What are the steps taken by Blakehill to prevent SEN children being treated less favourably?
The special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years: Statutory guidance identifies statutory duties placed on all schools. Whenever Blakehill have made decisions, we have given consideration to what the code says. We have a duty to ensure that our pupils are not discriminated against and we make reasonable adjustments, including the use of auxillary aids and services to ensure that all children with SEN are not at a disadvantage compared with that of their peers. These could include the provision of services and the provision of education. We have made reasonable adjustments to meet all needs which have included specific interventions, the use of aids and personnel to support learning, using a different approach to meet needs of individuals. For children with disabilities, our duty is anticipatory – it requires thought to be given in advance to what disabled children and young people might require and what adjustments might need to be made to prevent that disadvantage. We promote equality of opportunity for disabled children. Any targets are specific and measurable, we commission services to support the needs of individuals and arrangements in place to support all pupils with SEN to ensure that they get the support they need. All children with SEN engage in activities of school alongside children who do not have SEN. The SENDCO is responsible for co-ordinating SEN provision. Our school’s Admission policy ensures that all children are not refused admission due to their SEN or if they do not have an EHC plan. We regularly review and evaluate the breadth and impact of the support we offer or can access to ensure that we take an active role with all agencies and follow advice. We make the best endeavours to make sure that a child with SEN gets the support they need – this means doing everything we can to meet children's SEN. We regularly review the support we offer, or can access, and we promote training for individual staff members or whole staff to ensure that we can follow updated recommendations for pupils in our care.
Blakehill have formed an SEN pupil council where we act upon pupil voice. We have listened to children, both with with SEN and without, and acted upon the information and views which they have shared with us.