At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, we have high aspirations for all learners and are committed to supporting our SEND learners in order for them to reach their full potential. By knowing every student, we are able to ensure that they are provided with the support they need to succeed. 

At the Academy, we follow the Ways of Being Co-op, shared across the Trust:

• Show you care

• Be yourself, always

• Do what matters most

• Succeed together. 

In order to do this, we ensure that all teachers take responsibility for the teaching of SEND students. Every child will take part in a broad and balanced curriculum that meets their needs and we have high aspirations for all of our students. 

The SENDCo will take a collaborative approach with you, your child and external agencies in order to provide support. 

Provision is available for all 4 broad areas of need, as outlined in the SEND Code of Practice which are: 

• Cognition and learning

• Communication and interaction

• Sensory and/or physical needs

• Social, emotional and mental health.

Initially, learners will be identified upon transition through the information gathered via parents/carers and transition meetings with primary schools. 

At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, the SENDCo will regularly monitor the progress of students and will work closely with teachers to identify needs early. The SENDCo will inform parents and/or carers if there are any concerns about their child. 

The Academy uses a graduated approach to address the needs of its students with SEND which takes the form of a four-part cycle ‘assess, plan, do, review’.

If you think that your child/young person has special educational needs, please contact the SENDCo. 

The SENDCo will assess and identify the needs of their children/young people through regular monitoring and observation. In addition, other information is gathered in order to obtain a holistic picture of the child. This includes KS2 data, staff referrals, parent referrals, attendance data, behaviour data and feedback from outside agencies.

Staff have access to a SEND referral form which is used to collate concerns that staff have. This is regularly monitored and reviewed by the SENDCo.

If there are any concerns, the SENDCo will speak with the parents/carers of that child/young person. If a child is identified as needing additional support, targeted interventions may be put in place. In addition, the SENDCo may request additional assessments to be carried out by professionals.

The SENDCo is Miss M. Slater - megan.slater@coopacademies.co.uk 

The SEND Governor is TBC.

At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, we encourage parents and carers to share their views regularly. Parents/carers of children with SEND are invited to share their views on their child’s pupil passport and at pupil passport reviews. 

In addition to this, if your child has an EHCP you will be invited to attend and share your feedback as part of the annual review. 

The SENDCo will be present at all parents evening events and you are welcome to share your feedback on these events.

At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, we ensure that we put the child at the heart of everything we do. Children with SEND are invited to take part in their pupil passport reviews and share their feedback with us. If they have an EHCP, the child is invited to share their views and voice prior to the annual review meeting. 

The SENDCo tracks a range of data to monitor and evaluate progress. Here at Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, we use the graduated approach of ‘assess, plan, do review’. This is in line with the SEND Code of Practice.

As a parent, you will be invited to pupil passport review meetings. As part of these meetings, we will inform you as to whether your child/young person is making progress towards or is meeting their targets. 

In addition, the SENDCo is present at all parents evenings and appointments can be requested.

As stated in the SEND Code of Practice, quality first teaching is the first step of intervention for all students, including those with SEND. At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, we have a highly ambitious curriculum taught by staff who are experts in their subjects. 

The first step of meeting need is through whole school teaching and learning strategies with a rigorous evidence base e.g. through questioning and modelling.

All teachers are provided with a pupil passport for each child on the SEND register which informs them of any reasonable adjustments that need to be made in order to support a young person. 

If a child requires additional support, this may be delivered through targeted interventions. 

• The temporary site has access via a ramp at the front of the building to allow for wheelchair access. 

• There are wheelchair accessible toilets. 

• Each classroom has an adjustable desk that can be moved up and down. 

• There is a disabled parking space in the school car park. 

• All outside space is accessible.

At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, the SENDCo is a member of the senior leadership team and holds the mandatory qualification for SENDCO’s. In addition, there is also support from the Co-op Academies Trust SEND directors. 

At the beginning of the academic year, staff receive information about the needs of the cohort and in particular the needs of the children with an EHCP. 

All staff members have regular SEND CPD as part of the CPD programme.

The support that young people at Co-op Academy Florence MacWIlliams is regularly reviewed and quality assured to ensure that it is effective. This includes learning walks and book looks, alongside analysing data and obtaining feedback from staff.

At Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams, we take our pastoral responsibilities extremely seriously. The year group has a pastoral head of year and a tutor who is there to provide guidance and support to the young people. 

We also provide the following: 

• A breakfast club which is free for all students

• Visits from the school nurse

• PACE sessions

All children with medical conditions have a medical plan drawn up by the parent, child, and the designated member of staff. All medication is stored securely and administered appropriately. All staff are made aware of children’s medical conditions and if any trip is planned, there is always a risk assessment undertaken to ensure any child with a medical need can participate safely. 

We ensure that every member of the Academy community is valued and all differences are respected. All members of the Academy community treat each other with respect. 

We have zero tolerance of any bullying or discrimination. 

For further advice and support please contact: 

SENDIASS – sendiass-stoke.co.uk/

The Stoke on Trent Safeguarding Board – safeguardingchildren.stoke.gov.uk

You can also view all the support available for parents on the Stoke on Trent Local offer website – localoffer.stoke.gov.uk

If you have any concerns about your child’s learning, progress or wellbeing or you would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the SENDCo Miss M. Slater via megan.slater@coopacademies.co.uk.  

If you would like to make a complaint relating to the provision for students with SEND, please contact the SENDCo in the first instance then, if unresolved, this will be dealt with by the Headteacher.