Bernie Harrison

Trust SEND Lead

Our SEND Central Service support comprises the following: 

For the Trust SENCOs:

• Half termly SENCo network meetings. A supportive environment for SENCo’s to network, discuss case work and workload
• Training day opportunities a on wide variety of subjects. A SENCo network training day calendared every year
• 1:1 support for each SENCo when required to support challenging cases, grievances, mediations and advisory role
• Auditing of each SEND department every year. Audit report written with feedback given to Headteacher, Governor and CEO
• Termly drop-in sessions and catch up with each SENCo
• Behaviour Panel and Alternative Provision paperwork support
• Permanent Exclusion consideration meeting and IRP support
• Setting up and sharing of Trust led provision in areas such as: SALT, Positive Moving and Handling, TeamTeach, First Aid
• Providing observation and subsequent reports on individual pupils / students with the view to seeking external support
• Cascading of training to all staff in individual schools, based on need
• Further development and support with Young Carers role, CIC and attendance officer: termly meetings, EBSA toolkit support, training of roles
• Liaising with external agencies on behalf of the school and ensuring that all professionals are held accountable to their remit

For the Trustees / Governors:

• Auditing of each SEND department every year. Audit report written with feedback given to Headteacher, Governor and CEO
• Ensuring termly feedback report on all schools, from all central Trust staff to Trustees and Chair of Governors
• Permanent exclusion consideration meetings and IRP support available when required
• Training on key areas of SEND and legislation
• Part of the school review team with discussing SEND with Headteacher
• Ensuring that Trustees are regularly briefed

For the Headteachers:

• Termly feedback on their SEND department and next steps improvement plan with 1:1 meeting
• Consultation of SEND strategic aims by Headteachers to formulate SEND MAT Development Plan
• Advice and guidance on challenging cases
• Offer advice and guidance on permanent exclusion consideration meeting, SEND grievances and IRP
• Support to ensure SEND provision and practice is reflected on the academy website
• Offer of CPD opportunities for whole staff training days
• Ensure each school website is up to date with statutory documents and reflects good SEND practice

For the Teaching Staff:

• Training sessions for whole school staff on specialist subject areas: ASD, ADHD, Adaptive Teaching, developmental trauma - fostering better understanding and empathy for pupils / students who are neuro divergent. Embedding of good practice with clear strategies
• In class support, offering advice and guidance on in class provision and pace of lesson
• Implementing key adaptive teaching strategies to promote good teaching practice in the classroom

For the Pupils / Students / Parents:

• Monitoring of key pupils / students with complex need in ensuring that action plans in place are suited to need of the child
• Ensuring correct provision is in place for pupils / students with SEND
• Ensuring that there is compassionate understanding for students with SEND in a mainstream setting
• Ensuring that all policies and practices are SEND friendly and legally compliant
• Support, advice and guidance with parents for pupils / students with SEND and complex needs
• Support for parents in signposting and securing specialist placements
• Tracking and monitoring with SENCo of pupils / students and ensuring all data has been understood and all external agencies have been accessed and escalated
• Screenings and observations of young person, with parental consent, with the view to securing more support