Menston Primary School

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Our SENDCo and Deputy Headteacher is Mrs Charlie Gilmour.  She has extensive experience as a SENDCo in Bradford and has worked with children from wide-ranging backgrounds and starting points. Mrs Gilmour also achieved a distinction in the National Award for SEN Co-ordination.  Our Headteacher, Mrs Wilson also has many years of experience as a SENDCo and continues to lead a school with inclusion at its heart, ensuring that we are ‘making the world a better place’ for everyone.

At Menston Primary School, we support all children with a broad range of additional and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which requires Special Educational Provision to be made for them.

A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they:
a) Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age
or
b) Have difficulty which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post16 institutions.
Special Needs Code of Practice 2014.

We have pupils within all four of the broad areas of need:

• Communication and Interaction – including children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Selective Mutism
• Cognition and Learning – including specific learning needs such as dyslexia
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs – including children with ADHD
• Sensory and Physical

We strive to ensure that we provide an education and learning experience for all children which is child-centred.  We work closely with parents and families to ensure any SEND support is created in a co-productive way.  The level of additional support and the type of provision you can expect for your child is detailed here:

Key information for Parents and Carers

You may wish to view our SEND policy, Accessibility Plan and Information Report:

Moorlands Learning Trust SEND Policy (Statutory)

Accessibility Plan

Menston SEND Information Report 2024

You can also view Bradford’s Local Offer here: Bradford and District Local Offer Website

Other information and documents which you may find useful are listed below:

Glossary of Acronyms

Neurodiversity Easy Read

Supporting Children who are reluctant communicators

Click the questions below for more information:

• Who is the best person to talk to at Menston Primary School about my child’s difficulties with learning/ Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND)?

  Your child’s class teacher

  Responsible for:

  Checking on the progress of your child and identifying, planning and delivering
  any additional help your child may need (this could be things like targeted work,
  additional support) and letting the SEND co-ordinator know as necessary.

  Writing Individual Support Plans and sharing and reviewing these with
  parents at least once each term and planning for the next term.

  Ensuring that all staff working with your child in school are helped to deliver the
  planned work/programme for your child, so they can achieve the best possible
  progress. This may involve the use of additional adults, outside specialist help and
  specially planned work and resources.

  Ensuring that the school’s SEND Policy is followed in their classroom and for all the pupils they teach with any SEND.

  Where you need additional information, you may also make an appointment to speak to the SEND co-ordinator directly.

• What are the different types of support available for all children, including children with SEND at Menston Primary School?

  Quality First Teaching led by teaching staff with specific objectives and success criteria in which learning is accurately assessed, reviewed and built upon. Class Teachers plan lessons according to the specific needs of all groups of children in their class, and will ensure that your child’s needs are met. Planning and teaching will be adapted as needed to meet your child’s learning needs. Trained staff from outside agencies can help teachers to adapt their provision to support the needs of your child where necessary.

  Specific resources and strategies will be used to support your child individually and in groups. Advice from outside agencies will be followed.

  Specific group work with in a smaller group of children to narrow identified gaps and enable them to access the core curriculum.

  Specialist provision may be sought from outside agencies for example Speech, Language and Communication, SEN support, Educational Psychology and Occupational Therapy.

• What support do we have for you as a parent/carer of a child with SEND?

  The class teacher is the first point of contact and is available to discuss your child’s progress or any concerns you may have and to share information about what is working well at home and school so similar strategies can be used.
  The SEND co-ordinator is available by appointment to meet with you to discuss any concerns/worries you may have. Appointments will be made jointly with the class teacher where possible.
  All information from outside professionals will be discussed with you with the person involved directly, or where this is not possible, in a report.
  Homework will be adjusted as needed to your child’s individual needs.
  A home/school contact book may be used to support communication with you, when this has been agreed to be useful for you and your child.
  We will aim to signpost you to support groups where a desire to do so has been expressed.

  Parents may find the following support services helpful:

  • SENDIASS can offer independent advice for families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. 01274 513300
  • AWARE: Based in Addingham, but covering a wide area, this group offers support, advice and activities for children on the Autistic Spectrum. Contact Jo: 01943 466543, jo.galasso@tesco.net
  • LS29: A support group for families with children who have additional needs. www.ls29.org.uk

  Tel: 01943 609861, email ls29groups@yahoo.co.uk

  • Downs Syndrome Training and Support Services: Contact Wendy Uttley. Tel: 01274 561308. email: office@downsyndromebradford.co.uk The Pamela Sunter Centre, 2 Whitley Street, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 4JH.
  • 3D Centre at Halifax. Support for parents of Dyslexic and dyspraxic children at www.the3dcentre.co.uk
  • Bradford Disability Cycling Group. 07903 519211, bfddisabilitycc@aol.com
  • Bradford Families Information Service. 01274 437503.

• How is Menston Primary School accessible to children with SEND?

  All buildings are wheelchair accessible.
  We aim to ensure that equipment used is accessible to all children regardless of their needs. Where this is not possible, adaptations are made or specialist equipment is provided.
  Before and after school provision (Care Club) is accessible to all children including those with SEND.
  We aim to ensure that all extra-curricular activities are accessible for children with SEND. School can assist parents to agree provision with agencies who run after school clubs/ extra-curricular activities within school.

• How will we support your child when they are leaving this school or moving to another class?

  We recognise that transitions can be difficult for a child with SEND and take steps to ensure that any transition is a smooth as possible.

  If your child is moving child to another school:  We will contact the school SEND co-ordinator and ensure he/she knows about any special arrangements or support that need to be made for your child.
  We will make sure that all records about your child are passed on as soon as possible.
  When moving classes/ phases in school:  Information will be passed on to the new class teacher in advance and a planning meeting will take place with the new teacher and other relevant adults. All relevant information will be shared with the new teacher and Phase Leader.
  If your child would be helped by a book to support them understand moving on then it will be made for them.
  Transition visits will be set up and carefully managed by the team.