At Mugginton Church of England Primary School, we have high aspirations for every pupil, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). We are committed to identifying individual needs early, removing barriers to learning and ensuring that every child can access our ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum.

We recognise that every child is different. We build on children's strengths, interests and abilities while providing appropriate support and adaptations to help them make progress, develop independence and participate fully in school life.

We believe that effective SEND provision is everyone's responsibility. Teachers, support staff and the SENCO work together with pupils, parents and carers to understand individual needs, agree appropriate support and regularly review its impact.

We value the views of our pupils and families and aim to create an environment in which every child feels included, respected, listened to and able to succeed.

We nurture our pupils, encouraging them to have high expectations of themselves, building confidence and self-esteem. We strive to give our children the curriculum and experiences they need in order to be life-long learners who are curious, creative, respectful and sensitive towards the needs of others.

How do we identify and support children with SEND?

We monitor children's learning, development and wellbeing carefully so that emerging needs can be identified as early as possible. We draw on classroom assessment, observations, discussions with children and families, and advice from relevant professionals where appropriate.

We do not require a child to have a formal diagnosis before considering what support or adjustments may be helpful. Where a child is experiencing barriers to learning or participation, we work with their family and relevant staff to identify appropriate next steps.

We use a graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do and Review. This means that we identify a child's needs, agree appropriate support and outcomes, put that support into practice and evaluate its impact. We adapt our approach as the child's needs and progress change.

The class teacher remains responsible for the child's learning and progress, working closely with the SENCO and other staff to ensure that agreed strategies are implemented effectively.

How do we support learning in the classroom?

We aim to ensure that pupils with SEND are included in the full life of the school and have access to an ambitious curriculum. Teachers adapt their teaching and learning activities to take account of individual needs, using appropriate explanations, resources, scaffolding and additional support where necessary.

Where appropriate, pupils may also benefit from targeted interventions or specialist support. These are selected according to identified needs and reviewed to evaluate whether they are helping children achieve their intended outcomes.

We promote independence and confidence, ensuring that support enables children to participate, learn and develop their skills rather than unnecessarily limiting their opportunities.

We recognise that progress looks different for every child. We consider academic achievement alongside wider development, including communication, confidence, independence, social interaction and participation in school life. We celebrate individual achievements and use what we learn from reviews to refine and improve the support we provide.

Working with parents, pupils and other professionals

We believe that the best outcomes are achieved when school and home work together. Parents and carers are involved in discussions about their child's needs, support and progress, and we welcome their knowledge, views and contributions.

We listen to pupils and involve them in decisions about their learning and support in ways appropriate to their age, understanding and communication needs.

Where additional expertise is needed, we work with relevant external professionals and services to gain advice and ensure that support is appropriate to the child's individual circumstances. We review recommendations and work together to put suitable strategies into practice.

What should I do if I think my child may have SEND?

Communication is key. If you have concerns about your child's learning, development or progress, please speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance. We value the knowledge and insights that parents and carers bring and will work with you to understand your concerns and consider what support or adjustments may be helpful.

The class teacher will discuss your concerns with you and, where appropriate, seek advice from the SENCO. We will consider your child's strengths and needs, review how they are progressing and agree appropriate next steps. Support can be provided without a formal diagnosis or a child needing to be placed on the SEND Register.

Where additional support is appropriate, we use our graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do and Review. This may include targeted classroom strategies, additional teaching, individual or small-group interventions, or advice and support from external professionals.

We work in partnership with parents and carers to agree appropriate outcomes and regularly review the effectiveness of support. Where necessary, we will seek advice from relevant specialist services, such as Speech and Language Therapy or Autism Outreach, and consider whether further assessment or support is needed.

We aim to maintain regular communication with families so that we can celebrate progress, discuss any concerns and adapt provision as children's needs change. We recognise that effective support depends on a strong partnership between home and school.

We value feedback from families and former pupils. The following accounts share individual experiences of SEND support at Mugginton.

Click on this link for a former parent's experience of SEND support at Mugginton.

Click on this link for a former pupil's experience of SEND support at Mugginton.

The SENCO at Mugginton is Mrs Emma Dennis

Mrs Dennis has over 20 years of teaching experience across three local authorities and has worked at Mugginton for over ten years. She completed the National Award for SEN Coordination in 2021.

Mrs Dennis works closely with teachers, support staff, pupils, parents and external professionals to coordinate and develop provision for children with SEND. She supports staff in identifying needs, planning appropriate adaptations and reviewing the impact of support.

She also coordinates targeted interventions and works with families and specialist services to ensure that children receive appropriate support. Her role includes monitoring provision across the school and helping to ensure that pupils with SEND are included in all aspects of school life.

Mrs Dennis works with school leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of SEND provision and identify priorities for further development.