SEND Support Offer – Arrangements for Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
At Northfield School & Sports College, we are committed to promoting an inclusive approach to education, which involves creating an ethos of achievement for all students within a climate of high expectations. This aim can only be successfully realised through partnership with colleagues, parents and external agencies and active involvement of students. All young people at Northfield School & Sports College are valued equally and have the right to learn, achieve and participate fully in school. We all have a duty to foster independence, social skills and empower our students so that they can access further education and training.
Admission Arrangements for students with SEND
Northfield School & Sports College aims to be a fully inclusive school. In accordance with the Education Act 1996 and the SEND Code of Practice 2014, if a parent wishes to have their child with an EHC Plan educated in a mainstream school, the Local Authority must provide a place, unless this is incompatible with the efficient education of other children, and there are no reasonable adjustments that can be made to prevent the incompatibility. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits schools from discriminating against disabled children and young people in respect of admissions for a reason related to their disability.
Useful Links
Stockton Borough Council Local Offer Special Educational Needs Code of PracticeJCQ Access Arrangements
Address: Northfield School & Sports College, Thames Road, Billingham TS22 5EG
Tel: (01642) 557373
Fax: (01642) 360392
Email: SENDcontact@northfieldssc.org
Website: www.northfieldssc.org
SENCO - Mrs R Waistle
Senior Leadership Link for SEND - Dr G Ankers, Deputy Headteacher
Assistant Head Teacher (Pastoral) - Mr Hetherington
Governor responsible for SEND - Mr P Sowerby
Qualified Teacher of Visually Impaired (QTVI) - Ms L Addison
Sensory Base Lead - Mr P Olone
Outside Agency Staff
Specialist Teacher for HI – Mrs J Grey
Educational Psychologist – Sally Ann Hewitt
Northfield is an Enhanced Mainstream School (EMS) with provision in development for students with a sensory loss, that is a visual or hearing Impairment, providing up to twenty places.
Our EMS provision is currently in development to include a bespoke extension to house resources and provide specific teaching spaces for specialist staff, the training of key staff to teach and support students with sensory loss and the expansion of resources, especially assistive technology, to increase student independence.
Visual Impairment
Provision for students with a visual impairment was established at Northfield in September 2001 and became part of the developing EMS provision in April 2018.
The provision provides for students using either Braille or large print, within the mainstream curriculum.
Within the school community our aim is to fully include students who are visually impaired. This is achieved by:
- Having a commitment to producing all curriculum material in the appropriate format for the individual student.
- Providing a range of specialised equipment for use within the classroom or base.
- Providing classroom support to the students and subject teacher, so that the students learn alongside their peers.
- Encouraging independent learning, at a pace that is comfortable for the student.
- Promoting self-awareness, social and personal relationships.
- Raising awareness and involving other students in the educational and social needs of students with a visual loss.
- Delivering appropriate training to subject teachers on suitable classroom strategies and teaching styles.
- Monitoring and assessing the student's visual functioning on a regular basis.
- Liaising with other professionals involved with the student.
Hearing Impairment
Northfield is supported by an employed Teacher of the Deaf and the Sensory Teaching, Advisory and Resource Service (STARS) to provide support to Hearing-Impaired students.
Within the school community our aim is to fully include students who are hearing impaired. This is achieved by:
- Having a commitment to ensuring access to the full curriculum as appropriate to the individual student.
- Providing a range of specialised equipment for use within the classroom.
- Providing classroom support to the students and subject teacher, so that the students learn alongside their peers.
- Encouraging independent learning, at a pace that is comfortable for the student.
- Promoting self-awareness, social and personal relationships.
- Raising awareness and involving other students in the educational and social needs of students with a hearing loss.
- Delivering appropriate training to subject teachers on suitable classroom strategies and teaching styles.
- Monitoring and assessing the student's hearing on a regular basis.
- Liaising with other professionals involved with the student.
The Sensory Support Team
An amalgamated approach has recently been adapted to ensure that specific key areas are the fundamental aspects delivered through all elements of learning. These key areas include
- Bridging the gap
- Identity and self-awareness
- Language and communication skills
- Life skills
- Supporting transition
To ensure students within the Sensory Support setting have the strongest opportunities in fulfilling these key areas, bespoke intervention is offered by members of staff categorised in the following areas
- Language and Communication
- Curriculum Support
- Lifelong Learning
