The SEND department ensures that pupils who require additional support due to physical or sensory needs, communication and Interaction needs, cognition and learning needs and social, emotional and mental health needs. The SEND team also support students whose attendance at school has been affected because of health reasons and have their needs fully met whilst being able to access a comprehensive and inclusive curriculum.
The SEND department has its own dedicated learning environments where staff deliver individual and small group intervention sessions for pupils. In-class support is also directed by the department, utilising appropriately trained teaching and non-teaching staff.
All staff within the SEND department liaise closely with staff of the feeder primary schools and with further education colleagues to ensure that pupils with additional needs are appropriately catered for on transfer to Rhyddings at age 11 and on leaving the school for further education at 16.
What is SEND?
A pupil has special educational needs (SEND) if he or she has learning needs that require special educational provision to be made.
A pupil has a learning difficulty if he or she has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of pupils of the same age or has a disability which prevents or hinders the pupil from making use of educational facilities of a kind provided for pupils of the same age in other schools within the local authority.
All staff at Rhyddings are teachers of SEN and have a responsibility to work together with parents/carers and pupils to develop inclusive practices that will overcome the barriers to learning.
Who is the SENDCO at Rhyddings?
The SENDCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) at Rhyddings is Miss Widdowson. Parents should contact her if they have any queries regarding SEND/Learning Support.
Miss Widdowson is available at parents’ evenings to discuss pupil progress and areas of focus and development. The department offers access to the Hub kitchen at break and lunch time lunchtime. In addition, pupils with SEND support will receive termly updates and children with an Education Health Care Plans will also receive an annual review.
You can contact Miss Widdowson by email widdowsonk@rhyddings.co.uk or by telephone: 01254 231051
The SEND TEAM
Mrs Ashworth is our HLTA Nurture Lead. She is based in the Hub and her primary focus is to support pupils social, emotional and mental health needs alongside delivering the nurture curriculum to our year 7 cohort.
Mrs Ashworth is also an ELSA and delivers targeted communication and interaction interventions.
Mrs Aylmer is our level 7 qualified psychometric testing lead and SEND Access Arrangement Coordinator ensuring all resources are put in place for each individual student. She liaises with classroom teachers to ensure all the support is in place for assessments. Mrs Aylmer also supports pupils in KS4 within the classroom and preparation for GCSE and entry level exams.
Mrs Jones, for several years has focussed on supporting Year 7 students with their transition into secondary school, although at present she covers KS3 in its entirety. Mrs Jones is an ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). She provides in-class support to students with a variety of additional needs as well as supporting students emotional and social difficulties within the Hub environment. Mrs Jones also delivers phonics and speech and language interventions such as Lego therapy.
Mrs Jackson is a SEND Teaching Assistant, who provides in class support and specialises in the intensive 1:1 needs of our pupils. Mrs. Jackson is very experienced with supporting CLA (children who are looked after). Mrs Jackson for liaises with the CLA Lead and carers to ensure complete wrap around care is provided so that needs pupils are met.
Mrs Ehsan is a SEND Teaching assistant in KS3, Mrs Ehsan has been involved in supporting our pupils with their speech and language needs alongside targeted 1-1 literacy and numeracy and small group reading fluency intervention. Mrs Ehsan is also a qualified first aider and is always readily available in the base to support pupils if needed.
Miss Simpson is a SEND Teaching assistant in KS3, Miss Simpson has been involved in supporting our pupils with their speech and language needs alongside targeted 1-1 support in the hub provision. She supports pupils transitioning from the hub wrap around support back into mainstream classroom provision.
Mrs Aziz has recently joined the Rhyddings family and the SEND department, she will be supporting pupils in the classroom and targeted intervention.
The Hub
The Hub facilitates the development of social, emotional and communication skills whilst developing self-confidence. The environment of the Hub aims to be secure and predictable, providing vulnerable students with access to a safe space which consist of a soft furniture area, sensory room and access to an available adult when needed.
The practise of the Nurture Group uses knowledge of attachment theory to support it, providing:
• reliable adults who have time to respond to their needs (at whatever developmental stage required)
• predictable interactions and routines (or changes which must happen explained clearly and well in advance)
• clear boundaries and limitations
• specific attachment figures
• adults who challenge negative internal models through sensitive interaction.
The Base
The Base caters for a wide range of students:
• pupils needing a stepping stone in their transition from primary school
• pupils who are new to the school who may have additional needs
• new admissions who may need support with transition
• pupils with additional needs who require support to access the curriculum
• pupils who are experiencing a difficult period of time in their lives
• pupils can access The Base as a check in with their key workers
• EAL intervention.
There is a structured pathway regarding learners entering and exiting the Hub provision. This enables learners and staff to monitor and reflect on their individual progress whilst also identifying areas of support.
