At SUN, we have a strong, inclusive family ethos and we value and celebrate all those who are part of our school community. We work hard to achieve maximum inclusion of all children (including vulnerable learners), whilst meeting their individual needs.

• providing high quality first teaching for all the children within the school as well as providing adapted learning opportunities and provision of materials appropriate to children’s interests and abilities
• focusing on individual progress as the main indicator of success
• striving to make a clear distinction between underachievement and special educational needs
• working in partnership with parents and carers.

 What are Special Educational Needs  or Disabilities (SEND)?

 At SUN school we use the definition for SEN and for disability from the SEND Code of Practice (2015). This states:

Special Educational Needs

A child or young person has special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.

• A learning difficulty or disability is a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age.
• Special educational provision means educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age in a mainstream setting in England.

 Aims of Our Provision

 To ensure high quality first teaching is evident across the school

• To make reasonable adjustments for those with a disability by taking action to increase access to the curriculum and the environment
• To ensure that children and young people with SEND engage fully in all activities
• To secure special educational provision for pupils for whom this is required, that is “additional to and different from” that provided within the adapted curriculum
• To request, monitor and respond to parents'/carers’ and pupils’ views in order to evidence high levels of confidence and partnership
• To ensure a high level of staff expertise to meet pupil need, through well-targeted continuing professional development
• To support pupils with medical conditions to achieve full inclusion in all school activities by ensuring consultation with health and social care professionals in order to meet the medical needs of pupils
• To work in cooperative and productive partnership with the Local Authority and other outside agencies, to ensure there is a multi- professional approach to meeting the needs of all vulnerable learners.

 Available Provision at SUN School

• Children and young people with SEND have different needs, but the general presumption is that all children with SEND but without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) are welcome to apply for a place at our school, in line with the school admissions policy criteria.
• For children with an EHCP, parents have the right to request a particular school and the Local Authority must comply with that preference and name the school in the EHC plan unless:

>it would be unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or SEND of the child or young person, or

>the attendance of the child or young person at the school would be incompatible with the efficient education of others, or the efficient use of resources

• Parents of a child with an EHCP also have the right to seek a place at a special school if they consider that their child’s needs can be better met in specialist provision.

At SUN School, our SEND Co-ordinator (SENDCo) is Miss Abi Ryan.

Email: aryan@sun.w-berks.sch.uk

Telephone: 0118 9832223

 For more information on SEND support in West Berkshire Local Authority, please see the West Berkshire local offer by clicking here.

For information regarding the SUN School Local offer, please click here.