SEND Support Letter to Parents
Dear Parents and Carers,
Ensuring safe, fair and appropriate provision
At the start of a new school year, I would like to take this opportunity to share some information regarding SEND support and to outline the school’s approach to responding to parents who wish to request specific SEND support for their child/ren. We value the opportunity to work closely with parents and want to provide support that best meets the needs of individuals, whilst taking into account the needs and any implications for other children.
There are four areas of SEND described in the SEND code of practice; cognition and Learning, communication and interaction, social, emotional and mental health difficulties and sensory and physical needs. If you are concerned that your child needs additional support in any of these areas, please speak to your child’s teacher in the first instance. This can be done by speaking to them at the end of the school day, or to arrange a phone call from the teacher, you can send an email to the relevant phase leader email addresses-earlyyearsphaseleader@bithambrook.wilts.sch.uk (reception), lowerschoolphaseleaders@bithambrook.wilts.sch.uk (years 1-3) or KS2phaseleaders@bithambrook.wilts.sch.uk (years 4-6)
Your child’s teacher will inform our SENDCO (Mrs Robertson) that you have spoken to them. The SENDCO and the class teacher will decide what happens next. It could be that the SENDCO contacts you straight away to arrange a meeting. Or before this happens, there may be a period of observation and evidence gathering by the teacher and/or SENDCO to gain a better understanding. Most needs will be met through ordinary available provision. Whatever the agreed action, you will be informed of the next steps and kept up to date.
Parents requesting support for a child’s sensory needs is managed in the same way as any other area of SEND. We will listen to parents, assess the need and share our observations on the child’s learning and development. The approach we take will be needs led and based on what we see at school. Our response will be in the best interests of the individual child, whilst carefully considering any implications for other children. It is important to note that we cannot respond to any bespoke conditions requested by parents that we do not believe respect the rights of others, do not follow school policy or do not comply with statutory guidance.
We have worked closely with a senior sensory occupational therapist (OT) to develop a graduated response for children displaying sensory needs. This graduated response is also now being used by SENDCOs and senior leaders in other Wiltshire primary schools.
We are currently seeing a growing number of children bringing fidget toys or other items such as ear-loops, headphones, or chewies into school. These items are being brought in from home with the intention of being used in the classroom. While such resources can form part of the sensory behaviours graduated response, their use will only be permitted if agreed by the SENDCO and senior leaders (SLT). We kindly ask that these items are not brought into school unless this has been agreed in advance with the SENDCO and SLT. Children will not be permitted to use them in the classroom without prior agreement.
If agreed by the SENDCO and SLT, we have a selection of fidget items at school that children can use as part of our ordinarily available provision (OPAL). The toys in school are made from food-grade silicone and are accompanied by protocols for their use.
Importantly, in relation to the use of fidget toys, we received information from the local authority regarding water beads, which are commonly used in fidget toys. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a product safety alert to warn of the risks that water beads pose to children. The alert advises that water beads should be kept away from children under five, and only used with older children under close supervision. Water beads can expand up to 400 times when exposed to liquid. They can also cause choking and have harmed children in the UK. It is very important that toys containing water beads are not brought into school for the safety of all our children.
If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to get in contact.
Amy Leighton
Deputy Headteacher/ DSL Bitham Brook Primary Schoo