What is SEND?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability.

• All schools have a duty to be accessible and inclusive for the children within their community. It is our job to support parents in providing the best possible education for children. For the vast majority of children that will be through attending their local mainstream school.

• For a small number of children their needs may be better met at an alternative setting. In those circumstances we have a role to support parents in identifying and accessing what is best for their child.

• As part of the changes being implemented by the Department for  Education in 2014 all Local Authorities must publish information about how they support special needs pupils. This is called the “Local Offer”. Schools must also publish information on their website about how they support SEND pupils within their own establishment.

• To find out about our Local Offer please click here

• All children are individuals and their abilities in each area of the curriculum vary across a wide spectrum. Class teachers are used to providing lessons and activities which ensure good progress for pupils whatever their level of ability.

• However, there are situations where a child’s needs are such that it is difficult for a class teacher to provide appropriately for them without additional and/or specialist support. This is usually when a child is described as having ‘special needs’ or 'additional needs'.

SEND at the Willows

This policy has been developed in accordance with the SEND Code of Practice 2014 and in line with the following:

• The Children and Families Act 2014

• The aims of The Willows School Academy Trust

• The Equality Act 2010

• The Willows School Academy Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy

• The Willows School Academy Trust's Accessibility Policy

• Ofsted Section 5 Inspection Framework 2024 

• Ofsted SEND Review 2010 “A Statement is not enough” /SEND: old issues, new issues, next steps. June 2021

• Education Act 2011

The Inclusion/SEND Policy is written for, and by, the whole school community: staff, learners, parents/carers and the Governing body. It is designed to be a working document. 

For all SEND enquiries, please contact:

Paul Gregory-Hunt (SENDCO) at The Willows Academy Trust

ph. 020 8841 7176