Local Offer

Description

1. How does the school know if young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?

  

• Some of our staff meet with primary school teachers before your child joins the school to discuss the needs of each child. The SENCo will meet with other primary school SENCOs in the summer term to discuss individual student’s needs. The Pupil Progress Co-ordinator for Year 7 and/or the Primary Coordinator will also go into your daughter’s primary school to meet with her class teacher. The progress that your child makes is then monitored throughout their time at St John Bosco and interventions are put in place if children do not make progress.

 

• Teachers and support staff will share any concerns regarding SEN with the Learning Support Department who will carry out some informal assessment and contact parents or carers. Similarly, if parents or carers have concerns they should contact the Learning Support Department.

 

1. How will school staff support my child?

 

• If your child has additional needs, she will be supported by the college’s SENCO who works closely with the Pupil Progress Co-ordinator for Years 7 to 13. Their roles will be to provide academic and pastoral support for your child. Your child may also work with Teaching Assistants in class who will support the work that they do. In addition to this, your child might work with the Teaching Assistant in small group intervention lessons or for 1:1 literacy or numeracy sessions. The SENCO and subject leaders will monitor the progress of your child to ensure that the most appropriate intervention is being given.

 

1. How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?

 

• At St John Bosco Arts College we recognise that children need to learn in an environment that matches their needs. We recognise and understand that the students we teach have different learning styles. We also understand that some students learn at a different pace to their peers. So that the students we teach reach their full potential, we place them in sets according to need. Initially in year 7 this is just for English, Maths and Science. The teachers plan lessons giving consideration to the student’s ability and needs, in order to help them to make progress and achieve good outcomes. It also allows the pace of the lesson to be appropriately matched to the learner’s needs, so that progress can be made. Your child’s progress will be monitored closely in a number of ways. This will include marking of class and homework, end of unit assessments and formal end of term reports. There will be opportunities for you to discuss this at Parent’s Evenings with your child’s form tutor and subject teachers.

  

1. What support will there be for my child’s overall wellbeing?

 

• There are many ways in which your child’s wellbeing will be supported. Our college has a strong pastoral team who will provide help and guidance for students. This team includes the form tutor, Pupil Progress Coordinator, the Head of Care and Safeguarding, the school chaplain and the manager of the Laura Vicuna Centre. If necessary the Pupil Progress Coordinator will inform staff of any needs your child may have on the Pastoral Care Register. If your child has medical needs you may be invited into the college along with the relevant member from health services to discuss your child’s Health Care Plan. Parents of pupils who need to take medication during the school day, will have to complete the necessary paperwork held at the school office, where all medication is kept and accounted for, in line with the school’s medical policy.

 

• Your child will have the opportunity and will be encouraged to contribute their point of view through Pupil Voice activities and the student council. Lunch time clubs are available for vulnerable students and for students who have friendship difficulties.

  

1. What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the school?

 

The college has close links with outside agencies that can support the needs of the students. The college accesses specialist services when appropriate. This includes:-

• Specialist outreach teachers for learning and social development
• The Sensory Service for students with a hearing or visual impairment
• The Educational Psychology Service
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS),
• Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS),
• Education Welfare.

  

1. What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had or having?

 

The college ensures that staff are trained to support children and young people with SEND. This training has covered issues such as:-

• Autistic Spectrum Conditions
• ADHD/ADD
• Dyslexia
• Hearing and Visual Impairments
• Medical conditions: - asthma, epilepsy, diabetes
• Whole school literacy and numeracy strategies

First aid training has been undertaken by a number of staff in the college and is revisited and updated regularly and designated teachers within the college are involved in regular safeguarding training.

 

1. How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom including school trips?

 

• The college encourages full participation in the curriculum and extra-curricular activities are available at lunchtime and after school, for all students where possible. For some students it may be necessary for a member of staff to complete a risk assessment with contribution from parents to make sure all areas of health and safety are covered before particular activities can take place.

  

1. How accessible is the school?

 

Our school has been designed to ensure ease of access for people with a disability. This includes:-

• Wheelchair access
• Disabled changing and toilet facilities
• A shower room
• An operational lift
• A loop system for people with hearing impairments.

 

1. How will the school support my child to join the school and how will the school support my child in transferring to the next stage of education?

 

• Within the college, a team of staff will work with your child’s primary school prior to starting in September. During the final term in primary school, taster days are organised for your child to spend valuable time in their new school. This visit includes taster classes and activities designed to allow your child to get to know some of their new teachers and make new friends. The college also has a transition programme, organised by the chaplain, for students who may find the move to secondary school difficult.
• If your child has an Education, Health Care Plan or pre-existing Statement of Educational Need, transition work begins in Year 9. This is to support students as they move to Key Stage 4. A final review in Year 11 for students with an EHCP will take place regardless of whether they opt for sixth form, alternative colleges, or work based provision.

 

1. How are the school’s resources allocated and matched to a child’s or young person’s special needs?

 

• The allocation of resources is decided upon the needs of individual students. It is part of the SENCOs responsibility to work with other members of staff within the college to ensure that students who require specific support and interventions are having their needs met. With regards to the SEN budget, any decisions made are done so in collaboration with the Deputy Head for SEN, the Head teacher and school Governors.

  

1. How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child receives?

 

• The progress of all pupils is tracked closely throughout the academic year.  On entry into Year 7, students will complete baseline tests and Cognitive Ability Tests to identify those who may need additional support. This information is used by the SENCO and key members of staff, who then make a decision on the appropriate type of support that is needed. This may include small group intervention, 1:1 literacy or numeracy coaching, specialist outreach support or pastoral support.

 

1. How are parents involved in the school? How can I be involved?

 

• Before a child begins Year 7 at St John Bosco Arts College, parents are requested to attend an ‘Intake Evening Meeting’ in June prior to the September start. For Year 7 parents a parent’s evening is held early in November to provide an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s form tutor.
• Throughout the academic year, parents are invited into school to meet with their child’s teachers to discuss progress. For students with SEND, parents can contact the college’s SENCO to discuss any specific concerns they may have. In addition to this, there may be the opportunity to seek election as a Parent Governor or to join the Parents Teacher Association.

 

1. Who can I contact for further information?

 

• For further information, parents are encouraged to contact school and /or visit the school website for further information: www.stjohnboscoartscollege.com or Telephone 0151 235 1620

 

• The Pupil Progress Coordinator for Year 7 is Mrs C Markey. The SENCO is Mrs L Godfrey and they can be contacted via the college’s main telephone number.

 

• If you are considering whether you would like your child to join this college, contact Mrs C Wharmby, Transition Coordinator or Miss Aldridge, Assistant Headteacher, who will answer your questions, arrange for you to visit the college or assist with any admission enquiries.

 

The Local Offer can be found on the liverpool.gov.uk website as part of the Family Services Directory.

 

Contact Telephone

0151 235 1620

Contact Email

enquiries@stjohnbosco.org.uk

Links

St John Bosco Arts College Local Offer

Local Offer Age Bands

Young Adults (16 to 25)
Secondary (11 to 16)