Hapton C.of E./Methodist Primary School
SPECIAL NEEDS & DISABILITY
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS
If you are reading this guide, then you are a mum, dad or carer who has a
child who would benefit from some extra support in school. Lots of
children need extra help at some time during their school life. The
children who need extra help have ‘special educational needs’ and at
Heasandford we work very hard to make sure we give your child all the
help he or she needs.
Here are some examples (there may be others) of things that children
with special needs may need help with:











Concentration
Behaviour
Speech
Maths
Reading
Spelling
Writing
Hearing
Sight/visual
Clumsiness
Health Issues
In our school, we have a system of helping children with Special
Educational Needs. Within this system we treat all our children as
individuals.
WHAT HAPPENS FIRST
You or the class teacher will have noticed that your child may need some
extra help. The Special Needs Co-ordinator or class teacher will invite
you into school to talk about the type of support your child will be given.
We will also share ideas about how you can help your child.
Additionally, we will also ask you for your views about your child’s
achievements, progress and any problems that you feel they may have.
At this point, your child is considered to be at the SCHOOL ACTION
stage of the Special Education Needs Code of Practice.
SCHOOL ACTION
At the SCHOOL ACTION stage, we may be able to offer your child more
help. Although the greatest responsibility for dealing with your child’s
needs remains with the class teacher.
Together, we will agree the things your child needs to work on; this is
called an INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) or an INDIVIDUAL
BEHAVIOUR PLAN (IBP. An IEP/IBP will include:



How we intend to help your child. This will be written as targets and
we will set a date by which we hope to achieve them. In the case of an
IBP we will set strategies to improve behaviour alongside targets.
Ways in which we will teach your child.
The date of the next review meeting.
Every term we will produce a new IEP/IBP for your child and consider the
following:



That we continue with help at the SCHOOL ACTION stage.
That your child has made progress and can leave the SCHOOL
ACTION stage.
That your child’s needs require further investigation or help – we call
this SCHOOL ACTION PLUS stage.
SCHOOL ACTION PLUS
At SCHOOL ACTION PLUS we ask for the advice of specialists from
outside the school. We ALWAYS gain your permission before we do this.
These experts might include the Special Needs Support Teachers, or the
Educational Psychologist. Sometimes we may ask other specialists
depending upon the particular need. The advice we receive helps us to
write your child’s INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN.
Sometimes SCHOOL ACTION PLUS provision may not be considered
adequate. In these cases, the Special Needs Co-ordinator, contacts
parents and talks to them about FORMAL ASSESMENTS and
STATEMENTS. This will help provide very precise support for your child.
STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES.
Hapton C.of E.Primary School is responsible for meeting your child’s
Special Needs, whether they have a statement, are on SCHOOL ACTION
or SCHOOL ACTION PLUS. This is carried out in line with the
government’s SEN Code of Practice and the schools policy on SEN, which
is regularly reviewed and updated.
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
 The most important thing you can do is talk to us.
You know your child better than anyone else and we
need your help just as much as your child needs ours.
 Please come along to all the review meetings.
 Back up the school by doing the same things at home.
When you come to reviews we can share our ideas.
 Always try and spend some time at home reading or
working with your child. 10 minutes everyday would
be a big help.
 Give lots of praise when you are doing things
together.
We hope this information helps you to understand how we help your child
through school. There are ALWAYS people who are willing to talk to you.
These people include:
 Your child’s Class Teacher.
 Your child’s Teaching Assistant.
 The Special Needs Co-ordinator.
 The Headteacher.
You can contact the SENCO Miss Clarke to discuss concerns. She will
make an appointment for you to come into school to an informal meeting.