Our SEN Information Report – which is part of Durham County Council’s Local Offer – provides details about how we support children and young people with Special Educational Needs in our school.
Tow Law Millennium Primary School’s Local Offer
The SEN Information Report was reviewed and updated on 9th May 2024.
Definition
A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made that is additional to or different from that made generally for other children or young people of the same age. (CoP 2015, p16)
Broad Areas Of Need – There are four broad areas of special educational need, these are:
Communication and interaction – Includes pupils with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and those with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).
Cognition and learning – Includes pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), Moderate learning difficulties (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).
Social, Emotional and Health Difficulties – Includes any pupils who have an emotional, social or mental health need that is impacting on their ability to learn.
Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties – Includes pupils with hearing impairment, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment and physical difficulties.
Tow Law Millennium Primary School Ethos and Approach
At Tow Law Millennium Primary School, we recognise that all pupils are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. We believe in positive intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and levels of achievement and working in partnership with other agencies in order to provide a positive educational experience for all our pupils, including those with a special educational need or disability.
At Tow Law Millennium Primary School, we are committed to the equal inclusion of all pupils in all areas of school life. We recognise the diverse and individual needs of all of our pupils and take into account the additional support required by those children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). We recognise that all pupils are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. At Tow Law Millennium Primary School, we ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress.
Our vision for high quality education is to provide a happy, caring, stimulating environment in which children demonstrate positive behaviour and strive to achieve their full potential academically, culturally and socially. This involves working closely with parents and carers to encourage the children to be the best citizens they can possibly be.
Tow Law Millennium Primary School is passionate about learning and strives to instil in our young people a love and excitement for learning which stays with them for the rest of their lives. We promote high achievement and a love of learning so each and every child can build a successful future, and we feel this is articulated through our Vision and Values. Our Vision is for Tow Law Millennium Primary School to be ‘a nurturing and happy community; where children are supported to achieve their dreams’. We annually consult with stakeholders and use the information gathered to improve our offer.
Our school recognises there are particular groups of pupils whose circumstances require additional consideration by those who work with them to support their SEN.
We celebrate perseverance, resilience and risk taking, ensuring children welcome challenge and are not frightened to make mistakes. We encourage children to take ownership of, and responsibility for, their learning. So that they have the confidence and curiosity to ask questions, solve problems and respond to quality feedback. Children are praised for hard work, determination and having a positive attitude. Safeguarding and welfare is extremely important and pupils are taught the virtues of kindness, good manners and positive behaviour. We have Wellbeing Champions, School Councillors, Sports’ leaders, Young Carers, Headteachers’ Assistants and Green Leaders allowing children to understand the importance of responsibility.
In order to create an inclusive school where everyone can flourish, whatever their background, we promote an ethos of respect and empathy, where diversity is valued and celebrated – both within school and the wider world. We are an Educate and Celebrate Gold Award School which aims to ‘transform schools and organisations into LGBTQ+ friendly places, creating a safe environment for staff, students, governors and parents to thrive and achieve, enabling everyone to be themselves without fear of discrimination.’ The aim of the programme is very simple – to stamp out any form of homophobic or transphobic bullying by educating children about LGBTQ+ issues, using stories, assemblies, the curriculum – any way we can!
Tow Law Millennium Primary School has also achieved the Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status. Our award reports begins stating that: ‘It is clear that Tow Law Millennium Primary School is a fully inclusive school ranging from pupils from Nursery to Year 6′. Read the full report below for further details.
Tow Law Millennium Centre for Excellence IQM report – June 2024
This SEND Information Report should be read alongside the school’s SEND Policy, the Equalities Information and Objectives and the Accessibility Plan.
Key Contacts
- Mrs Mahon (EYFS and KS1) and Mrs McNally (KS2) are the key contacts for SEND. They can be contacted either by email at towlaw@durhamlearning.net or telephone on 01388 730283.
- The Special Education Needs Governor can be contacted by emailing the school as above.
SEND Admissions
For information on the admission of pupils with a disability, please visit the School Admissions section of our website and view the Accessibility Plan in our School Policies section.
If you would like to discuss your child’s SEN in more detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
The full range of local support available for children/ young people with SEND and their families within and outside of school can be found in the County Durham Local Offer