SEND

Definition of SEND

A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.

A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty if he or she:

1. has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age.

2. has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions. SEN Code of Practice (2015 p.15)

SEND at Minterne

At Minterne Junior School, we are committed to meeting the needs of all our pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with inclusion at the heart of this. We strive to ensure that all pupils:-

become confident and resilient learners
reach their full potential
make successful transitions to secondary school

High quality teaching that is adapted for individual pupils is our first step in responding to children who have or may have SEN. We monitor the quality of teaching and learning provided by all teachers and TAs on a termly basis and follow the Mainstream Core Standards advice developed by Kent County Council to ensure that our teaching conforms to best practice. To help identify children who may need additional support we work alongside professionals (e.g. Community Paediatrician, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Educational Psychologist, Local Authority) and also, track every child's progress three times per year.

We hold pupil progress meetings at this point too, where specific individuals are discussed with our senior leadership team (SLT) and appropriate support is identified for a pupil.

Our staff have received the Autism Education Trust's Level 1, 2 and 3 training to further develop their understanding of how best to support children with autism and also training in Emotion Coaching, an approach that helps children learn to recognise and understand their 'big feelings' - click on the link below to see our Emotion Coaching page for more information and look out for the next parent/carer workshop too:-

Emotion Coaching

For more information, please see our SEND Policy document and SEND Annual reports at the bottom of this page.

SEND Register

For some pupils who are requiring additional support to Minterne's 'universal offer' of support for all, in one or more of the 4 broad areas (communication & interaction, cognition & learning, social, emotional & mental health, physical & sensory) it may be necessary to add them to our SEND Register. The SEND Register is a dynamic list that children can be added to, or removed from, at any time and we will always liaise with parents regarding this. This fluidity reflects the pupil's development and progress as they move through the school as some pupils may only need additional support for a short period of time.

Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

Mrs Spalding is the SENCO of Minterne Junior School. If you have concerns regarding your child, you should contact your child's teacher in the first instance. If you would like to contact our SENCO please send an email via office@minterne.kent.sch.uk or phone the school office on 01795 472323.

How we adapt learning for pupils with SEND

At Minterne, we believe every child deserves access to high‑quality learning that enables them to succeed. To support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), our teachers routinely adapt and scaffold lessons so all learners can engage with the curriculum. This may include breaking tasks into manageable steps, offering additional visual or practical resources, adjusting the pace of learning, or providing targeted adult support.These adaptations ensure that learning remains ambitious while being responsive to individual needs. By creating an inclusive, supportive classroom environment, we empower every pupil to participate confidently, make progress, and experience success - learning for a lifetime.If you would like to find out how specific lessons are adapted for pupils, please click on the links below:-

Reading Writing Maths Speaking & Listening Science Art & DT French Geography PE PSHE History

What does a targeted intervention look like at Minterne?

At times, a child may benefit from a specific intervention to help them make progress in a particular area of learning or development. These interventions are carefully chosen based on ongoing assessment and observation, ensuring that they meet the child’s individual needs. They may focus on areas such as speech and language, phonics, emotional wellbeing, social skills, fine motor development, or specific aspects of literacy or numeracy.Interventions are delivered by trained staff and monitored closely to ensure they are effective. We work in partnership with parents and, where appropriate, external professionals to review progress and adapt support as needed. Our aim is always to provide the right help at the right time, in the classroom where possible, however it is sometimes necessary for an intervention to take place outside of the classroom. Click on the button to find our more:-

Interventions at Minterne

Information For Parents & Carers

MSCS - MAINSTREAM CORE STANDARDS GUIDE FOR PARENTS

The Mainstream Core Standards outline the support that every mainstream school must provide for children with special educational needs and disabilities as part of everyday teaching. This includes classroom adaptations, inclusive strategies, and resources that help children access learning without needing a formal diagnosis. Most children with SEND will have their needs met through this support.

Special-educational-needs-mainstream-core-standards-guide-for-parents (1).pdf

LOCAL OFFER

LOCAL OFFER A local offer gives SEND children and young people and their families information about what support services are available in their area.

Kent’s Local Offer provides clear, up-to-date information about the support available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), from birth to 25 years. It brings together details of education, health and social care services in one place, helping families to understand what support is available and how to access it. Our school works in line with Kent County Council’s Local Offer and is committed to identifying and supporting pupils with SEND, working closely with parents, carers and external professionals to ensure every child is able to achieve their full potential in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

IASK support families of children and young people (0 to 25 years) with special educational needs or disabilities. They hope to empower children, young people and their parents to make informed choices about their education, outcomes and help to communicate views and opinions confidently. They are a free, confidential and impartial service based in Kent. Staff and volunteers are independently trained in SEND.

SEND-Information-Hub-IASK-and-PACT-promotional-flyer.pdf