Schools

In Swindon we have mainstream schools which includes maintained schools and academies. Every school is required to meet the SEN of the children or young people that they support.

All schools must:

Use their best endeavours to make sure that a child with SEN gets the support they need – this means doing everything they can to meet children and young people’s SEN.
Ensure that children and young people with SEN engage in the activities of the school alongside pupils who do not have SEN.
Designate a teacher to be responsible for co-ordinating SEN provision (the SEN co-ordinator, or SENCo).
Inform parents when they are making special educational provision for a child.
Prepare a report on the implementation of their SEN policy and their arrangements for the admission of disabled children, the steps being taken to prevent disabled children from being treated less favourably than others, the facilities provided to enable access to the school for disabled children and their accessibility plan showing how they plan to improve access progressively over time.

In the new Code of Practice, a single school stage called SEN support replaces School Action and School Action Plus. This will be implemented by early years settings, schools, colleges and other providers with the aim of early identification of needs, early help and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. All schools must publish their own Local Offer and provide information on where the local authority Local Offer is published.

What should you do if you feel that Your Child’s School Cannot Support His or Her Needs?

You should talk to your child's teacher or SENCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator) if you feel that your child's school or setting cannot provide all the extra help that your child needs, or that your child is not making satisfactory progress. If you are not happy with the response, you can discuss your concerns with the head teacher. The school will also have a complaints procedure you can follow. This should be available on the school’s website.
If your child already has a statement or an EHC Plan, then you may discuss your concerns with the SEN Case Officer in the SENAT Team.

Specialist provision

Some of our mainstream schools have specialist resource provisions (SRPs) for pupils with complex learning disabilities. As far as possible, pupils are supported to attend mainstream classes with specialist support from the SRP.

We also have six special schools and a service for Education other than at School (EOTAS) which includes a Pupil Referral Unit.

The distinction between mainstream and special schools is a legal one. A special school is wholly for pupils with SEN and is specifically for children with complex special educational needs and/or disabilities whose needs cannot be met within the mainstream schooling system.

Some non-maintained or independent schools cater wholly or mainly for children with SEN and are often referred to as independent special schools.

Independent or Non-Maintained Schools

These schools can be day or residential and cater wholly or partly for pupils with special educational needs. However, none of them will be maintained by the Local Authority. It is our practice to place Swindon children in Swindon schools and it would only be in exceptional circumstances that we would seek and fund a school place outside of the Borough. Parents can choose to place their child at their own expense.

Under section 41 of the Children and Famiies Act 2014, provides for the Secretary of State by order to publish a list of approved independent education institutions, independent schools and post-16 providers for the purposes of satisfying section 38, preparation of an EHC Plan by a Local Authority.

A child's parent or young person can make a request for a particular educational institution. The local authority must comply with that preference and name the institution in the EHC Plan unless it would be unsuitable for age, ability, aptitude or SEN of the child or young person or the attendance of the child or young person there would be incompatible with the efficient education of others or efficient use of resources.

List of Approved Independent Providers

Special Schools

Primary Schools

For children with severe, profound & multiple learning difficulties and other associated difficulties and disabilities. Includes children with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC): Brimble Hill Primary School
For children with complex Learning Difficulties including children with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC): The Chalet
For children with behavioural, emotional and social development difficulties: Nyland Campus

Secondary Schools

For young people with complex learning difficulties and other associated difficulties: Crowdys Hill School
For young people with behavioural, emotional and social development difficulties: St Luke’s School
For young people with severe, profound & multiple learning difficulties and other associated difficulties and disabilities: Uplands School

Mainstream Schools with Special Resourced Provision (SRP)

Primary Schools

SRP for children with a physical disability: Robert Le Kyng Primary School
SRP for children with complex learning and other difficulties: Eldene Primary School
SRP for children with significant/severe speech and language/communication difficulties: Even Swindon
SRP for children with complex learning and other difficulties: Millbrook
SRP for children with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties: Mountford Manor
SRP for children who are deaf or have profound hearing loss and SRP for children with complex learning and other difficulties: Red Oaks
SRP for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or related social, communication and interaction difficulties: Ruskin Junior
SRP for children with a physical disability: Westlea Primary School

Secondary Schools

SRP for young people with severe specific learning difficulties as well as SRP for young people with a physical disability: The Commonweal School
SRP for young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Lydiard Park Academy
SRP for young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Kingsdown School
SRP for young people with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) as well as SRP for young people with hearing impairment: The Ridgeway School