SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)

Teaching and Learning

At Gordano School, we know that high quality, adaptive, stimulating teaching is essential for all students, and that every teacher is a teacher of SEND. We ensure that all students experience a broad, balanced, enriching and inclusive curriculum. The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinators (SENDCos) works closely with senior leaders, academic leaders, and teaching, pastoral and support staff to ensure that the school provides high quality experiences for all students in line with the SEND Code of Practice (2014) and The Equality Act (2010).

Student Support Faculty

The Student Support Team is a specialist SEND team, based in the heart of the Inclusion Area of Gordano School. We work with students, staff, parents/ carers and other professionals to support those with identified barriers to their learning and experiences. We identify the strengths and needs of students, communicate information to key staff and, where appropriate, provide evidence-based SEND intervention as part of a whole school response to needs. We also advocate for children with identified needs, facilitating their ability to take part in all aspects of the school day.

A student may be referred to us by teachers, parents or thorough self-referral. In all cases, information is gathered through the School’s ‘Inclusion Referral’ system so that the whole picture of the whole child can be sought. We use a range of qualitative and quantitative information to establish whether a student has a profile which is consistent with a significant and persistent SEND need. This information gathering enables us to ensure that the most appropriate form of support is identified and applied, in a time-specific way. The SEND team works collaboratively and reflectively with every team in the school, to monitor the child’s progress and assess whether the support is effective.

Ultimately, we are working towards independence for all. We use a system where we assess the student’s needs, plan an intervention if needed, implement it and then review it. We aim to provide the appropriate level of support for a student, whilst seeking every opportunity for them to experience success independently. All of our work is guided through relationships with students, parents and staff as well as with agencies supporting the young person and/or family.

We have a warm and welcoming Student Support Area, where we work with students in small groups or a 1:1 basis. We provide key support throughout the school day and during social times, in addition to structured SEND interventions.

The SEND Team work closely with the Local Authorities to support and promote best practice with regard to the graduated response to SEND and Education, Health and Care Plan applications and reviews. Please read our SEND Information Report, and the Local Authority website for more information: North Somerset SEND