SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities)

At West Kirby School and College, we use IEPs, which are person centred plans to monitor progress towards the longer term outcomes in EHCPs or Statements of SEN. They are working documents informed by the pupil’s EHCP/Statement and set out half-termly targets for pupils to work towards. They provide a framework for longer term goals and identify the smaller steps pupils can make to achieve this.

IEPs are split into the 4 areas of need:

• Cognition and Learning
• Communication and Interaction
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health
• Sensory and Physical

Key staff across the school are involved in the assess, plan, do, review cycle with the IEPs This includes Teachers, TA's, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Pastoral Care. Pupils and parents and carers are informed of the content of the IEP and involved in the monitoring of progress. All IEPs are overseen by the SENCo .

At West Kirby School and College, alongside the support identified within a pupil's EHCP/Statement, we provide dynamic support for our young people through our internal referral system, led by Mrs Jenny Jones, SENCo and supported by a panel. We use a team around the child approach, where the panel is made up by staff from the Clinical teams.

What is the process? Pupils can be referred by staff to our Pupil Support Panel for discussion. The panel consider what provision is already in place and identify any additional support or intervention required. The intervention is time-limited with clear outcomes in place to be achieved. If a long-term provision is identified this is discussed in the Annual Review meeting with a recommendation that changes are made to the pupil’s EHCP.

All our staff are trained and experienced in working with young people with SEND. There are a number of staff who have additional specialisms and responsibilities. Our Clinical & Support teams are an intrinsic part to pupils' education at West Kirby School and College. Integrated across the school, this provides valuable support to enable our pupils' learning, development and success. 

• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Clinical Psychology
• Pastoral Care Team 
• Learning Support
• Medical Team
• SENDCo
• Home School Liaison 

As a result of our on-site teams of Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Positive Behaviour Support Team and Attachment and Trauma, these staff with specialist areas of understanding deliver whole school internal staff training, including the following topics:

• Attachment and Trauma
• Child development
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
• Sensory
• Zones of Regulation
• Defusion and de-escalation strategies
• Dyslexia
• Questioning
• Neurodiversity
• Phonics

At West Kirby School and College, we specialise in supporting children with SEND. We pride ourselves on our SEND training and accreditations within SEND. These include Autism Accreditation , ADHD Friendly School Award, Attachment and Trauma Sensitive Schools Award & Dyslexia Accreditation. Other areas we have specialist understanding in, for example PDA.