SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at Lawrence Sheriff School
Lawrence Sheriff School is an inclusive environment where every young person can flourish. We have a growing number of young people with a range of needs who require additional support. Our approach is that every member of staff is trained to meet their needs from the moment they walk through our doors and therefore they can enjoy their time with us and make progress. We focus on understanding each young person as an individual and on equipping our staff with knowledge, strategies and confidence to meet their needs in and out of the classroom.
Please also find further information via SEND and Disability policies.
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SEN Support
Phase 1 support:
The Quality First (QF) Register comprises students with additional needs that can be effectively supported through adaptive teaching strategies within the classroom. Each student on the QF Register has an individualised pupil passport, which outlines their specific needs and recommends targeted teaching strategies to support their learning. These students are closely monitored by the SEN department, as well as their teachers, Head of Year and Head of House, in alignment with the Graduated Approach framework.
Phase 2 support:
Special Education Needs (SEN) register: The SEN register, is for students whose needs are not fully met through adaptive teaching strategies alone and who therefore require support from external agencies. These students take part in termly reviews with the SEN department and are closely monitored by both their teachers, Head of Year and Head of House, following the Graduated Approach framework*.
Both the Quality First (QF) Register and the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Register are subject to ongoing monitoring. Students may be moved between registers or removed entirely, in response to their evolving needs and progress.
*The Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle outlines the process by which all interventions should be implemented. It ensures that students are given adequate time to adjust to new strategies, while also providing a structured framework for the evaluation of their effectiveness.
Adaptive teaching refers to the practice of adjusting teaching methods, strategies, and resources to meet the diverse needs of all students in a classroom. It involves recognising that students have varying learning styles, abilities, and levels of understanding, and making modifications to ensure that each student can access the curriculum effectively. Adaptive teaching is the most effective way to meet the needs of our Quality First and SEN students and ensure they access both the academic curriculum and enrichment opportunities.
Teaching Assistants:
The SEN department is supported by three teaching assistants who primarily work with students holding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and those on the SEN register. In addition to this, they provide short-term, targeted classroom support for students requiring assistance with specific skills or areas of learning.
SEN teaching assistants also work with students on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, delivering a range of interventions including:
- Support for students transitioning into Year 7, focusing on organisation, communication, and homework
- Handwriting development
- Revision planning and preparation
- The use of social stories to enhance social understanding
- LEGO® Therapy to support social communication and collaborative skills
- Lunchtime social clubs for students in Years 7 to 11
- Individual mentoring to support personal, social, and academic development
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External support
The school uses a range of external services to support out students where appropriate.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Warwickshire’s Specialist Teacher Service
- School’s Mental Health Team
- Educational Psychologist
- Referrals to CAMHS, CASS and the Neurodevelopmental Team
The referral processes
In school referral:
Within school, teachers refer students to the SEN department after trailing targeted interventions for half an academic term, if the student has not shown sufficient progress in this area, the teacher will refer to the SEN department for further investigation and support.
Parental referral to SEN:
- Identify and Document Concerns:
- If you feel your son/daughter is having ongoing difficulties, take note of specific behaviours, challenges, or changes in your child’s performance in the areas of Communication and Interaction, Cognition and Learning, and Social, Emotional, and/or Physical Needs.
- Record any examples or patterns you have observed, including dates, frequency, and specific situations. The more detailed you can be, the better it will help the school to understand your concerns.
- Contact the SEN department:
By following this process, you will ensure that your concerns are addressed thoroughly and that the necessary steps are taken to support your child’s development.
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Further information and support
Warwickshire SEND Local Offer
Warwickshire’s SEND local offer brings together information about the local services and support available across education, health and social care for families with children and young people aged 0 to 25, who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/send
https://cwrise.com/for-parents - Information about Rise services, containing information videos on different needs at the bottom of the website page.
Family information service – Information on all aspects of family life including links to mental health support and SEND support through the Local Offer
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/children-families
SENDIASS- Barnardo’s Warwickshire SENDIASS, offer advice and support around various topics relating to Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND) for children and young people aged 0-25 living in Warwickshire and their parents or carers.
https://www.warwickshiresendiass.co.uk/
CAMHS- CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, a specialist NHS service that assesses and treats young people with emotional, behavioural, or mental health difficulties, offering support to children and young people up to the age of 18 and their families
https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/websites
https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/downloads
https://www.camhs-resources.co.uk/apps-1
Warwickshire link for Neurodevelopmental conditions:
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/health-wellbeing-send/neurodevelopmental-conditions
Autism
The National Autistic Society and The Autism Education Trust - Advice and guidance on all aspects of autism
https://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/parents
Sensory challenges
https://www.swft.nhs.uk/our-services/occupational-therapy-children
ADHD
Young Minds- Support and advice for parents and young people.
Dyslexia
Information and advice on dyslexia and the diagnosis process
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
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