Pupils with Particular Needs

For students who are new to English, we provide a personalised learning plan that identifies their particular needs and details the additional support they will receive to help them improve their English and make progress in their studies. The plan is drawn up in partnership with the student and their parents. It highlights the key strategies that the school will use to help the student to learn, any additional activities (and programmes) the student should engage in at home and the way their progress will be monitored.

In drawing up plans for students with English as an additional language, we draw up the proven approaches used in other Star schools and on best practice from other schools. Our staff get training on the best approaches to support students with EAL and incorporate this learning into their lessons. Some students with EAL benefit from one-to-one tuition or small group work to help them to make more rapid progress in their English language development. If this is needed, we consult with the student and parents to make sure it is well planned with clear objectives and timescales. The partnership with the student and parents is essential in helping students with EAL make the progress we want them to make so that, like all our students, they achieve their full potential.

We have very high expectations of all our students, staff and parents. We set ambitious progress and attainment targets for all our students based on their ability and prior attainment. We ensure that Gifted and Talented students are challenged and supported to excel, with stretching personalised targets in the classroom and tailored enrichment activities. Our approach enables Gifted and Talented students to play a full and active part in the life in of the school taking on leadership roles and experiencing special activities that will excite and challenge them. A member of the Senior Leadership Team takes specific responsibility for Gifted and Talented provision.

Other needs

From time to time, students may need access to additional support because of specific short-term issues. For example, if a student is going through some kind of distress (eg after a bereavement), then they will need special emotional support. In these circumstances, we will work closely with the family and other agencies to make sure that we provide the support the student needs to help them deal with their emotions and to enable them to continue to make progress in their studies.

For some students, issues in the home or other external matters can affect their attendance or behaviour in school. In these circumstances, the school provides intensive support to make sure they get the help and support they need to improve in these areas and to continue to succeed in their learning.

The school’s Tarbiyyah (nurturing) mentoring programme provides specialised, individual guidance for any young person in need. Sometimes the student and family need access to more specialist help. In these cases, we work in partnership with other agencies (the Local Authority, Health Services, voluntary organisations) to plan and provide this specialist support.

Visit Lancashire County Council’s local offer, an online resource that details services, support and guidance available to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) ages 0-25 and their families.

Please find a copy of our Local Offer here.

Pupil with Medical conditions information for parents

We ensure pupils with medical conditions are properly supported so that they have full access to education, including school trips and physical education.

Parents are our key partners and are instrumental in assisting school with developing individual health care plans and these are reviewed regularly. Please could parents support the school in managing your child’s needs by informing school of any conditions, allergies and any changes to medical needs. In the first instance inform school via the data collection sheets which are sent out at the start of the academic year. If during the course of the academic year the information you have provided in relation to your child’s medical needs changes please contact the Head of Year using the links on the website. We will require up to date information and medication. Not all pupils with medical needs will require a Medical Health Plan, the school will work with Healthcare professionals and parents to determine whether one needs to be in place.

There is a protocol in place when administrating medications in school and consent forms will need to be completed, it is imperative that school is informed when pupils are carrying their own medication. When sending medication into school, staff will support pupils in self administrating medication. Please could parents drop off any medications in person into school, ensuring that these are clearly labelled with your child’s name and dosage requirements. Any medication that has expired parents will be required to collect from school. Prescription medication can only be administered in school when it would be detrimental to your child’s health or school attendance not to administer it.

Families are invited to submit details about their disabled child or young person to the database, which is used to develop an overview of the needs of disabled children across the county to assist with planning services.

The FIND service is strictly confidential – no individual information about any children or their families is shared with anyone.

Every family recorded on the FIND database receives a quarterly newsletter free of charge to help them keep informed about services and support which may be relevant.

Click here for the Winter issue of the FIND Newsletter, 2018