SEND Information
The Resourced Provision at St Columba’s Catholic Boy’s School
Information for Prospective Parents
St Columba’s has two distinct and different Resource Provisions:
- SLCN Resourced Provision (3-4 places per year group)
Admission Criteria:
To be considered for a place in the SLCN Resourced Provision the young person must have an EHCP with SLCN as their primary need. The admission process is through the local authority SEN department who will consult with school as to whether St Columba’s Resourced Provision is suitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the young person; and is compatible with the efficient education of existing students. The school cannot accept applications directly.
This provision is suitable for pupils who have attained sufficient cognition and understanding to be able to access a mainstream KS3 National Curriculum in mainstream classrooms of up to 30 pupils. The Resourced Provision is not suitable for young people who have significant SEMH needs due to the needs of existing pupils for a calm and quiet, predictable environment due to their diagnosis.
In addition, pupils in the SLCN Resourced Provision benefit from:
· Support offered through quality first teaching detailed in the Bexley Toolkit and access to ‘hover support’ from an additional adult if required.
· Access to phonics/ literacy and numeracy in small group interventions to address gaps in Y7-Y8.
· Pupils in the SLCN Resourced Provision will be able to access, direct and indirect support from a speech and language therapist and will be withdrawn from mainstream lessons for this purpose.
· Time limited interventions based on a spiral curriculum model to meet children’s individual speech, language and communication needs. This can include interventions such as but not limited to ‘Lego therapy’ or social skills programs such as ‘Talk about,’ and emotional literacy through ‘Zones of Regulation.’
· Access to a specialist SLCN mentor who can offer key adult check-ins, sensory circuits, comic strip conversations and access to a safe space if needed.
· Access to before school home/school transition support and sensory circuits in preparation for the day and after school homework and enrichment support.
· Access to a quiet space with adult supervision during unstructured times.
- Complex Needs Resourced Provision (4-5 places per year group)
Admission criteria
To be considered for a place in the Complex Needs Resourced Provision the young person must have an EHCP and be working 3 + years below their age-related peers. The admission process is through the local authority SEN department who will consult with school as to whether St Columba’s Resourced Provision is suitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the young person; and is
compatible with the efficient education of existing students. The school cannot accept applications directly.
The Complex Needs Provision will suit a young person who has multiple conditions e.g., SLCN, ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia etc. and associated anxiety, which intersect to cause a significant developmental delay, but are able to independently carry out most everyday tasks. The Resourced Provision is not suitable for young people who have significant SEMH needs due to the needs of existing pupils for a calm and quiet, predictable environment due to their diagnosis.
The Complex Needs aspect of the SLCN provision is made up of two classes with their own classrooms. These are each staffed by an experienced SEN teacher and a HLTA plus additional TAs. The ratio of teachers to pupil is 1:8 and the ratio of support staff to pupil is usually 1:3.
The pupils in the complex needs aspect of the provision are taught a highly differentiated and personalised national curriculum. They benefit from:
· Access to specialist teaching and therapy programmes to meet children’s individual EHCP needs, which can be practised and supported across the curriculum delivery allowing access to the National Curriculum.
· Access to a highly differentiated KS3 Curriculum.
· Small class sizes.
· Given sufficient progress and a desire, the opportunity to access to GCSE subjects at KS4 in the mainstream school with continued support in the complex needs’ aspect of the provision or access to alternative qualifications such as functional skills and entry level if more appropriate entirely within the complex needs provision, in preparation for successful post-16 education.
· Access to appropriately skilled teaching and high levels of in-class support that includes enhanced visual support for learning and organisational skills.
· Access to integration within the mainstream school enabling social interaction with an appropriate age-related peer group and full access to the school’s enrichment program and opportunities to experience the diverse experiences of secondary education, decided on a case-by-case basis.
· Access to direct and indirect support from a speech and language therapist and other commissioned therapists and professionals as required.
· Belonging to peer group experiencing similar needs
· Access to a range of technological resources and equipment.
· Being in an environment in which the emotional impact of the impairment is recognised and supported.
If you would like to arrange to take a tour of the school and either/ both of the Resourced Provisions, and an informal conversation with the SENDCO, please contact the SEN department.
We offer taster days in Y5 for pupils who would fit the profile of the Complex Needs Provision. If you would like to give the SEN Department your contact details, we will be in touch when the next taster day is organised.
We also offer pre- transition support for EHCP Pupils in Y6 who have St Columba’s School named on their EHCP.
Tel: 01322 553236 Ext: 239 SEN Admin: Ext: 245