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Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

SEND Information

Our Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENDCo) is Mrs Diana Muller

Our Special Educational Needs and Disability Governor is Mrs E Isaac

Inclusion Statement : Equality of Opportunity and Diversity

At Stepgates Community School, we aim to be a fully inclusive school.  We believe that educational inclusion is about equal opportunities for all learners, whatever their age, gender, ethnicity, impairment, attainment and background.  We pay particular attention to the provision for and the achievement of different groups of learners:

  • girls and boys, men and women;
  • children from our Specialist COIN Centre, for children with Communication and Interaction as their primary need.
  • minority ethnic and faith groups, Travellers, asylum seekers and refugees;
  • learners who need support to learn English as an additional language (EAL);
  • learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND);
  • those who are gifted and talented;
  • those who are looked after by the local authority;
  • others such as those who are sick; those who are young carers; those who are in families under stress;
  • any learners who are at risk of disaffection and exclusion.

School’s Aims and Values

At Stepgates Community School we believe we are an inclusive school where we promote equality in our policies and procedures, and most importantly in our day-to-day practices and interactions with the whole school community.

Our School Values are concerned with mutual respect, cultural diversity, social inclusion and community cohesion and contribute to the establishment of a positive climate for teaching and learning: Respect, Collaboration, Resilience, Integrity, Compassion, Courage, Pride.

Our school Aims are based on our Mission Statement and Values.

We aim for everyone in our school community:

  • To be healthy, happy and active people.
  • To stay safe and know how to make the right choices.
  • To believe in themselves and achieve personal success.
  • To make a positive contribution to their family, school and wider community.

We aim for our school:

  • To encourage enquiring, creative and responsible learning.
  • To be a global school for the 21st century.
  • To teach our school values: Respect, Collaboration, Resilience, Integrity, Compassion, Courage, Pride.
  • To have a whole school ethos that promotes pride.
  • To have a creative and inspiring curriculum based on innovative practice in teaching and  
     learning.
  • To promote parental involvement in their children’s learning and in school activities

Inclusion Principles

Staff at Stepgates Community School value children of different abilities and support inclusion. Within the school, staff and children will be constantly involved in the best ways to support all children’s needs. 

There is flexibility in approach in order to find the best provision for each child. We recognise that children learn at different rates and that there are many factors affecting achievement, including ability, emotional state, age and maturity.  We are particularly aware of the needs of our youngest children, for whom maturity is a crucial factor in terms of readiness to learn.  We believe that many children, at some time in their school career, may experience difficulties which affect their learning, and we recognise that these may be long or short term. At Stepgates Community School we aim to identify these needs as they arise and provide teaching and learning contexts which enable every child to achieve to his or her full potential.

We recognise the importance of modelling inclusion in our staffing policies, relationships with parents/carers and the wider community. 

We aim to:

  • promote a whole school commitment to the inclusion of all children in the academic and social opportunities offered at Stepgates Community School;
  • plan and work together to meet the changing needs of all our children effectively and ensure all staff are informed of their individual needs;
  • share experience between our Specialist COIN Centre for children with Communication and Interaction as their primary need and other staff to further develop effective strategies for children’s inclusion;
  • continually monitor the progress of all children, to identify needs as they arise and to provide support as early as possible.
  • provide full access to the curriculum through differentiated planning by class teachers, SENDco, and support staff as appropriate; 
  • encourage parental support and participation in the development of children’s inclusion and integration throughout school;
  • ensure our inclusive provision is positively valued and accessed by staff, governors, parents/carers, children and the wider community.  

The Governing Body of this school is firmly committed to pursuing equality and excellence for all staff, children and the wider school community, within a community where children are well prepared for life in a diverse and pluralist society.

For our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Policy please click here.

Stepgates SEND Information Report 2023 

Special Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local offer - COIN Centre

Surrey Local Offer 

In accordance with the requirements of the SEND Code of Practice (2015), Surrey County Council has developed a Local Offer website which contains information about service relating to special educational needs and disabilities.  The website has a search function and a comprehensive information section including their toolkits, templates, forms and guidance documentation. The Surrey County Council Local Offer can be accessed by clicking here