SEND

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

All the teaching staff at Highdown are committed to the success and well-being of all our students. However, for those who need additional support, our SEND team is here to help.

Please contact Mrs Arnold (SENDCo) if you have any questions or concerns - You can phone on 0118 901 5800 or email senco@highdown.reading.sch.uk.
 

Students with additional needs

Our Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo), Mrs Arnold, is responsible for developing an individual support plan for each student identified as having special educational needs. She then works closely with teaching staff and Learning Support Assistants to put the plan into action and monitor the student’s progress. For further information on Supporting Learners and learning please click here.

If you would like to find out more about our Visually Impaired Department please click here.

We provide extra help for the students in their usual classroom setting, in dedicated small group sessions or one-to-one, depending on their needs.

We have a Curriculum Enhancement program that is run by Higher Level Teaching Assistant. This intervention work is done in and out of the classroom.

If teachers feel a student needs additional support, we can carry out in-house testing and then provide appropriate support. This includes testing for Access Arrangements for exams.
 

SEND after Highdown 

Below you'll find useful information for students with SEND when they leave Highdown.

Department for Education 
 

Useful SEND Community Links

Parents and carers of children with SEND can use the SEND Local Offer to access information, advice, guidance and assistance about education, health and care services, voluntary agencies, leisure activities and support services including short breaks in one place. This information can be found on the Reading Services Guide.

 https://servicesguide.reading.gov.uk/kb5/reading/directory/family.page?familychannel=3 

Or here for a new beta site:

https://customertesting.social.idoxgroup.com/kb5/reading/directory/home.page

Reading Borough Council would like to gather feedback from parent carers, children and young people about the SEND Local Offer-Disc to help them further improve the information, accessibility, usage and assist them in developing and improving the service, working in partnership with families and young people. To give feedback or suggest new groups or services visit the Reading Borough website.

http://search3.openobjects.com/kb5/reading/directory/whats_on_family.page?familychannel=0

For parents/carers

World of Emotions (WoE)  13/02/24 – 1-4.00pm. Free online session via MS Teams.

World of Emotions is not a parenting course, but rather an opportunity for parents/carers to gain more skills to understand and support their child/young person’s wellbeing. It will cover a range of emotions and difficulties (e.g. low mood/depression, anxiety, self-harm, disordered eating, challenging behaviour towards others etc).  

Complete the MHST Referral Form, saying you would like to attend.   Anyone who is closely involved in a child who attends an MHST school, is welcome to attend. See list here.  

Resilience workshop 22/02/2024 3– 5:30pm. Free in person. Venue: St Johns Primary School, 121-147 Orts Rd, Reading RG1 3JN .

“Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child”. It’s the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, threats or stress.  It is difficult and distressing but parents can help children and young people to be more resilient in managing day to day challenges and more difficult situations. To book or for more information email Wilma.Williams@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

 

Understanding Autism & Anxiety Workshop – 27/02/2024  9.30 - 12.00pm. Free online session via MS Teams. For parents/carers of Reading pupils ages 6 -16.

A 2.5 hour workshop targeted towards parents/carers of children with a diagnosis of autism or those who may be awaiting a diagnosis.  It looks at common drivers for anxiety in those with autism, especially in relation to coping with uncertainty and not knowing what might happen.  The workshop gives parents a chance to share their experiences and to learn strategies and approaches to manage anxious feelings. To book or for more information email Wilma.Williams@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

Useful Meetings, Events and Information

Please contact Mrs Arnold (SENDCo) if you have any questions or concerns. You can phone on 0118 901 5800 or email senco@highdown.reading.sch.uk