Welcome to our SIR (SEN Information Report) which is part of Durham County Council’s Local Offer for children and young people with Special Educational Needs. Our SEN Information Report will provide details about how we implement our policy and practice to deliver high quality SEN provision for children and young people with SEN.
The SEN Information Report was reviewed and updated on September 2021.
Definition
A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made that is additional to or different from that made generally for other children or young people of the same age. (CoP 2015, p16)
Broad areas of need – There are four broad areas of special educational need, these are:
Communication and interaction – Includes pupils with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and those with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).
Cognition and learning – Includes pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) , Moderate learning difficulties (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).
Social, Emotional and Health Difficulties – Includes any pupils who have an emotional, social or mental health need that is impacting on their ability to learn.
Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties – Includes pupils with hearing impairment, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment and physical difficulties.
School Ethos and approach
At Kirk Merrington Primary School, we are committed to the equal inclusion of all pupils in all areas of school life. We recognise the diverse and individual needs of all of our pupils and take into account the additional support required by those children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). We recognise that all pupils are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their full potential. We believe in positive intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and levels of achievement and working in partnership with other agencies in order to provide a positive educational experience for all our pupils including those with a special education need or disability.
Our school recognises there are particular groups of pupils whose circumstances require additional consideration by those who work with them to support their SEN.
At Kirk Merrington Primary School we ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs make the best possible progress.
Consultation in Production and Review Arrangements of SEN Information Report (SIR)
At Kirk Merrington Primary School we ask parents to complete a questionnaire annually. Our pupils also share their views by completing a questionnaire independently or with a member of staff by writing or drawing. The information gathered from parents and pupils is used to improve our SIR. The SIR is reviewed and updated annually. It was last updated during September 2019 and should be read alongside the school’s SEN Policy, the Equalities Information and Objectives, Safeguarding Policy and the Accessibility Plan. The SIR is monitored, evaluated and ratified by the Governor for SEN, Mrs Steward-Samson and ratified by the governing body.
This SEND Information Report should be read alongside the school’s SEND Policy, the Equalities Information and Objectives and the Accessibility Plan which you can find in the School Policies section.
Key Contacts
- Mrs Nicola Murray is the Head Teacher and can be contacted on 01388 836718 or by emailing: kirkmerrington@durhamlearning.net
- Mrs Sarah O’Sullivan is our designated Special Educational Needs Coordinator and can be contacted on 01388 816230 or by emailing: kirkmerrington@durhamlearning.net
- Mrs Steward-Samson Special Educational Needs Governor and can be contacted on 01388 816230
SEND Admissions
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan follow a different admission and transfer process for a new school. Please continue to complete Durham County Council’s parental preference form, as part of the admission process to a new school. You continue to have a right to request a particular school and this will be considered alongside the information that we have about your child’s special educational needs. The information would have been provided as part of the Education, Health and Care assessment or following the review meeting.
For Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan the SEN team can be contacted on 03000 265878.
For information on the admission of pupils with a disability, please visit the School Admissions section of our website and view the Accessibility Plan in our School Policies section.
If you would like to discuss your child’s SEN in more detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
The full range of local support available for children/ young people with SEND and their families within and outside of school can be found in the County Durham Local Offer
