Special Educational Needs & Disability

Introduction

At Al Aqsa school we recognise our Islamic duty to fully involve all individuals as being part and parcel of our society. We believe that Islam grants rights to people with disabilities and special educational needs and expects us to provide them with assistance in removing barriers to learning.

We are proud of our welcoming and inclusive practice and provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils. Our first response to all needs is high quality teaching with ongoing assessment. Should your child encounter barriers in accessing the curriculum, please be assured that we will fully involve you in decisions at every stage Insha’Allah.

Our SENCO is Ablah Jenny, who has nearly 5 years’ experience as SENCO for Primary and Early Years at Al Aqsa.  She is currently completing the NASENCO award with Northampton University. Her role is to coordinate provision for children with SEND across the school.  She liaises with staff, parents and carers and external agencies to ensure that support is co-ordinated and targeted appropriately. We rely on parents’ help and support too: if you are aware that your child has any kind of difficulty please inform the school at the earliest opportunity Insha’Allah.

Cognition and Learning

Where children and young people learn at a slower pace than others their age, they may:

• have difficulty in understanding parts of the curriculum
• have difficulties with organisation and memory skills
• have a specific difficulty affecting one particular part of their learning such as in literacy or numeracy

The term ‘learning difficulties’ covers a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia come under this term.

Communication and Interaction

Where children and young people learn at a slower pace than others their age, they may:

The term ‘learning difficulties’ covers a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia come under this term.

Where children and young people learn at a slower pace than others their age, they may:

The term ‘learning difficulties’ covers a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound and multiple difficulties (PMLD). Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) such as dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia come under this term.

Social Emotional & Mental Health

Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which present themselves in many ways. They may:

• have difficulty in managing their relationships with other people
• be withdrawn
• behave in ways that may hinder their and other children’s learning or that have an impact on their health and wellbeing

This broad area includes attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attachment disorder. It also includes behaviours that may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, self-harming and eating disorders.

Who can help?

• Speech and Language Therapy Service (SALT) role is to facilitate speech, language and communication development
• Area SENCo Work as part of the Early Years Support Team. Role is to support settings in identifying, assessing and planning for children with additional needs
• Hearing impairment team work with children with unilateral or bilateral hearing loss
• Visual Impairment Team work with children with visual impairments and advises teachers on what needs to be in place
• Educational Psychologist Leicester City Council Psychology Service provides a range of support to children with Special Educational Needs
• Physiotherapist works to help children who have physical or mobility needs.
• Occupational Therapist works to help children with a range of difficulties, including physical disability, behavioural problems, or neural differences
• Childhood and Adolescence Mental Health Services-CAMHS This service is for those children who need further support for their behaviour, social interaction and/or emotional well-being.
• Health/Social services Specialist Consultant; General Practitioner; Paediatrician (children’s’ doctor); Health Visitor; Social Services, Podiatry (foot, ankle, and leg doctor)

We are also able to access support from the Learning, Communication and Interaction Team (LCI) and Social, emotional and mental health team on a traded basis as we are an independent school