Parents and Carers
At West Bromwich Collegiate Academy we are dedicated to unlocking the potential of all of our students regardless of any challenges they may face.
Our SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) department is led by our SENCO and has two key roles: supporting students with EAL (English as an Additional Language) and supporting students with SEND.
Core Principles and Values
- The belief that the education and success of all students is of equal value.
- The belief that students learn best in a safe and nurturing environment, which promotes a sense of belonging.
- A recognition that high student self-esteem and aspiration are essential to success and are best encouraged in a community that celebrates all that is positive.
- Celebration of diversity in gender, race, creed and ability, by providing quality teaching to raise standards and equalise life choices.
- A belief that bullying in any form is completely unacceptable and will always be taken very seriously.
- Respect for the dignity of ourselves and others.
- A commitment to developing individual potential and autonomy both inside and outside the classroom.
- Recognition that the success of any school policy depends on the understanding and support of parents and as such, should be shared with them and their commitment to it sought.
- Every teacher is a role model for every child or young person, including those with SEND.
Provision
Students identified with SEND wherever possible access the general curriculum within the Academy, achieved by using a range of strategies designed to meet the needs of individual students. We are a small and growing Academy and our SEND services will grow over time as we see the intake coming into the Academy.
Provision will include a range of 1:1 and small group interventions, including both direct teaching and the use of computer software. The SEND department will also provide some in-class support, working with teachers across a number of subjects.
All students in Key Stage 3, including students with SEND, have use of a personal laptop computer during the school day. Differentiated work is assigned to them via the Class Site section of the Academy gateway, allowing students to have direct access to class resources and homework wherever they have an internet connection.
For further information, please see the Academy's SEND Policy.
If you feel your child has needs which are not being assessed or have any concern, we encourage you to contact the Academy and discuss how we can support with the SENCO.
Working with Other Agencies
To provide the best service possible, SEND staff consult and liaise regularly with:
- Sandwell Inclusion Support Service, which includes the SEN Advisory Teacher, Educational Psychologist, Behaviour Support Teacher, Specific Learning Disability Team and ASD Team
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) (Sandwell and Birmingham areas)
- Sandwell Sensory Support Service (Visual and Hearing impairment)
- Occupational Therapy
- NHS Hospital Consultants
- Sandwell Speech and Language Therapy Service
- Sandwell School Nurses
- Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust Safeguarding Manager
- Sandwell and Birmingham LAC support officers and social workers
A minority of our students with SEND live at Birmingham addresses. If they require additional assessment or support, this is coordinated with Birmingham local authority SEN department.
SEN and Accessibility Policy
Our SEN Policy can be found in the policies section of our website.
SEN Information Reports can be found here:
