behaves, to the point where everyday life can become difficult.

What can we do to help? .

All children and young people experience difficult feelings and situations in their lives. Families often play the biggest role in helping children learn how to cope with difficult feelings and experiences. Schools, and other services in children’s daily lives, also play a big part in this. For most children and young people, this will be enough to help them cope with difficult times. For other children, if their feelings, thoughts and behaviours affect their everyday life and stop them from making progress, or risk harm to themselves or others, they may be considered to have social, emotional and mental health needs. They may well need extra help.

Universal services: services for everyone: Children’s Centres, health visitors, schools, early years settings, GPs, play and leisure facilities, information, advice and guidance services

At school, we talk about Social, emotional and mental health with the children and reflect on events that have happened to support children in dealing with them. We promote strategies such as mindfulness to help children deal with feelings of anxiety or anger.

In school, Miss Machin provides SEMH interventions to support children that are particularly struggling. If you feel that your child needs additional support with their Social, emotional and mental health, please get in touch with Miss Mooney or Mrs Cunliffe.