IN THIS SECTION
Information Report
If you require a copy of this SEND information report in larger print or in braille please email your request to enquiry@townj.bham.sch.uk
If you require a copy of this SEND information report in larger print or in braille please email your request to enquiry@townj.bham.sch.uk
Contact our office to make an appointment to visit the school and meet the staff. This is a great way to a get a good ‘feel’ for our school and whether it is right for your child.
For Infant to junior transfer, students without an EHCP but with a SEND need would follow the same procedure and timeline for application to primary schools through the LEA school admissions process.
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20119/school_admissions/695/transfer_from_infant_to_juniorprimary_school
For students with an EHCP looking to transfer to their chosen junior school, the timeline is moved forward and more information can be found here:
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50151/schools_colleges_and_further_education/1901/sen_secondary_transfer_2020
For students who are not transferring from infant school and are looking to transfer from another primary school, they would be advised to contact Town Junior and ask about the number of students on the waiting list for that particular year group first. An application to the school can be made through the LEA. More information on this can be found here:
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20119/school_admissions/587/in-year_school_admissions
We provide SEND support for students who have significant difficulties in the following four areas:
There are times when students have more complex needs that span across more than one of the areas above, and we will always endeavour to do our best to meet their needs.
Although, by no means exhaustive, these lists give a good overview:
If your child is on our SEND register they will be part of our provision map. For the majority of students, teachers will be able to use their ‘High Quality Teaching’ strategies to meet their needs. For students with more complex needs, a ‘Pupil Profile’ or passport will be created which incorporates appropriate strategies staff members can employ to best support your child. These are reviewed regularly with the input of parents/carers and your child. Pupils on our SEN Reg may also have individual Target plans which will be reviewed termly with parents.
We follow a training plan for all staff which includes whole school training on SEND issues. All staff are part of our performance management policy.
Individual teachers and support staff can also attend training courses run by outside agencies that are relevant to the specific needs of SEND children within our care.
Examples of training received by staff in school include:
In addition, some staff have also been trained in:
Our Lead TA for Autism has received training in:
Our ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) received :
Pastoral Support (overall wellbeing):
Town Junior embodies our school values. We recognise the importance of a sound and effective pastoral system that complements our excellent academic systems. We recognise that there will be some students that will need more emotional support than others. This may vary during their time with us. Our school offers support for children who are encountering emotional difficulties through the pastoral system which primarily includes their class teacher and other year group based staff (Teaching Assistants) There is a school pastoral team led by Mrs Julie Gilmour(DSL/DHT) with SENCO and ELSA’s (Emotional literacy support assistants) attending. Class teachers can refer children for ELSA support which are usually weekly 30 minute sessions. Parental consent is sought. ELSA’s have been trained by and are supervised by our Educational Psychologist.
In addition we refer to external agencies and accomodate therapists/ agencies visiting school for individuals.
In order for us to support your child, it is important that parents/carers communicate any changes with us. You can arrange mutually convenient times to speak to class teachers or other staff about issues which may be affecting your child via the school’s main office.
Telephone: 0121 464 873
Email: enquiry@townj.bham.sch.uk
Specialist Services:
The school is supported by the Local Authority through Access to Education, which consist of four specialist services: Communication and Autism, Educational Psychology, Pupil and School Support and Sensory Support. Although the school nurse team has now been taken out of all schools in the local area, we are still able to refer to the School Health Advisory Service and other agencies depending on individual needs.
Speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance. Telephone the school office to request an appointment or a phone call.
The class teacher will liaise with the SENCO.
If you have forms that the school need to complete for medical professionals or other agencies please supply copies via the office.
Please share any diagnoses received , out of school, with us by providing a copy. This includes but is not limited to audiologist, optometrist, physiotherapist etc.
Class teachers are responsible for:
The SENCO
The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) at Town Junior School is Mrs Fiona Godwin who can be contacted through the school office.
Telephone: 0121 464 8738
Email: f.godwin@townj.bham.sch.uk
Our philosophy for Inclusion is for our SEND students to be happy and safe within their learning environment, and to ensure that every child has accessibility to their education no matter what their needs are. We encourage everyone to work as a team around the child, thus ensuring they are able to fulfil their potential.
The SENCo is responsible for:
Although the Headteacher, Mrs Adrienne smith, has delegated responsibility to the SENCo and class teachers to meet the learning needs of your child, she is still responsible for the day to day management of all aspects of the school, including the support for children with SEND.
The Governing Body is responsible for making sure that the necessary support is provided for any child who attends the school who has SEND. Governors ensure that there is a named SEND Governor to oversee SEND practices and provision within in the school, and report back to the Governing Body.
Our SEND Governor is Mr Steve Miles. He meets regularly with the SENCo.
We are proud of our ‘open and honest’ communication and the positive relationships we build with our parents/carers. However, if you feel that after trying to resolve any SEND issues with the SENCo and/or the Head teacher your concerns have still not been addressed and you would like to take the matter further, please refer to our standard school complaints procedure which can be found on our school website under ‘policies’.
In addition to the school, there are other sources of information and advice. These are a few examples that have been useful to parents/carers:
‘The Waiting Room’ (TWR) is a website that aims to provide Birmingham and Solihull citizens with the best access route to both local and national services in the UK. Through a minimum number of clicks you can find the right services to meet your needs with the services being available within 24 Life Domain areas. TWR makes it easy to link directly to appropriate websites or even call organisations directly straight from your phone or by Skype on your PC. https://www.the-waitingroom.org/
The Birmingham Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) provide impartial and confidential advice and support to children and young people with SEND and their parents / carers.
0121 303 5004
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/sendiass
Forward Thinking Birmingham (formally known as CAMHS) provides mental health support for children and young people from 0 – 25, and their parents/carers. Referrals can be made by the young person, parents/carers and organisations including schools.
0300 300 0099
https://forwardthinkingbirmingham.org.uk/
Parent /carers can contact the School Health Advisory Service (School nurses) directly, or referrals can be made through school.
0121 465 5457
bchnt.suttoncottagesnteam@nhs.net
Information and advice about autistic spectrum conditions can be found from many websites including:
http://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/
http://www.autism-alliance.org.uk/
http://www.autism-society.org/
http://www.autism.org.uk (http://www.autism.org.uk/)
Information and advice about ADHD can be found from many websites including:
http://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
Our Place Community Hub, based in Sutton Coldfield offers advice and support services to the local area, including employment support, counselling and talking therapies as well as specific support groups. http://ourplacecommunityhub.org/
RNIB
This is a nationally recognised charity that works to support people with sight loss
0303 123 9999
http://www.rnib.org.uk (http://www.rnib.org.uk/)
National Deaf Children’s Society
This is the national charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.
http://www.ndcs.org.uk (http://www.ndcs.org.uk/)
British Dyslexia Association (BDA)
This is a national organisation that offers advice and support for dyslexia.
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk (http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/)
Downs Syndrome Association
A national organisation, committed to improving quality of life for people who have Down’s syndrome
https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/
ICAN
This organisation focuses on speech and communication.
There are many terms used in school and the world of SEND which are be abbreviated.
Below is a glossary of some of the most used SEND terms that may help you navigate around:
ADD Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder
ASC Autistic Spectrum Condition
ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder
BESD Behavioural Emotional & Social Difficulties
CAT Communication and Autism Team
CAF / fCAF Common Assessment Framework / family Common Assessment Framework
CAMHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
COP Code of Practice
CP Child Protection
CT Class Teacher
DCD Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (e.g. dyspraxia)
EAL English as an Additional Language
EHCP Educational Health and Care Plan
EP Educational Psychologist
FSM Free School Meals
HI Hearing Impairment
HQT High Quality Teaching
LAC Looked After Child
LA Local Authority
MLD Moderate Learning Difficulty
OT Occupational Therapist
PP Pupil Premium
PSS Pupil and School Support
QFT Quality First Teaching (now known as High Quality Teaching)
SaLT Speech & Language Therapy
SEN Special Educational Needs
SEND Special Educational Needs & Disability
SENCo Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
SHAS School Health advisory Service (School nurses)
SpLD Specific Learning Difficulty (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia)
SS Sensory Support
TOD Teacher of the Deaf
QTVI Qualified Teacher for Vision Impairment
VI Vision Impairment