At Tong Special Educational Needs provision is seen as the responsibility of all staff.
We recognise that all students have skills, talents and abilities and, as a school, we have the responsibility to develop these to the full. We aim to ensure that:
- All students have a relevant and worthwhile education designed to enable them to participate fully in society
- All students who have special educational needs are supported, wherever necessary, to achieve full access to the whole school curriculum. This is facilitated through a range of access strategies including the deployment of skilled staff, specialist equipment and resources.
- All students have special programmes designed to maximise opportunities in preparation for life after school, including preparation for work or continuing education.
In meeting the above aims, we take into account the:
- Education Act 1996
- Code of Practice 2001
- Special Educational Needs & Disability Act 2001
- Bradford’s ‘Every Child Matters’ and ‘Removing Barriers to Achievement’ policies
- Aims of the school
The Special Needs Co-ordinator, Miss L Dyson, has overall responsibility for the organisation of Special Needs provision, as part of the school’s Inclusion Policy.
Access to the Curriculum
To accommodate students who are designated as having a special educational need, Tong provides:
- Specialist staff
- Teaching Assistants who provide support enabling access to the curriculum via class, small group and individual support. The Teaching Assistants are based in curriculum areas and are experienced in the content of the courses, and under the guidance of the Curriculum Leader
- Individual teaching programmes designed to meet the needs of each particular student.
- Specialist equipment, such as Laptops, Alpha Smart and Dictaphones
- Behaviour and anger management support
- Access to counselling through the TIC TAC and external agencies
- Support from external agencies and organisations
- Scotopic sensitivity screening (use of coloured overlays)
- Dyslexia and dyscalculia screening
- A close working liaison with the Literacy co-ordinator Mrs W Gant, Director of Reading Activities, Ms E Fergus and Literacy Coach, Mrs C Doherty
We regularly liaise with parents, who are involved, at all stages, in meeting the needs of our students.
Staff INSET provides excellent opportunities for workshops and discussions for relevant and up to date information to be distributed from well qualified leaders in their own fields as well as from the SENCO and other senior staff in school. Recent training has included:
- Physiotherapy guidance for Teaching Assistants
- How to implement a dyslexia friendly curriculum, classroom and environment.
- SEN bulletins giving relevant information and strategies on dealing with special educational needs issues.
OFSTED
In 2005 Ofsted judged that the provision of SEN support at KS3 and KS4, across all curriculum areas was good and that SEN students made good progress in line with other students. The Teaching Assistants were well managed and led by the SENCO.
