At King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy, we are proud to call ourselves an inclusive academy.  The aim of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) team is to provide support for any students who require it in order to help them fulfil their academic and social potential, as per our academy values.  As we cater for the news of SEND students in Birmingham and Sandwell, hence you can access advice and information about services available in the Birmingham area for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) on the Birmingham City Council website: https://www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk.  Furthermore, you can also access advice and information about services available in the Sandwell area for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) on the Sandwell City Council website: https://fis.sandwell.gov.uk/kb5/sandwell/directory/localoffer.page

SEND students at our academy are identified through a combination of teacher assessments, transition information from their prior schooling or teacher referral. They are accommodated to make sure that all their needs are met.

We also aim to ensure that all SEND students are given the same academic and pastoral opportunities, as their non-SEND peers. This is in-line with our HPL values and also complies with the Department for Education’ SEND Code of Practice (2015) in that:

• All students have access to a broad and balanced curriculum;
• Teachers are expected to set high expectations for every student, regardless of prior attainment;
• Teachers are expected to use appropriate assessments to set targets which are deliberately ambitious;
• Teachers are responsible and accountable for the progress and development of the students in their class, including where students access support from learning support assistants or specialist staff;
• The academy regards high quality teaching, differentiated for individual students, as the first step in responding to students who have or may have SEND.

In order to allow our SEND learners to overcome any barriers, we also incorporate the advice provided as a result of assessments, both internal and external, and the strategies described in either provision plans or Education, Health and Care Plans.

We have high expectations of all our students and aim to remove any barriers which may hinder individual progress.  In order to do this, personalised SEND profiles are created to identify target areas on individual needs. These profiles are then used by teachers and Teaching Assistants to ensure that students work on their target areas and make progress. SEND profiles are constantly reviewed during the academic year so that progress can be monitored and new targets set as appropriate. Parents/carers are invited to review meetings as we view the parent voice as invaluable in helping our students make progress.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is seen as a huge skill here at the academy rather than a barrier to learning. A tailored package of support is put together for students on an individual basis after initial assessments are completed. EAL students gain extra English lessons in small groups if needed or they are put straight into mainstream lessons with guidance and support from teaching and support staff.

At King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy our primary focus is the well-being and progress of your daughter and we appreciate any feedback you have. With this in mind if you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact either the SENCO or Deputy SENCO:

SENCO & EAL Lead: Mrs M Sahonta – Assistant Headteacher Inclusion & Lead DSL

msahonta@hwga.org.uk

Deputy SENCO: Ms S Ali

sali@hwga.org.uk

You can also contact our Senior Learning Mentor for any EAL queries:

Miss S Thind: Senior Learning Mentor – EAL and Recovery Intervention Lead

sthind@hwga.org.uk

Meet the Team

Where can the LA’s local offer be found?

This information is available on: Local Offer Birmingham

The SEND Local Offer is a resource which is designed to support children and young people with special
educational needs and/or disabilities and their families.

It describes the services and provision that are available both to those families in Birmingham that have an Education, Health and Care Plan and those who do not have a plan, but still experience some form of special educational need.

The SEND Local Offer includes information about public services across education, health and social care, as well as those provided by the private, voluntary and community sectors.