Parent Information for children with SEND
Welcome to the Bartley Green SEND Department. This page has been created to give you an insight into the many facilities and support mechanisms available for SEND pupils here at Bartley Green School.
To contact our SENDCo and/or the SEND department, please use the following email.
send.email@bartleygreen.org.uk
We aim to respond to all email enquiries within three working days. Alternatively, you may wish to call us on;
0121 4769246
Please click the headers below to learn more about how we support our pupils.
Committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment where all pupils, regardless of their needs, can fulfil their potential.
A warm welcome to parents of pupils with SEND
We’re delighted that you’re considering Bartley Green School for your child’s secondary education. We understand that choosing the right school is an important decision, especially when ensuring your child’s individual SEN needs will be met.
Our mission is to provide a supportive, nurturing environment where every pupil, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), can thrive, grow, and succeed.
Our commitment to your child’s success
At Bartley Green, we believe that every child is unique and capable of success. We work hard to create an inclusive environment that values the strengths and abilities of each pupil. From our teachers to our support staff, everyone is committed to helping our pupils achieve their best, and we know that the right support can make a world of difference.
How we support pupils with SEND at Bartley Green School
We use a variety of Quality First Teaching strategies to ensure that all our pupils, including those with SEND, feel fully included and supported in the classroom. Here are some of the ways we support learning for pupils with SEND:
1. Differentiated instruction
Our teachers use a variety of evidenced based teaching methods to reach all types of learners. This might include visual aids, hands-on practical activities, and breaking down complex tasks into more manageable steps. We adapt our learning materials to enable pupils with SEND to access the learning, so your child can fully participate in class.
2. Flexible grouping and support
At Bartley Green School, pupils with SEN benefit from working in different group settings. This may be small groups or pairs, and sometimes one-on-one with one of our Teaching Assistant support staff. We also have specialised staff (such as Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language therapists) trained to provide additional help where needed, making sure that your child receives support tailored to their learning needs.
3. Clear, accessible instructions
We know that clear communication is key. Our Teaching Staff give instructions in a variety of ways to make sure all pupils understand what is expected. This includes verbal instructions, written prompts, and visual reminders, helping your child stay on track and feel confident about their learning.
4. Adaptive learning materials
Our teaching staff at Bartley Green School provide resources that adapt to your child’s learning pace and style. Whether it’s through technology, such as reading pens or voice to text software, or with modified worksheets and revision guides, we work to ensure that all materials are accessible for pupils with SEN.
5. Personalised learning and target setting
We understand that progress is individual, and we celebrate achievements through our rewards and Pride Points system. Our staff work closely with each child, setting personal goals and tracking progress regularly. For pupils with SEND, this includes additional support from our SEND team, who collaborate with teachers to help each child make consistent, positive strides in their learning journey.
6. Positive behaviour support
At Bartley Green, we believe in recognising and reinforcing positive behaviours. Our staff use a supportive approach to behaviour management, focusing on encouragement and praise. By creating a positive atmosphere, we help pupils build confidence, social skills, and a sense of belonging within the wider school community. Our Aspire programme is designed to support our new Year 7 pupils in settling into school life at Bartley Green School, while embedding our core values of respect, resilience, acceptance, reward, and achievement.
Through a combination of classroom teaching, mentoring, and workshops, Bartley Green pupils are encouraged to build positive relationships, develop their self-confidence, and embrace our school core values. Our ASPIRE programme celebrates both individual and group achievements (such as form rewards for attendance), helping to foster a sense of belonging and pride, whilst also equipping pupils with the life skills necessary to navigate the transition to secondary school successfully.
Additional Resources and Support
In addition to Quality First teaching, we offer several resources to provide targeted help:
• Specialist staff:
Our SEND team includes dedicated staff members who work closely with pupils needing additional support. They collaborate with families, teachers, and external professionals to ensure that each child’s needs are fully met.
• Inclusive facilities:
We regularly audit and review our school buildings and classrooms, to improve accessibility in order to support pupils to navigate the school site with ease and independence.
• Regular parent communication:
We believe in the power of partnership. Bartley Green school provides regular updates for parents on their child’s progress, and we’re always here to listen, answer questions, and work together to support your child’s journey.
A welcoming and inclusive School community
We know that the Yr 6 to Yr 7 transition can be challenging, but we’re here to make it as smooth as possible. Before starting at Bartley, pupils have opportunities to visit and get to know our school through our Yr 6 transition day in July.
We also offer workshops for our parents and pupils of SEN, to allow you to visit the school in a more relaxed way and to participate in some of our preparation workshops. On hand are our Mental Health team, as well as the SENCO and Teaching Assistants, to provide you with an opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and to share updates about your child’s needs.
In addition to this, we work really closely in partnership with our primary schools. Our Senco will start making visits in the May before your child is due to arrive in September, often attending EHCP reviews and liaising with the Primary Senco to support a smooth handover of information and updates.
During the transition day, pupils with SEN are supported by our team of experienced Teaching Assistants, and we undertake tours of the school, provide visual timetables and help your child to become familiar with the school site. We will share our Hub space, provide passes and begin to learn all about your child.
Our pupil support programmes help our new Year 7 pupils settle in, make friends, and feel like part of the Bartley Green school family from day one.
Choosing a school is a big decision, and we’re here to support you in making the best choice for your child. If you have any questions or would like to meet our SENDCO and the SEN team, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
send.email@bartleygreen.org.uk
We’re excited to welcome you and your family into our school community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the Bartley Green SEND Department. On these webpages, you will find our annually updated interactive SEND information report. Here you will find useful information and guidance to the support we provide for pupils with SEND at Bartley Green School.
At Bartley Green School, we define SEND in accordance with the 2015 Code of Practice from the Department for Education/Health:
• A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her.
• Has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or..
• 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.
• Special educational provision is educational or training provision that is additional to or different from that made generally for other children or young people of the same age by mainstream schools.
What are the different types of support available for pupils with SEND in Bartley Green?
We understand that the most important support that all children at Bartley Green can receive is excellent targeted classroom teaching.
For your child this means:
That the subject teacher has the highest possible expectations for all pupils in their class.
That the subject teacher is fully informed of the individual needs of the pupils within their class and is equipped with specific strategies to aid each pupil's success.
That the subject teacher will closely monitor the progress made by each pupil within their class and take steps to address any gaps in a pupil's learning. This may include providing extra support or liaising with parents and the SEND department to ensure all pupils make the desired progress.
Literacy and Numeracy intervention
In order to secure the progress and development of some pupils at Bartley Green, we offer extra support in literacy and numeracy to the pupils in the teaching sets R1, R2 & T in Year 7 & 8.
We understand that the best time to offer this support is in Year 7 and Year 8, when pupils are able to develop and improve their skills in the core subjects, to provide them with a secure foundation upon which to build their knowledge and skills in KS4.
In Year 7 and 8, pupils receive two lessons of support and are given extra help in literacy and numeracy through two online programs Lexia, Power Up! and Dynamo Maths. (Click names for more information)
Accelerated reader
Pupils’ ability to read is vital to ensure success across the wider school curriculum. To support all pupils to achieve their full potential, Bartley Green pupils follow the ‘Accelerated Reader Programme’.
Accelerated Reader is a scheme that allows pupils to read levelled books and quiz on a comprehension test. Results are given immediately after the test has finished so this enables the teacher to monitor pupils' progress. When 3 quizzes have been passed pupils move up to the next level. Years 7 to 10 take part in Accelerated Reader so at all times pupils should have a reading book with them. Success is rewarded at the end of term with certificates and prizes.
Further interventions available for pupils with SEND
In order to ensure pupils with SEND are supported, regardless of their teaching set, various other withdrawal and intervention sessions are offered. These are based on an assessment of the pupils’ need and the programme usually runs for a half term to ensure we offer support to a broad range of pupils. The following support programmes are currently available:
Lexia Power Up - Literacy Programme
Dynamo Maths - Numeracy Programme
Mentoring for Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) pupils
Reciprocal reading (RR)
Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills
Social skills (ELSA Course - Emotional Literacy Support Assistance)
Phonics - Year 7 & Year 8
Dyslexia Support (Toe by Toe)
Our Virtual Cognition and Learning Resource base
In order to ensure a fully inclusive education, our Cognition and Learning Resource Base is virtual. This means that our Resource Base pupils attend all mainstream lessons with specialist teaching providing expert tuition. All of our Resource Base pupils are integrated into the wider school community and participate in all aspects of school life. This means that we ensure pupils have full access to the National Curriculum including Religious Education.
Pupils in our T set teaching groups are provided with:
20 minutes of Phonics teaching every day in Year 7 and Year 8
Year 7 &8 have 3 hours of Literacy and Numeracy support over a two week timetable.
These sessions are delivered by Teaching Assistants in a classroom, using two evidenced based intervention programmes (Dynamo Maths and Lexia Power Up!)
What additional courses are provided for SEND pupils?
Some pupils with SEND may need extra support in order to access the curriculum fully. The SEND Department offers the following two day courses once a term:
A social skills course
This two day course is planned and delivered by teaching assistants and provides a group of approximately 6 pupils with the chance to work on their social skills to improve their interactions with teachers and peers.
ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)
Our Teaching Assistants are specially trained to provide emotional and social skills support for children. We are exploring a range of short courses to establish what works best for our pupils at Bartley Green School.
Further courses are provided by the OWL (Our Way of Learning) Centre
OWL courses are designed to help pupils to overcome any barriers to learning. The following provides examples of the courses we offer in the OWL centre:
Building resilience
Rebuilding Friendships
Managing stress
Coping with change
PRIDE – Behaviour based Intervention
Attendance Matters – Improving attendance
Courses are delivered to no more than 6 pupils and the content is adapted to meet the needs of the pupils as identified by the staff who lead the programme.
What extra support is available for pupils with SEND outside the classroom?
A range of extra support is offered outside of lesson time.
Before school
The SEND HUB is open from 8.30am and is staffed by teaching assistants to help support pupils before the school day starts.
During school
Homework Club in the HUB is available at lunchtime every day. Teaching Assistants are available to support pupils with their learning.
After school
Homework club is available every day after school for one hour. This is run by trained teaching assistants who are available to offer support to your child.
There is also an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities and clubs for pupils both at lunch and after school.
How does Bartley Green School identify pupils as having special needs and how will I be informed?
Bartley Green School has full regard to the SEND Code of Practice 2015, and follows the staged model of identification and assessment, as advised by Birmingham LEA.
Our main feeder primary schools are visited by the Assistant head or SENDCo in the latter half of the summer term, to share information from primary SENDCOs and to aid the smooth transition for children transferring to Bartley Green School.
All pupils Year 7 pupils are tested every term on their reading age using the STAR test.
Pupils identified as having additional needs are individually tested using reading tests IDL, York Reading for Comprehension (YARC) as well as numeracy tests.
Additional testing, such as for language development, is also given when deemed necessary, on an individual basis.
Academic performance over the course of the year is also used as an indicator of progress
All staff are provided and regularly updated with information on each pupil with SEND. Pupil passports and profiles provide staff with detailed information as to each pupils learning need.
All Teaching and support staff receive regular continuing professional development and training to enhance their teaching strategies for pupils with SEND.
Parents of pupils who are newly identified as SEND at secondary school are informed and invited into Bartley Green School to discuss their children's needs and provision.
Parents/carers of pupils who require highly specialist advice, are referred to the Pupil School Support Service (PSSS) or other outside agencies as appropriate. This may include the following.
Referral to a Paediatrician (A specialist doctor in children’s health)
Educational Psychologist (EP)
Communication and Autism Team (CAT)
Parental consent will be sought prior to referral to these services.
How does the school get feedback from SEND pupils?
We regularly ask our pupils with SEND for feedback and provide them with the opportunity to engage with our pupil voice questionnaires. Their views are very important to us.
We use the following tools to get pupils feedback:
We conduct pupil voice interviews and surveys throughout the academic year to help identify areas for development.
Pupil and parent voice are sought through EHCP meetings, which take place annually.
Pupils are encouraged to speak to staff to share any concerns they may have.
How are the teachers in school helped to work with pupils with SEND and what training do they have?
All staff at Bartley Green receive regular continuing professional development to assist them in adapting the learning to ensure that pupils with SEND have their learning needs met. This may include the addition of outside agencies to visit the school and provide training.
Pupil Passports are provided to all teaching and support staff to enable them to know each child's particular area of need and to assist them with selecting appropriate strategies to support and manage these.
How will the school measure the progress of my child with SEND needs?
We understand that communication is important to ensuring all pupils enjoy school and achieve their full potential. As a means of communication we use the following:
A full report is issued twice a year.
Parents evening takes place once a year.
Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) annual reviews.
Personalised Education Plan (PEP) meetings for Looked After Children (LAC).
Provision management is a central part of SEND support within the school. We use Provision Map to provide a holistic overview of the provision and interventions and support that we provide for pupils with SEND. We follow the Assess, Plan, Do, Review model outlined in the SEND Code of Practice 2014. This involves measuring the progress of pupils with SEND, primarily their academic success. Provision is then based on areas of need within the SEND population.
How may I let the school know I am concerned about my child's progress in school?
We endeavour to ensure that pupils with SEND are provided with the necessary support to achieve their full potential, aligning with our core values. We understand that the most important part of this is ensuring high quality teaching and pastoral support to enable pupils to have full access to the curriculum at Bartley Green School.
Please contact the SEND department at Bartley Green School through the following means:
Email: send.email@bartleygreen.org.uk
Tel: 0121 476 9246
Fax: 0121 478 1585
Bartley Green School
Adams Hill
Bartley Green
Birmingham
B32 3QJ
What additional services for learning are provided to pupils with SEND at Bartley Green School?
The OWL centre (Our Way of Learning)
The Owl Centre provides pastoral care and support to all pupils at Bartley Green School. It offers a safe and calm space for pupils, underpinned by a programme of one to one and group interventions. These include:
One to one solution focused mentoring
Transition support for pupils moving into secondary school and following the current periods of National lockdown
We offer a flexible programme of courses designed to support pupils with the following:
Building resilience
Rebuilding Friendships
Managing stress
Coping with change
PRIDE – Behaviour based Intervention
Attendance Matters – Improving attendance
Courses are delivered to no more than 6 pupils and the content is adapted to meet the needs of the pupils as identified by the staff who lead the programme.
Headspace
This is a dedicated calm space to support pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health issues. It is located near to our LRC and is open throughout the day to support pupils. It is staffed by trained specialists who are qualified in the followin
Mental Health First Aid
Emotional First Aid
Suicide First Aid
In addition, Headspace also offers the following workshops and courses to support pupils – Challenging Anger Anxiety Low Mood (CAALM)
Diversity – Supporting pupils who have used unkind language to improve their social skills
ACORNS – to support pupils to develop and improve their self esteem and confidence
Girls Group- to support pupils regarding peer on peer issues/safeguarding
Bereavement group – to support all pupils who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Headspace also regularly offers and promotes wellbeing throughout school as a whole.
How do we identify pupils and support pupils with SEND?
At Bartley Green School we have a tiered approach to supporting pupil needs.
At Universal level, we use our notional SEN funding. This is money that we receive as part of our school budget, to provide quality teaching, which may include some very minor adaptions in order to meet a pupils’ learning need.
In our ‘targeted support’, we consider when it might be appropriate to make additional short term special educational provision, to remove or reduce any obstacle to our pupil’s learning, or to help them to secure learning that they may not yet have mastered. This takes the form of a graduated four part approach:
CAT (The Communication and Autism Team)
The Communication and Autism Team (C/AT) is a team of specialist, dedicated professionals working to support children and young people with autism and their families and schools.
CAT help pupils understand the condition of autism and develop inclusive way to help children and young people rise to their full potential.
https://autismwestmidlands.org.uk/
The Educational Psychologist Service
Educational Psychology provides professional psychological services for children, young people and families in a wide range of educational and community settings. The service uses expertise of psychological theory and research to develop an understanding of the most complex situations, addressing a wide range of child and adolescent development issues, including special educational needs. Educational Psychologists work collaboratively with key adults to enhance the achievement and wellbeing of children and young people. The support we provide can be targeted at individuals, groups and also at the wider level.
We use problem-solving approaches, apply expert knowledge of child development, and work holistically with children and young people. Educational Psychologists have specialist skills in assessment, designing programmes of support and at times we offer therapeutic input. Our aims for children are to: promote learning, develop language and communication skills, encourage social interaction, improve behaviour and enhance wellbeing.
Pupil and School Support (PSS)
Pupil and School Support works with schools to help pupils with cognition and learning difficulties and other vulnerable groups to progress and achieve to the best of their abilities. Following an assessment of pupils' needs, we support schools to put in place provision and interventions to ensure that all pupils have access to the curriculum and are able to make good progress. PSS work closely with other agencies to support positive outcomes for children and young people.
What support do we have for you as a parent of a child with SEND?
The SEN Co-ordinator, Form Tutor and Head of Year are available to discuss your child's progress or any concerns/worries you may have.
The subject teacher can be contacted to discuss your child's progress or any concerns you may have and to share information about what is working well at home and school so similar strategies can be used.
Regular updates on your child's progress are accessible via our calendared reporting system.
Pupil Passports are available and updated as necessary
Your child’s planner may be used to support communication with you, when this has been agreed to be useful for you and your child.
Homework club is available on lunchtimes and after school for one hour every day. This is run by trained teaching assistants who are available to offer support to your child.
Working in partnership with parents
Bartley Green School believes that a close working relationship with parents is best in order to allow:
Early and accurate identification and assessment of SEND leading to the correct intervention and provision.
Social and academic progress of children with SEND enables personal success.
Parental views to be considered and valued.
We understand that communication is important to ensuring all pupils enjoy school and achieve their full potential. As a means of communication we use the following:
key information (such as timetables, PRIDE points, etc can be accessed via the Bromcom app, My Child at School (MCAS).
Reports are issued to parents on an annual basis.
Annual parents evening
Our SEND email can be used to contact staff: send.email@bartleygreen.org.uk
How is Bartley Green accessible to children with SEND?
We aim to ensure that equipment used is accessible to all children regardless of their needs.
We work with the Sensory Support Service/physical disabilities team to ensure we are providing appropriate support for pupils with auditory and visual impairments.
After school provision is accessible to all children including those with SEND.
Extra-curricular activities are accessible for children with SEND.
Websites which offer further advice / support