Questions from a Parent/ carer point of view

How do staff at Pinders know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child has special educational needs?

If you are worried about any aspect of your child’s school life you can speak to the class teacher by asking to see them for a longer, more private consultation after the end of the school day. You may bring your child to that meeting if you and the teacher agree he or she should be there. Children who need help are identified by continuous assessment of their learning and behaviour and through the tracking of their achievements. If a need for extra help is identified it could mean your child has help from staff already working in their class. Mrs Rowlands SENDCo or Mrs Peaker (Learning Mentor) or Mrs Kemplay (Head Teacher) could become involved to help work out how to best help your child.

How will Pinders Primary staff support my child?

The class teacher has responsibility for planning and teaching a programme of learning that is suited to the needs of the children in the class. Mrs Rowlands may work with parents and help teachers to devise more individual programmes for children with additional or different needs to others and to establish specific targets. Teachers and classroom support assistants will work with small groups or individuals to help children to meet their targets for learning or behaviour. The class teacher and Mrs Rowlands or Mrs Kemplay will aim to keep parents informed and involved in their child’s schooling.

How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

Your child will work in a group within their class with other children of similar ability (which may change from subject to subject). The task or teaching will be adapted to the ‘next steps’ of learning for each different group. Sometimes your child will be taught in a mixed ability group for a lesson if the teacher judges that is the best way for them to learn. The learning objective will be made clear and the child will be involved in working out how well they have done. Each group will have some guidance from a teacher and some from a classroom support assistance in each area of learning during a series of lessons. If extra help is needed that will be planned for in the first instance by the class teacher. It will be group support, targeted more specifically or individual help where needed. Individual Profiles or Support to Learn Plans may be written for your child. A ‘My Support’ plan may be written if needed to bring together in one document the additional or different support required.

How will I know how my child is doing and how will you help me to support my child’s learning.

In addition to requested opportunities for parents to see the teacher Pinders Primary hold three parent consultation meetings each year so that parents and teachers can discuss aspects of the child’s learning, behaviour and progress. Each child has a written report in the summer term. Parents of children experiencing additional difficulties with their education will have more frequent meetings with the class teacher, with Mrs Rowlands or with Mrs Kemplay. Parents are invited to school to help with certain events such as ‘Inspire Day’ where each class demonstrate the kind of learning experiences a child has at Pinders and parents can experience at first-hand how to help their children learn through planned activities. Children may also have homework activities to carry out with parents to practise or prepare for specific learning. We also have a home reading scheme in which all parents are expected to take part to help their children to practise the reading skills they learn at school. If a child needs additional support to that provided by the school to all children of that age a ‘My Support Plan’ will be written and advice from agencies outside the school with specific expertise will be sought through the referral system. A statutory assessment of a child’s special educational need can be made by the Wakefield Local Education Authority and this could lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan.