Holgate Primary and Nursery School

Holgate Primary and Nursery School is a mainstream setting. We aim to provide the best learning opportunities for all children and ensure that all our pupils are included in all aspects of learning and school life.

We acknowledge that all children are individuals and have different learning needs, some requiring additional support to help meet their needs or improve their learning. Our Inclusion Team co-ordinates the SEN provision throughout school and nursery liaising where necessary with parents, pupils, school staff and specialist advisers from the Local Authority and Health Service. When identifying children with SEN we follow the clear guidelines set out in the SEN Code of Practice. Throughout Holgate Primary we continually monitor and assess the progress of all our children, where expected progress is not being made, interventions are put in place to work on the identified difficulties. When a parent/carer is concerned that their child may have a SEN this should be discussed initially with their child’s class teacher at a pre-arranged meeting, the Inclusion team will be informed and become involved as needed. 

Provision for pupils with special educational needs is monitored by the SENCO and SLT through regular assessments, observations and reviews. 

Parents / Carers of children on the SEN Census will have half termly meetings with their child's class teacher or SENCO to review Pupil Profile targets and provision. 

At Holgate staff are trained to use a range of teaching strategies, appropriate adaptations are made where necessary within all aspects of the curriculum to support children in making progress towards their individual targets. 

Leaders at Holgate regularly review provision for all children in school, making suggestions of how provision can be adapted to support a pupil in achieving within lessons and towards Pupil Profile targets.  

Decisions regarding the support pupil receives will be made between SLT, SENCO, Class Teachers and parents/Carers. Once a decision has been made to change a pupils support or provision parents / carers will be informed. 

Adjustments are made to ensure that all pupils are included in activates outside the classroom such as, forest schools and school trips. 

At Holgate, we have a wide range of pastoral support, including ELSA, Positive Play, Lego Therapy and many more.

We have trained mental health leaders and 'Worry Monsters' are displayed and used within all classrooms. 

At Holgate Primary we have an ‘open door’ policy and encourage parents to discuss any concerns they have as and when they occur, preferably in person with their child’s class teacher.  
Parents are also invited to contact our Inclusion team to discuss any concerns, by prior appointment.  We closely monitor the progress of all children termly and each child on the SEN census there is a review termly which includes the views of all stakeholders (child, parents and staff). In Autumn and Spring terms we hold Parents Evenings to discuss how children are doing. In the Summer term all parents will receive an end of year written report, detailing progress within all areas of learning and parents are invited to discuss this with their child’s class teacher. Where a child has a pupil progress meeting targets will be reviewed at least termly, new targets agreed with the child, parents and adults working with the child in school. Copies of relevant paperwork will be shared with parents. 

Staff have had training in, Attention Autism, Intensive Interaction, Adaptations, Emotions Coaching, Makaton, Gastro Feeding, Trauma Informed Schools and many more.

• Family SENCO
• Educational Psychologist
• SALT
• Family Service
• SFSS
• SBAP 

We have close links with a wide range of outside agencies who offer specific guidance and support to our school and families.

These include:

• The Educational Psychology Service (EP)
• Therapists including those for Speech and Language (SALT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy (PT)
• Schools and Families Specialist Services (SFSS) – includes those for Early Years, Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Sensory Impairments and Physical Disabilities
• The Personal Social and Emotional Support Team (PSED)
• Social, Emotional, Mental Health team SHENK SBAP
• Health Services including School Nurse, Paediatricians, Health Visitors and Child and Adult Mental Health services (CAMHS / Be U Notts)
• Social Care and Local Children’s Centres

Out Reach and Voluntary Services Schools and Families Support Services:             

• Manual Handling and Disability Access support

At Holgate Primary we have undertaken a wide variety of SEN training both as whole staff and as individuals. Some of this training has been delivered by external agencies and other CPD has been delivered in house. We seek support from outside agencies for children and families when necessary. We have an experienced Inclusion team overseeing provision within our school and an effective team of teachers and Teaching Assistants who are trained in current policies and practices. The training needs within our school reflect the needs of the staff and the children we work with.  Our Inclusion team meets termly with SENCOs from other local schools. 

At Holgate Primary School we provide a wide variety of after school activities, visits and residential experiences, we value the benefit of education outside the classroom and believe that all pupils should have the opportunity to participate in these. Prior to any trips, a pre-visit is made by staff and a risk assessment is carried out which considers the needs of all children. Where necessary, we meet with parents/carers to discuss any additional support which may be required. We aim to ensure all children have the chance to be part of all activities whether inside or outside the classroom, with reasonable adjustments made where needed.

Where possible we provide equipment or complete necessary funding applications to provide any equipment that is deemed necessary in order to support children in school. We aim to ensure that all activities and equipment are accessible to all children, parents/carers and visitors to our school. Reasonable adjustments have been made to improve accessibility for all. Our school site is wheelchair accessible. There are disabled toilet facilities including space to accommodate changing. Risk assessments and safe systems of work are in place to ensure the safety of all staff and children. We use symbols and visual resources including timetables where appropriate.

Transfer to a new school or setting can be an anxious time for both child and parent and we encourage visits to our school before applying. Careful planning is made for all children but for children with SEN or a disability an additional transition plan may be put in place. This will generally include early discussions with the parent/carers, the setting they are coming from and any existing agencies which are providing existing support. A transition book or social story maybe written for the child to use at home, this may include photographs of the building, adults working with the child and key times of the school day. When the child transitions to Holgate Primary, a ‘buddy or mentor’ maybe chosen to support the child initially.

We carefully plan for all children moving to new classes within school. Currently this involves an initial class swap day and close liaison between the child’s existing teacher and the new teacher. In addition to this pupils with SEN may also have additional visits and time with their new teacher or in their new classroom; they may have a transition book or social story. Where a child is transferring to us the new teacher or member of the Inclusion team may visit the setting where the child is currently to meet the child. Where it is felt necessary for pupils with SEN a detailed transition plan will be written in consultation with all necessary people, to ensure a smooth move to the next phase of a child’s education. Our family of schools (Holgate Family) currently run transition programmes for small groups of pupils leaving year 6 involving additional visits where the children may experience break and lunch time. When pupils transfer to other Secondary schools bespoke transition plans can also be created if necessary.  

Where possible we provide equipment or complete necessary funding applications to provide any equipment that is deemed necessary in order to support children in school. We aim to ensure that all activities and equipment are accessible to all children, parents/carers and visitors to our school. Reasonable adjustments have been made to improve accessibility for all. Our school site is wheelchair accessible. There are disabled toilet facilities including space to accommodate changing. Risk assessments and safe systems of work are in place to ensure the safety of all staff and children. We use symbols and visual resources including timetables where appropriate.

At Holgate we ensure that transition can be made bespoke for individuals. 

At Holgate, we have an extensive transition package that can be adapted for individuals. 

At Holgate, we endeavour to prepare pupils for adulthood and intendent living by teaching a range of life skills throughout our curriculum.  

If we are concerned about a child in school then the child’s class teacher will discuss these concerns with the parent/carer. We aim to identify these concerns as early as possible. Following this initial discussion if targets are agreed these will be recorded on Pupil Progress Plan. Parents/carers are encouraged to be fully involved in these targets and in helping the child to achieve them. They will be reviewed at least termly. The school follows the graduated response to identifying and supporting children with SEN as outlined in the SEN Code of Practice. We are continually assessing, planning, implementing and reviewing our approach to teaching all children.

Arranging an appointment - please contact the school office telephone 0115 963649