SEND Specialist Expertise
SENCO & Staff Expertise
Our SENCO is Mrs Nicola Clarkson who achieved a postgraduate certificate in Special Educational Needs Coordination BPN (SENCO) on the 18th March 2021. Mrs Clarkson can be contacted on 01388 766686 or by emailing hartside@hartside.org.uk
At Hartside Primary Academy the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) does the following:
- oversee day-to-day operation of school’s SEN policy;
- coordinating provision for children with SEN;
- liaise with designated teacher where a Looked after Child has SEN;
- overseeing SEN support plans and ensuring teachers and support staff work closely with parents/ carers to follow a graduated approach to SEN Support;
- advise on use of delegated budget/ other resources;
- liaise with parents of children with SEN;
- maintain links with other education settings and outside agencies;
- liaise with potential next providers of education;
- work with head and governors on Equality Act;
- ensure that SEN records are up to date; and
- contribute to the in-service training of staff.
More details of the SENCO’s role can be found in the SEN Policy which you can find on the Policy and Procedure page of our website.
Policy and Procedures
Staff Training will vary each year depending upon the needs of the children. Recent staff training has covered- ‘SEND Outcomes – good quality outcomes, SEN Support Plans and Primary Areas of Need’, The Engagement Model, Makaton Training, Zones of Regulation, NASENCO, Team Teach.
External Specialists and Other Bodies
The school enjoys good working relationships with a wide range of people who provide services to children with SEND and their families.
The external specialists may:
- Act in an advisory capacity
- Extend expertise of staff
- Provide additional assessment
- Support a child directly
- Consult with all parties involved with the child
The external specialists include:
- Durham SEND Information, Advice and Support Service
- County Durham Local Offer – http://www.durham.gov.uk/localoffer
- Local Authority Special Educational Needs Inclusion Team
- Educational Psychology Service
- Emotional Well Being Team (EWEL)
- Cognition and Learning Team
- Bishop Auckland One Point Hub
- Health Agencies, particularly School Nurse Service and Health Visitors
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Crisis Response
- Virtual School for Looked After Children
- Specialist therapists – Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
- Other specialist health services as required, e.g. hearing, speech, vision, diabetes
- Medical Practitioners – GPs, Paediatricians, Clinical Psychologists
- Family workers and One Point Children Centre staff
How specialist expertise is secured
Our Additional Needs Budget is used to support children and young people with SEN.
This is used to support children and young people with SEND by:
- Buying in the services of external specialists
- Buying resources to support children
If a child has complex special educational needs, we could also receive additional funding from the Local Authority to meet the agreed outcomes.
