How does BSCS know if my child needs extra help?

If your child is new to BSCS, information regarding their prior learning, attainment and additional needs will be passed on by the previous school and/or Local Authority. Within school, students are regularly assessed and monitored by classroom teachers and concerns may be flagged by any member of staff, parent/carer or the student themselves.

What should I do if I think my child has SEN?

There are many opportunities to share concerns or discuss possible special educational needs with school staff. You may wish to begin by talking to your child’s classroom teacher or tutor during the regular Parents Information Evenings. Alternatively, you can contact the Learning Support Team via Vanessa Willcox on 01454 868868 to arrange a longer meeting.

How will BSCS communicate to all staff that my child has SEN or a disability and the support that he or she will need?

Information about individual learning needs is shared with staff via the school’s secure information system (SIMS) and also through Student Passports, which also provide strategies for supporting your child with their learning and social behaviour.

How will BSCS staff support my child’s SEND?

High quality planning and teaching encompasses all needs and ability levels. The Learning Support Team works within all curriculum areas to ensure that more bespoke packages of support are provided when appropriate.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

Bradley Stoke Community School is committed to inclusion and all of our students have access to the full curriculum. However, for those with the most complex level of need, a more bespoke curriculum can be discussed with the SENCo.

How will staff at BSCS know how my child is doing?

All classroom teachers are responsible for the monitoring and assessment of their students, which are formally recorded on a termly basis and overseen by Subject Team Leaders and the Senior Leadership Team.

How will I know how my child is doing?

Regular assessment points throughout the year provide you with formal data reports, which you will be able to discuss in greater detail with teaching staff during the regular Parent Information Evenings. If your child has a Statement or Education, Health and Care Plan then you will be invited to three additional meetings with your child’s key worker during the academic year.

How will you help me to support my child’s learning?

Our Independent Learning Programme provides opportunities for you to actively engage in aspects of your child’s learning at BSCS. For students with an identified SEND, home support can be discussed with the Learning Support Team during Parent Information Evenings or by arranging a meeting with a member of the team.

What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?

BSCS has a reputation for outstanding care and guidance. Staff provide a safe, nurturing environment in which students thrive and progress. Pastoral support is offered by tutors and mentors as well as both the Learning and Student Support Teams, who are skilled in supporting students whose social, emotional and behavioural needs places them at risk.

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by BSCS?

In addition to our own skills and areas of expertise, staff at BSCS work in close collaboration with a range of experts from outside agencies, such as Educational Psychologists, medical professionals and colleagues from Social Care.

How does BSCS work together with outside agencies?

Agencies working within BSCS will liaise with the SENCo and Assistant SENCo or the Director of Student Support to ensure that key information is shared between home, school and the supporting agency. Students, parents, teachers and other professionals will be invited to work together to plan and monitor additional interventions.

What training have the staff at BSCS had regarding supporting students with SEND?

Staff benefit from an extensive programme of continuing professional development at BSCS, which includes specific training in meeting the needs of SEND students and vulnerable learners. For example, staff have received training on how to support students with visual impairments, the effective use of ICT to support learners with SEND and whole school differentiation.

How will my child be included in activities outside of the classroom including school trips?

BSCS students have access to the full curriculum, enrichment programme and school trips. For those with specific medical or physical needs, a full risk assessment is completed and the school will work in partnership with parents/carers and students to plan all aspects of the trip.

How accessible is BSCS school?

BSCS was built in 2005 and is fully accessible. There are three lifts (one in the Post 16 Centre and two in the main school), as well as a range of other facilities to support the needs of staff and students with mobility and sensory difficulties.

How will BSCS prepare and support my child for transition in secondary school?

Staff at BSCS work with Y6 teachers and SENCos, students and you, the parent/carer, to ensure that your child is ready for the transition to secondary school. A programme of transition visits can be arranged and students have a number of opportunities to find the answers to their questions before arriving in September. The BSCS Summer School also offers an additional opportunity for more vulnerable students to prepare for transition.

How will BSCS prepare and support my child for transition from KS3 (7-9) to KS4 (10 and 11)?

Transition from one phase to another will always be carefully planned and discussed with parents. Information is shared via the school website and newsletter and additional Parent Information Evenings provide opportunities for you to find out about the move to GCSE or Post 16. In years 9 and 11, students will be offered support through 1:1 meetings with key staff. For those with identified SEND and other vulnerable learners, the Learning Partnership West service offers additional support.

How will BSCS prepare and support my child for Post 16 transition, both within BSCS and outside of BSCS?

Firstly, please don’t panic! We are here to help and reassure you. In school we have a wide range of needs and students often have strengths and areas of weakness and this is normal. Helping students to feel successful as learners and recognise their own profile as a learner sits at the heart of school ethos

How are BSCS resources allocated and matched to a student’s SEN?

At BSCS we have access to a wide range of strategies and resources for supporting students, such as smaller classes in English and maths, additional mentoring support, morning literacy catch-up sessions and Independent Learning clubs. Support is provided to develop core skills and build learner confidence. We are committed to ensuring that all our students leave BSCS with the skills they need to be fully independent within their community: resilience, reflectiveness, resourcefulness and responsibility. For students with Statements or EHCPs, additional resources are allocated as part of the Assess, Plan, Do and Review process in collaboration with parents/carers.

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?

For students with Statements and EHCPs, decisions about levels of support are made at Local Authority level, in collaboration with you, the parent/carer. Schools have the opportunity to be part of the decision making, during the consultation period. At school level, additional support is allocated by Team Leaders and the SENCo/Assistant SENCo in collaboration with the Leadership Team and discussions with teachers, parents and the student themselves.

How will I be involved in BSCS as the parent of a child with SEND?

All parents and carers are encouraged to be actively involved in the BSCS school community; reading our regular newsletter, available on the website, and using FROG to monitor your child’s progress is an excellent start and will provide you with further information about how to get involved with school events. Attending Parent Information Evenings and maintaining regular communication with your child’s tutor and key worker is also important and will help you to stay up to date with his/her progress.

Who can I contact for further information?

Queries relating to SEND issues can be made via:

• Ali Short, the Learning Support Team Administrator, who can be contacted via email: Ali.Short@bradleystokecs.org.uk or phone: 01454 868868
• SENCo, Erica Wolstenholme
• SEN Manager, Cristiana Ferris
• Intervention Manager, Sarah Jones
• Susie Davis, Director of Student Support

How will BSCS staff know if I need extra help?

What can I do if I think I need extra help?

How will BSCS change my work for me if I find it tough?

Do I get a say in how my work is changed at BSCS? Who can help me change it?

How will I Know if I am doing well at BSCS?

Who can help me become more independent and learn to help myself?

What if I'm worried about something? Is there somewhere in BSCS where I can go?

What if I'm worried about things that aren't to do with school work?

What different things can I do in BSCS if I struggle to take part in some activities?

Have BSCS staff had any extra training to help me?

What help can I get if I am worried about starting at BSCS?

How will BSCS prepare me for Post 16 or going to college?

What is it like being a student at BSCS?