SENCO
Our SENCO is Mrs H. Edney, National Award for SEN Coordination – Postgraduate Certificate in SEN Coordination. She also sits on the Conversational Panel for Durham.
The Executive Headteacher sits on the Inclusion Panel for Durham.
It is the SENCO’s job to:
- Oversee the day-to-day operation of the school’s SEND policy
- Liaise with the relevant Designated Teacher where a looked after pupil has SEND
- Advise teachers on using a graduated approach to providing SEND support as well as supporting them in the preparation of effective support plans which are reviewed within set time scales in order to ensure pupil progress.
- Liaise with the Head of School and SEND Governor on the deployment of the school’s delegated budget and other resources to meet the pupil’s needs effectively
- Liaise with parents/carers of pupils with SEND
- Liaise with and be a key point of contact for external agencies
- Liaise with the senior management team in relation to keeping the records of all SEND pupils up to date
- Work with the Head of School and school governors to ensure that the school meets its responsibilities with regard to reasonable adjustments and access arrangements by phoning the school on 01740 651482 or sending an email.
More details of the SENCO’s role can be found in the SEN Policy which you can find in the School Policies section of our website.
Staff Training
At St. Michael’s, we are committed to supporting all children to ensure they receive the best possible education.
We pride ourselves on the extensive training we have received to ensure all staff can support children with additional needs. Staff have received the following training –
- Autism
- Restorative Approach
- Zones of Regulation
External Specialists and Other Bodies
The school enjoys good working relationships with a wide range of people who provide services to children with SEND and their families.
The external specialists may:
- Act in an advisory capacity
- Extend expertise of school staff
- Provide additional assessment
- Support a child directly
- Suggest statutory assessment is advisable
- Consult with all parties involved with the child
These include:
- Durham County Council Local Offer
- Durham SEND Information, Advice and Support Service
- Speech. Language and Communication Services
- Children’s Occupational Therapy Services
- CAMHS
- Educational Psychology Service
- Health Agencies/NHS Hospital Services
- Children’s Physiotherapy Services
- Emotional Wellbeing Services
- Social Care
- Looked After Children Team
- Treetops Occupational Therapy Service for Children
- Learning Difficulties and Disability Support Service
- Durham Behaviour Support Services / Crisis Response.
How We Secure Specialist Expertise
Our Additional Needs Budget is used to support children and young people with SEN.
This is used to support children and young people with SEND by:
- Funding additional support staff in order to provide for the identified needs of SEND children – small group support, one to one support (where necessary) and specific interventions
- Funding additional resources and equipment
- Funding for staff training
- Funding referrals to SEND for specific assessment E.G Cognition and Learning
If a child has complex special educational needs, the school could also gain additional funding from the Local Authority to meet the agreed outcomes by way of Top Up Funding request.
