Supporting Every Child to Learn, Thrive and Flourish

At Madginford Primary School, we believe every child is unique. Children learn, develop and experience the world in different ways, and we are committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, included and supported.

This guide aims to help parents and carers understand Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), how we support children in school and how we work together with families.

What does SEND mean?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities.

A child has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which means they need additional support or adjustments to help them access education and make progress.

Some children may have SEND because of:

• a learning difference;
• communication needs;
• social, emotional or mental health needs;
• sensory or physical needs;
• a medical condition or disability.

Every child with SEND is different. Some children may need support for a short period of time, while others may need support throughout their education.

The Four Areas of SEND

The SEND Code of Practice identifies four broad areas of need.

1. Communication and Interaction

Children may need support with:

• understanding language;
• expressing themselves;
• speech sounds;
• social communication;
• developing friendships.

Support may include:

• visual resources;
• language strategies;
• communication support;
• targeted interventions.

2. Cognition and Learning

Children may need support with:

• reading, writing or mathematics;
• processing information;
• memory;
• developing independence as learners.

Support may include:

• adapted teaching approaches;
• additional practice;
• structured learning;
• targeted interventions.

3. Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

Children may need support with:

• managing emotions;
• confidence and self-esteem;
• friendships;
• anxiety or worries;
• changes and transitions.

Support may include:

• nurturing relationships;
• emotional literacy;
• wellbeing support;
• strategies to develop resilience.

4. Sensory and/or Physical Needs

Children may need support with:

• sensory processing;
• hearing or vision;
• physical development;
• coordination;
• accessing the school environment.

Support may include:

• reasonable adjustments;
• specialist advice;
• adapted resources;
• environmental changes.

How Do We Identify SEND?

At Madginford Primary School, we carefully monitor every child’s progress, development and wellbeing.

A child may be identified as needing additional support through:

• observations by teachers;
• assessments and progress information;
• discussions with parents and carers;
• the child sharing their views;
• advice from external professionals.

Early identification helps us put support in place as soon as possible.

Does My Child Need a Diagnosis to Receive Support?

No.

A medical diagnosis is not required for a child to receive SEND support.

At Madginford, we focus on understanding each child’s individual strengths, needs and barriers to learning.

Support is based on need, not a label.

How Do We Support Children with SEND?

We use the Assess, Plan, Do, Review approach.

Assess

We gather information about:

• your child’s strengths;
• their needs;
• barriers they may experience;
• strategies that help.

Plan

We agree:

• outcomes for your child;
• support strategies;
• adjustments that may help.

Do

Support is put into place through:

• classroom teaching;
• interventions;
• additional strategies;
• support from professionals where appropriate.

Review

We check:

• what is working well;
• progress made;
• whether support needs to change.

Parents and children are an important part of this process.

SEND Support in the Classroom

Many children benefit from approaches that support all learners.

These may include:

• clear routines;
• visual timetables;
• breaking learning into smaller steps;
• modelling and repetition;
• additional thinking time;
• practical resources;
• pre-teaching vocabulary;
• adapted resources;
• encouragement and positive feedback.

Our aim is to remove barriers so that children can access learning confidently.

Pupil Passports and “This Is Me”

At Madginford, we use child-centred approaches to help us understand every child.

Pupil Passports

All children may have a Pupil Passport to support transitions and help staff understand:

• strengths and interests;
• how they learn best;
• what motivates them;
• strategies that help them succeed.

This Is Me

A This Is Me profile helps children share:

• who they are;
• what they enjoy;
• what helps them feel confident;
• what they would like adults to know.

Children’s voices are central to our support.

Working with Parents and Carers

We believe parents know their children best.

We work in partnership with families by:

• listening to your views;
• sharing information regularly;
• involving you in support planning;
• celebrating progress together;
• working together to overcome barriers.

If you have concerns about your child, please speak with your child’s class teacher or our SEND team.

Working with External Professionals

Sometimes children benefit from advice from specialist services, such as:

• Speech and Language Therapists;
• Educational Psychologists;
• Occupational Therapists;
• Specialist Teachers;
• Health professionals.

School works alongside families and professionals to ensure advice is used effectively to support children.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Some children with more complex needs may require an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

An EHCP:

• describes a child’s needs;
• identifies outcomes;
• sets out the support required;
• brings together education, health and care information.

Not all children with SEND need an EHCP. Decisions are based on individual needs and the level of support required.

Supporting Transitions

Changes can be exciting but may also feel challenging.

We support children through transitions by:

• sharing important information with staff;
• using Pupil Passports;
• preparing children for change;
• working with families;
• supporting children’s confidence and independence.

Useful SEND Information for Parents

Kent SEND Local Offer

Information about SEND services, support and advice in Kent:

https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs-and-disabilities/about-the-send-local-offer

Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK)

Free, impartial advice for families of children and young people with SEND:

https://www.iask.org.uk/

Contact

Advice and support for families of disabled children:

https://contact.org.uk/

Contacting Our SEND Team

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s SEND support, please speak with your child’s class teacher or contact our SEND team.

SENDCo: Mrs S Farrell
School Office Email: office@mps.kent.sch.uk
Telephone: 01622 734539

At Madginford Primary School, we believe every child should feel understood, valued and supported to achieve their very best.

Every child. Every opportunity. Every success.