Welcome to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) section of our website.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at Westgate Academy

At Westgate Academy, we believe that all children have the right to access a broad and balanced curriculum.  We recognise that many children will experience special educational needs at some point during their school life as there are many factors which may contribute to a child experiencing difficulty in learning.  We are committed to working in collaboration with parents to ensure the needs of all children are met.

Westgate Academy has an established and successful Special Needs Department whose aim is to improve the learning outcomes of pupils with Special Education Needs. This is achieved by providing a friendly, inclusive, supportive and nurturing learning environment.

Please contact our SEND Co-ordinator, Mrs Nicola Watkinson, if you need any further information or would like to discuss any aspect of SEND provision at our school.  She can be contacted through the main school contacts of enquiries@westgate.lincs.sch.uk or 01522 528308

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 which is different from or additional to that normally available to pupils of the same age. 

Department for Health & Education, January 2015 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of practice

Aims of SEND provision at Westgate Academy:

• All children are given equal access to the curriculum and that each child’s achievements are valued.
• We identify and assess children with SEND as early as possible.
• All procedures for identifying children with SEND are known by everyone. There is involvement of the parents and child at every stage.
• We provide differentiation within a balanced and broadly based curriculum, in a way which supports children with SEND. 
• Records follow the child through the school which are clear, factual and up to date. 
• We raise staff awareness and expertise through INSET and other CPD opportunities
• There is good resourcing for SEND.
• We maintain close links with the support services, other schools and agencies.

As of September 2014, all schools are required to publish details of its SEND Information Report, detailing support for pupils with special educational needs and/or a disability to compliment the Lincolnshire Local Authority Local Offer.  The Local Offer has two key purposes:

• To provide clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the available provision and how to access it; and
• To make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving disabled children and those with SEN and their parents, and disabled children and those with SEN and service  providers in its development and review.

Please see the links below for information regarding the current school offer as shown in the SEND Information Report at Westgate Academy and the Local Offer for Lincolnshire.

Provision

All pupils in receipt of SEND provision have an Individual SEN Personal Plan and pupils' progress is reviewed on a Plan, Do, Review cycle, three times throughout the academic year (Autumn Term, Spring Term and Summer Term). The progress of our SEN pupils is also regularly monitored and updated by all staff, subject leaders, parents/carers and outside agencies when appropriate. When required, input can be requested from outside agencies such as Learning Support Service, Specialist Teaching Team (STT), Speech & Language therapists and other appropriate practitioners.

Teaching Assistants

Our teaching assistants are experienced and well qualified. They support the learning of the children both outside and within the classroom environment. Specialised programmes can also be delivered on 1:1 or a small group basis.