At JH Godwin, we provide an inspiring and nurturing curriculum that provides a challenge to all our children at a level that is appropriate for them. This is delivered through quality first teaching. We monitor their progress, both socially and emotionally and academically and believe early intervention is vital in order to identify barriers to learning and to provide the right support so that every pupil can achieve the best they possibly can.

In some cases, it may benefit our children to access further help and support in a specific way. There may be a need for a child to have access to specific styles of learning and support, to remove a barrier to learning. This is where a child or young person may be identified as having a special educational need The code of practice 2014 defines SEN as follows:

“A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for

special educational provision to be made for him or her”.

Where this is the case, support is provided through a graduated approach (Click here for more information). This will be initiated by the class teacher, and supported by our trained SEND Team. We will endeavour to work in close partnership with parents, and where necessary, outside agencies to provide the best possible outcomes for the pupils.

A full and in-depth outline of how we support pupils with SEN can be found in our SEND Information Report, located in the links at at the bottom of this page

Our Special Educational Needs Team

Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) – Mrs Ellen Cornish

Mrs Cornish is an experienced teacher who has taught all year groups at JH Godwin. She is also the mother of 2 children with ADHD and ASD giving her experience in the development of SEND pupils from both school and home perspectives.

To contact Mrs Cornish, please phone or email the school office to arrange an appointment on 01244 981003 admin@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

Our SEN team also includes;

Head teacher- Mrs Lorraine Cartledge

SEN Governor –Mr Martin Brannan

Speech and Language Provision Lead – Miss Kate Realey External Speech & Language: Jane Mullens – Chatterjacks

Further information and links to wider community services is available through The Local Offer Website.

Click here to see the local offer

The Local Offer website provides information for children and young people with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) and their parents or carers, in a single place. It includes information from a range of local agencies, including education, health and social care. Knowing what is out there gives you more choice and therefore more control over what support is right for your child.

We support the local authorities Inclusion Matters Strategy found via this link: https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Information/Inclusion-matters

Who do I speak to if I have concerns about my child’s learning?

You can speak to or contact the school SENCO:

• your child’s class teacher

• the SENCO – Mrs Cornish senco@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

• the Head Teacher – Mrs Cartledge head@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

• the SEND governor – Mr Martin Brannan admin@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

What do I do if I disagree with the SEND Support?

If you are not happy with anything the school does when dealing with your child, you should first talk to the teacher responsible for special educational needs or your child’s class teacher. You may also talk to the SENCO or Headteacher.

SENCO – Mrs E Cornish – senco@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

Headteacher – Mrs L Cartledge – admin@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

01244 259666

You may find it helpful to write down your worries before a meeting and, if you want to, you can take a friend or relative or your Named Person with you. A Named Person is someone who will help you to express your views and offer you support whenever you need it. You may also find it helpful to talk to other parents. Our school can provide the names of local voluntary organisations and parents’ groups that might also be able to help.

If after speaking to the school, you remain concerned you may wish to contact the SEN Governor for the school, who is also our Chair of Governors Mrs Carol Gahan.

chair@jhgodwin.cheshire.sch.uk

For further information please refer to our complaints policy available here.

The school will have a policy on how it handles complaints. You can find further information about school complaints on the Council’s website if you are still not happy after using going through the school’s complaints procedures.

If you disagree with a decision that has been made about your child?

Decisions around which setting a child attends, or the level of funded support they received are made by Cheshire West and Cheshire SEN Team.

If a decision has been made by the SEN Team that you disagree with or wish to challenge you need to contact them directly using the information below:

https://www.livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Information/Resolving_disagreements_mediation_and_SEND_Tribuna?categoryId=3972

senteam@cheshrewestandchester.gov.uk

There is also further support on The Local Offer website detailing outside agencies who work with families.

Parents can also seek independent support and advice through the Information Advice and Support Service by clicking here.

EHCP and Additional Funding (including appeals)

Where the needs of your child exceed the level of support we can give our pupils we may recommend that we apply for further support.

This can take on the form of Top Up funding or an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP)

What is Top Up Funding?

Top up funding support allows us to put in place higher level of support on a short term basis. All requests are processed through Cheshire West and Chester’s SEN team. The funding can be used to provide the necessary resources that will increase the level of support for a short period of time to meet your child’s needs. This is awarded for 12 months and it is hoped that during this time the support is enough to help your child make the progress we plan for them to make. If after the 12 months, we find that your child may need a higher level of support on a long term basis, then we may reccomend that we apply for an Educational Health Care Plan.

What is an Educational Health Care Plan?

An Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) are for children and young people up to the age of 25 who have a special educational need or disability that cannot be met by the support that is available at our school. It describes a child or young persons special educational needs (SEN) and the help they will get to meet them. An EHCP also includes any health and care provision that is needed. It is a legal document written by the local authority.

This short video at the bottom of this page by The Council for Disabled Children with support from Department of Education and Independent Support can explain this in more detail.

All new education health and care needs assessment requests will be processed through Cheshire West and Chester’s EHC Hub. Further information can be found here. Parents are welcome to make thier own application for an Educational Health Care Plan through the Hub if they feel they would like long term support for thier child’s needs. Further information is found here.

Resolving disagreements, mediation and SEND Tribunal.

Parents and young people are able to access support so that they can take part in decision-making or resolve any disputes as early as possible. Support can be provided by Information Advice and Support Service (IASS)

If a parent or young person (aged 16 or over) is unhappy about a decision the SEN Team would always welcome the opportunity to meet with you or talk to you. The SEN Team can be contacted by:

Email: senteam@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or

Telephone: 0151 337 6505

When a parent or young person is sent notice of a decision which can be appealed to the SEND tribunal, it will tell the parent or young person of their right to go to mediation.

Parents’ and young people’s right to appeal is not affected by entering into mediation. Once the information has been provided it is for the parent or young person to decide whether they want to go to mediation before any appeal they might make to the tribunal.

Parents and young people who wish to make an appeal to the Tribunal may do so only after they have contacted a mediation adviser and discussed whether mediation might be a suitable way of resolving the disagreement.

Parents and young people do not have to contact the mediation adviser prior to registering their appeal with the tribunal if their appeal is solely about the name and type of education setting in Section I of the EHC Plan.

Who provides this service?

Mediation is provided by an independent service called KIDS.

Telephone: 03330 062 835

Website: www.kids.org.uk/mediation

Email: senmediation@kids.org.uk

Further information on Resolving disagreements, mediation and SEND Tribunal is available by clicking here.