The Academy values parents/carers as they play a key role in enabling children and young people with SEND to achieve their full potential. Parents are informed when students are placed on the SEND register and are involved in all stages of the process. We recognise that parents hold key information and have knowledge and experience to contribute to the shared view of a child’s needs and the best ways of supporting them. All parents/carers of children with special educational needs will be treated as partners and will be supported and encouraged to play an active and valued role in their children’s education.

We are committed to working with parents and carers to identify their child’s needs and support. Parents and carers will be involved throughout the process through:

• Meeting the form tutor
• Subject teacher evenings
• Ongoing discussions with tutor
• Meetings with support staff and SENDCO
• Email contact
• Through a review of a child’s SEN Support Plan or the Annual Review of their EHC Plan

Teachers/SENDCO and Support Staff work with children and young people to identify the support needed to meet agreed outcomes. The provision is planned, and interventions allocated to individual needs. The students are encouraged and supported to take an active role with setting their outcomes and discussing them with the SENDCO or Support Staff.  Students are encouraged to attend any review meetings held for them.

The local authority’s SEND – Information, Advice and Support Service. (SENDIASS) provides information and support to parents of children with SEND. A wide range of support and advice may be obtained by contacting this independent service. They can be contacted on:

SENDIASS Website: www.durhamsendiass.info

E-mail: sendiass@durham.gov.uk

Helpline: 0191 5873541