SEND Information
Shirley Junior School reports information about SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) provision and support through the owls on the SEND Owls page within this section of the website. This has been updated for 2024-25.
The website SEND report is organised through frequently asked questions. Additionally, the report provides detailed information about SEND provision at the school.
Mrs Sarah Nutbeam is the SENDCo (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Co-ordinator) and Inclusion Lead. She is responsible for the management of provision and or support for identified pupils with SEND. She will also support teachers and other staff to enable them to provide appropriate assessment and focused provision for children in their class with SEND.
SENDCo Contact: sarah.nutbeam@shirleyschools.co.uk or 023 8077 1434.
Further information about SEND support within Southampton is available on the Southampton Local Offer Website.
We are a mainstream school. We are fully committed to including children with a range of needs.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 (July 2014) states: ‘A pupil has SEN where their learning difficulty or disability calls for special educational provision, namely provision different from or additional to that normally available to pupils of the same age.’ (Para. 6.15)
There are 4 areas of Special Educational need:
- Communication and interaction.
- Cognition and learning.
- Social, emotional and mental health.
- Sensory and physical.
These include the areas of need below:
- Communication difficulties.
- Specific learning difficulties.
- Behaviour, emotional and social difficulties including mental health.
- Autism spectrum.
- Physical difficulties and medical needs.
- Sensory difficulties.
How does Shirley Junior School know if I need extra help?
Your teachers look at how you are making progress in your learning. They will know if you need extra help. They will also meet your class teacher from last year to find out what extra help you have been getting.
What should I do if I think I need extra help?
You can talk to someone at home, and they can talk to your teacher. You can also talk to your teacher, a teaching assistant or another familiar adult at school.
How will my work be organised so that I can cope and get it all done?
Your teacher will give you work that will allow you to learn and improve. They will make sure that it is not too easy and not too hard, but it will make you think.
If I have difficulties, how can I be involved in planning my learning?
Your teacher or the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator will have a meeting with you to discuss how you are getting on. This is called a pupil conference. You will talk about your targets for learning and how else you feel we could help you. You may have a learning log, which you will use every day with your teacher and TA. The learning log will remind you what your targets are. It will also have examples of the work you are doing to meet your targets.
Who will tell me what I can do to help myself and be more independent?
All the staff at Shirley Junior School can help you to become independent, but if you feel worried then talk to your teacher or a familiar adult. This could be a Teaching Assistant or a member of the senior leadership team.
What should I do if I am worried about something?
Talk to your teacher, a TA, or any other familiar adult in the school.
How will I know if I am doing as well as I should?
Don’t worry because our teachers will let you know quickly if there is a problem. All children in our school have their own targets which tell them how well they are doing and also how to get better. If you have a learning log, you will be able to see how you are meeting your targets. You will also have a school report at the end of each year and your parents have the chance to meet with your teacher at least once a term to talk about how you are doing.
How can I get help if I am worried about things other than my school work?
Remember, everyone faces extra challenges from time to time. You can always talk to any member of staff at school who you feel comfortable talking to. You can also ask to speak with our Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA).
Are there staff in school who have been trained to help young people who need extra help?
All our teachers and support staff have been trained to teach children with learning needs. Our Inclusion Lead and our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator have lots of experience and qualifications which mean they are trained to help children with learning needs.
If I have difficulty in taking part in school activities what different arrangements can be made?
- How will I know who can help me?
- Who can I talk to about getting involved in school activities if I need extra help?
You will be introduced to all staff that will be working with you so that they understand your difficulties. If you would like, we could also let your friends know how they can help you.
You can talk to your teachers, or another adult you trust if you would like to be involved in school activities where you may need extra help.
What extra help is there to help me get ready to start at Shirley Junior School?
Apart from the usual Year 2 activities taking part at school, we will talk to your teachers and your parents/carers. You are welcome to come and visit Shirley Junior School. We can give you a school prospectus and write you a social story if this would help you.
What should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?
Shirley Junior School is committed to early identification of special educational needs. A range of evidence is collected through the school assessment and monitoring arrangements: if this suggests that the learner is not making the expected progress, the teachers will decide whether additional and/or different provision is necessary. If you are concerned, please speak to your child’s teacher, or contact the SENDCo (Special educational needs and disabilities coordinator).
How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
Year Leaders hold regular team meetings where they discuss children’s progress. Teachers attend termly meetings with a member of the senior leadership team where all children’s progress is reviewed. If a child is identified as needing additional support the SENDCo is informed and in consultation with the class teacher extra provision is arranged.
How will staff at Shirley Junior School support my child?
Your child’s class teachers and the SENDCo will oversee and plan your child’s education programme. Depending on the intervention required, your child may be working at times in a small group aimed at supporting their learning. Sometimes a student requires support to access the curriculum or to manage his or her behaviour, emotions, or to work on their social skills. In this case, the ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) may support your child to be a successful member of the school community. This will all be explained to you by your child’s class teacher, the ELSA or SENDCo.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
All our teachers are teachers of children with special educational needs. All teachers plan to include everyone in their lessons and work is provided at the appropriate levels for children to access their learning and make good progress. Planning is monitored rigorously by the Senior Leadership Team.
How will I know how my child is doing, and how will you help me to support my child’s learning?
At Shirley Junior School we believe that regular home-school communication is very important. There are parent evenings twice a year, and you can ask for an appointment to speak with your child’s class teacher or the SENDCo at a mutually convenient time. If appropriate, your child may have a Home School contact book. This will enable you and your child’s teacher to keep each other informed about any significant events on a regular basis.
If your child has an Education Health and Care plan, an annual review is held according to the guidance in the SEND Code of Practice. This will allow you and the class teacher to discuss your child’s progress towards the targets set in their EHCP. You will also be able to talk about the targets for the next year. In addition to this, your child will have a learning log, containing current targets, records of interventions, photographs and examples of your child’s work; this will be shared with you. The learning log will also show how he or she is meeting those targets. Learning logs are also a way of celebrating the child’s hard work, so both child and parents will be asked to give their feedback about how well it is working.
If your child is on the SEN register and has a specific learning need, he or she will have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). This will record the targets that your child is working towards, and will also show how he or she is making progress towards those targets. A copy of the IEP will be sent home every term for your information. You will also receive a report at the end of the academic year, and we will always ask to see you if we have concerns about your child’s progress.
Each half-term the school gives an overview of what your child will be learning during this period. This is available on the school website home page, under the Curriculum heading. In addition, we have sharing time with parents in class twice every half term, once at the beginning of the school day and once at the end.
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
At Shirley Junior School we hold regular assemblies which focus on different areas of personal, health and social education. In class, teachers may also hold class circle times when they need to address specific issues. Pupils are encouraged to take an active part in discussions and express their own views. We can also refer children to the school’s Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) or to our family support worker when necessary. We will also help prepare your child for any changes in their school day, such as school trips, awards ceremonies, activities weeks and sports day.
What other support is available?
Shirley Junior School has a family support worker, whose role is to support families to enable their children to come into school happily, safely and successfully so that they can access their learning. She is able to signpost families to outside agencies that may be able to offer support.
The Special Educational Needs & Disability Information Advice & Support Service (SENDIASS) is also available to support families. Its aim is to empower children and young people with special educational needs/disabilities and their parents/carers to make informed decisions about education, health and social care.
What specialist services and expertise are available at/or accessed by Shirley Junior School?
In addition to high quality teaching in school, we have links with other professionals such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Social Care, Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language therapy, the outreach advisory service, the school nurse and specialist teachers for children who have physical difficulties, specific learning difficulties and visual or hearing impairment.
We also have a Family Support Worker, who can discuss any concerns you may have at home, or provide advice about outside agencies that might be useful to you.
What training has been available for the staff supporting children and young people with SEND?
Our Inclusions Lead is an experienced teacher, who has gained a Master’s degree in Education specialising in special educational needs and has obtained the National SENDCo Accreditation. They attend an annual inclusion conference as well as regular SENDCo forums. All staff members receive regular training and updates for the main categories of special educational needs. During the last academic year, staff have received training on: Emotion Coaching from the educational psychologists, Little Wandle phonics programme, provision map training, EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) for inclusive teaching strategies: flexible grouping, metacognition, scaffolding, explicit instructions. We also provided Hamwic TA training focusing on a pupil support scale.
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom including school trips?
We make every effort to include all pupils in school trips. If an individual risk assessment is required we will write this in order to ensure that everyone is as fully included as possible. If there are concerns we will always seek to make adaptations such as taking additional staff or in some cases asking parents to come along.
How accessible is Shirley Junior School?
There is wheelchair access to the ground floor. This floor contains the school hall, which is used for end of term performances, assemblies and other community outreach events. It also contains a community room where parent/teacher meetings can take place. There is a disabled toilet in the lobby outside the hall. Unfortunately, as the school building is on 3 floors and more than100 years old, there is no wheelchair access to the upper floors.
How will Shirley Junior School prepare and support my child to join the school and then transfer to a new school?
The SENDCO and Year Leader for Year 3, and Head of Year for Year 6 liaise with infant and secondary teaching staff, support staff and SENDCOs from other schools as appropriate. There are regular visits between Shirley Junior School and our local Jefferys Education Partnership infant and secondary schools: Shirley Infant School and Upper Shirley High School. Extra transition takes place as necessary in addition to the City’s transition days. This can be arranged for individual children or small groups and may include a number of visits and activities before the child changes school. Social stories are written for children who might struggle with the transition process. Throughout the year, year 6 children and provided with regular opportunities to meet teaching staff from Upper Shirley High in preparation for the move to secondary school.
How are the school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s special educational needs?
The Department for Education provides funding for schools to meet the needs of all children with SEND. This is worked out using the information about the children’s prior attainment and the socio-economic make up of our school cohort. We allocate support according to need. Additional interventions are funded to support children’s progress. If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan, we will ensure that the provision specified in Part 3 is provided.
What should I do if I feel that the Local Offer is:
- Not being delivered
- Not meeting my child’s needs?
You should contact your child’s class teacher and/or the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). Either ring the school on 023 8077 1434, or e-mail office@shirleyschools.co.uk.
If you have any query related to S.E.N.D. after discussion with the class teacher and SENDCo, you are welcome to make an appointment with the Head Teacher or, contact the Governing Body.
If you are not happy with the outcome of this appointment, please follow the Complaints Policy and Procedure.
| Stage | Provision Required | Support and Provision | Assessment, Recording and Monitoring Systems | Monitored By |
| 1 | Universal Provision |
|
|
Class Teacher & Phase/Year Leader |
| 2 | Early Intervention Support (Not on SEN Register) |
In addition to Stage 1:
|
|
Class Teacher, Phase/Year Leader & SLT |
| 3 | Targeted, Additional Support (Not on SEN Register) |
In addition to Stages 1 - 2:
|
|
Class Teacher, Phase/Year Leader, SLT & SENCO |
| 4 | Targeted, Intensive Additional Support (SEN register) |
In addition to Stages 1 - 3:
|
|
Class Teacher, SENCO |
| 5 | Provision over and above Stage 4 (SEN Register - EHCP or Application) |
In addition to Stages 1 - 4:
|
|
Class Teacher, SENCO |
Within Shirley Junior School we believe that:
- All children are valued and included regardless of abilities, needs and behaviours.
- Every teacher is a teacher of every child, including those with special educational needs.
- All children are entitled to a broad, balanced and enriching curriculum, which is adapted as appropriate to meet individual needs.
- All our children can learn and make progress. They should enjoy reaching their goals and have their achievements celebrated.
- All children will enjoy and fully participate in the life of the school and make a positive contribution to the school community.
- Effective assessment and provision for children with SEND will be secured in partnership with parents/ carers, children, the Local Authority and other partners.
- Maintaining children’s safety and wellbeing is central to their development.
Who can I contact for further information?
Your first point of contact if you want to discuss something about your child is your child’s class teacher.
You can contact the SENDCo, or any members of the school leadership team, if you still have any concerns. You can email the SENDCo at sarah.nutbeam@shirleyschools.co.uk.
If you would like to apply for Shirley Junior School, please contact the school to arrange a visit.
What should I do if I feel that the Local Offer is:
- Not being delivered, or
- Not meeting my child’s needs?
You should contact your child’s class teacher and/or the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). Either ring the school on 023 8077 1434, or e-mail office@shirleyschools.co.uk.
If you have any query related to S.E.N.D. after discussion with the class teacher and SENDCo you are welcome to make an appointment with the Head Teacher or, contact the Governing Body.
If you are not happy with the outcome of this appointment, please follow the complaints policy and procedure, which is available on the policies page.
How is our local offer reviewed?
The local offer for Shirley Junior School will be reviewed regularly and amendments will be made in accordance with the School Improvement Plan and on information gathered from careful analysis of pupil progress.
How have parents and carers and children with SEND been involved in reviewing the local offer?
Shirley Junior School has consulted with Parent Governors, parents of children on the SEN register and Learning Ambassadors.
This report should be read in conjunction with any relevant Shirley Junior School Policies: Special Educational Needs and Disability Policy, Accessibility Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy, Supporting Children with Medical Conditions Policy. Please ask if you need further information.
Shirley Junior School’s local advisor is Sabrina Bourhaba. She can be contacted at: Sabrina.Bourhaba@southampton.gov.uk.
Reviewed November 2024.
Due for review January 2026.
Please find links to further support and our SEND policy below.