Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
For information about Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision here at Brierley or if you have any concerns about your child’s progress or development , please contact Mrs Sharon Gough who is our school's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo).
Mrs Gough can be contacted via our school office, tel 01226 711332
If you have a complaint, this should initially be made to the headteacher, in adherence with the school's SEND Policy.
If this fails to resolve the issue, the Governing Body should be contacted.
Our Governors assigned to Special Education Needs and Inclusion are Debbie Cartwright and Sharon Gough.
SEND Information Report
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at Brierley CE (VC) Primary School 2025-26.
Brierley CE (VC) Primary School is committed to providing a fully inclusive education in which all pupils are valued, respected and supported to achieve their full potential. We ensure that high-quality teaching, alongside appropriate additional support where required, enables every child to make progress in line with their individual starting points.
In order to fulfil our responsibility to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils, we aim to give every pupil the opportunity to experience success in learning and to achieve their maximum potential through a flexible and adapted programme.
The school works with due regard to the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and the Equality Act (2010).
The 2015 SEND Code of Practice states, '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 and/or 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.'
The 2015 SEND Code of Practice also details, a disability under the Equality Act 2010 – that is ‘…a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’.
This report outlines the provision and arrangements in place for pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), in accordance with the SEND Code of Practice (2015), the Equality Act (2010), and associated statutory guidance.
Definition of SEND
In line with the SEND Code of Practice (2015), a pupil has SEND if they:
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Have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them; and/or
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Have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or
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Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools.
Under the Equality Act (2010), a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a long-term and substantial adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Principles of Our SEND Provision
Our school:
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Promotes inclusive practice across all areas of the curriculum.
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Maintains high expectations for all pupils.
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Ensures early identification of need through robust assessment and monitoring procedures.
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Implements graduated responses to support (Assess, Plan, Do, Review).
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Works in partnership with parents/carers and external agencies.
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Monitors progress closely to ensure effective intervention and impact.
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Aims to narrow gaps in attainment and progress between pupils with SEND and their peers.
Provision is personalised according to individual need and is reviewed regularly to ensure effectiveness.
Identification of Need
Pupils’ needs may be identified through:
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Ongoing teacher assessment and monitoring of progress
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Pupil progress meetings
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Observation of learning and behaviour
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Parental concerns
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External professional advice
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Standardised assessments
Parents and carers are encouraged to share any concerns with the school at the earliest opportunity.
Areas of Need
Support may be provided across the following areas, as defined in the SEND Code of Practice:
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Communication and interaction
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Cognition and learning
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Social, emotional and mental health needs
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Sensory and/or physical needs
Interventions are tailored to individual requirements and may include in-class support, targeted interventions, personalised learning strategies, and specialist input where appropriate.
Curriculum Access and Adaptation
The school ensures that all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum. Teaching is adapted to meet individual needs, and reasonable adjustments are made in accordance with the Equality Act (2010).
Staff maintain high expectations and make adaptations to teaching and learning to enable pupils with SEND to participate fully in school life.
Pupils with SEND have full and equal access to extracurricular activities. Participation is actively encouraged as part of our inclusive approach, supporting personal development, independence, confidence and social interaction. These opportunities enhance pupils’ wider experiences and contribute to their overall progress and wellbeing.
Transition
Some children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities need extra transition during their time at school. This could be from class to class, when moving to a different key stage or at the end of Year 6, when they are moving on to a different setting. Additional transition opportunities are put in place for these children so that they feel more at ease about the changes about to take place. Arrangements are carefully planned around the individual child's needs, so that the tansition is smooth and worry free for the child and their family. Additional visits to the class or school are made so that the child can become familiar with the school, classroom,staff and routines. Transition takes place over a long period of time to ensure the process is successful for all.
If you or your child have any questions about an upcoming transition, or need reassurance regarding your child's next class or school, please speak to the class teacher or SENDCo.
Partnership with Parents and External Agencies
The school recognises the importance of strong partnerships with parents and carers. Regular communication and review meetings support collaborative planning.
Where necessary, the school works with external professionals, including educational psychologists, health professionals, and specialist advisory services, to ensure that provision meets identified needs.
Monitoring and Review
The progress of pupils with SEND is closely monitored. Support is reviewed regularly using the Assess–Plan–Do–Review cycle to ensure impact and effectiveness. Adjustments are made where required to secure continued progress.
Further information regarding disability and equality at Brierley CE Primary School can be found on the Public Sector Equality Duty pages of our website.
Information about Barnsley’s offer for SEND is available at www.barnsley.gov.uk/localoffer
Information about the SEND strategy for Barnsley LA is available at https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/our-council/our-strategies/send-strategy/
SEND Facebook - To find out about fun SEND activities in the local area, information about SEND and much more click on the link below for the SEND local offer Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/barnsleysendlocaloffer/
Family Hubs information
Here are some links you may find helpful.
Autism Alert Card - for information about how to access an Autism Alert Card, please click on the link below.
SEMH needs - Night OWLS is a single point of access, overnight listening service for people experiencing emotional difficulties. Supporting young people, their parents and carers living in Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and Barnsley.Night Owls was launched on 1st August 2025. Contact details:
Night OWLS
Call: 0800 148 8244 (freephone)
Text: 07984 376950
Online support: wynightowls.org.uk
Open from 8pm – 8am. 365 days a year.
Click on the files below to access further information and our SEND information leaflet for parents and carers