Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Our SENDCO is Miss Gemma Griffiths

Here at The Polygon we provide a number of strategies and utilise a range of resources to meet the needs of our pupils.  These include the following:

Policies

Disability Equalities & Access 018 Next Review Date Dec 2023
Inclusion & SEND Policy 020 Next Review Date Nov 2023

Supporting Pupils with Special Needs at The Polygon School

Every pupil who attends the school has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  This is a legal document issued by the Local Authority which gives each pupil entitlement to education and to have their special needs met at our school.  We are a school for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.  These needs alongside any additional needs are clearly stated on their EHCPs.  The plans state how we, along with Health and Social Care (if appropriate), work to meet the needs of our young people.  The plans contain desired outcomes that we work towards within the provision that we offer at the school.

Every young person has an Annual Review meeting each year to review their progress towards meeting the desired outcomes on their EHCPs.  The Annual Review is a meeting that is held at school with the young person's parent(s) / carer(s), tutor and Gemma Griffiths the SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) pus any other professionals who are involved with the plan.  We aim for the young person to attend some of the meeting too, if they are able to do so.  The voices of all parties are fully taken into account in reviewing the plan. - https://www.polygon.southampton.sch.uk/annual-reviews/

In order to scaffold success for all of our pupils in the areas of both their behaviour and learning, each pupil has a specific target for each that they work on every term.  Success with these targets is measured in every lesson that takes place within the school day.  Points are earned and the pupils can trade in their points for a variety of rewards that are motivating to our young people.

To further support some of our young people we are able to refer to an Occupational Therapist and a Speech & Language Therapist who are shared with other SEMH provisions within the city.  We also access support through referring to School Nurses and the Emotional Wellbeing Practitioner from the School Nursing Service.  We directly employ a Counsellor who works 1:1 and with some small groups on two days per week.

If you have any questions about SEND at our school please don't hesitate to get in touch with Gemma Griffiths (SENDCO).