What is SEN?

SEN or SEND stands for special educational needs and disabilities. All children have different learning needs and different abilities. There is a wide breadth of SEN needs and we work hard to ensure we support every child to thrive. The SEN Code of Practice states that ‘a child has SEN where their learning difficulty or disability calls for special educational provision, namely provision different from or additional to that normally available to children of the same age'.

Tina Joyce is the SENCO (special educational needs coordinator) at Freshford Church School.

The SENCO works with classroom teachers, the school leadership team, parents and
relevant external agencies to develop, implement and monitor provision for children with
additional needs.

There are four key areas of SEN:

• Cognition and Learning (e.g. difficulties with reading, writing or maths)  
• Communication and Interaction  (e.g. they have processing issues, find it hard to focus, find it hard to socialise)
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (e.g. they seem very anxious, withdrawn or angry) 
• Sensory and/or Physical Needs  (e.g. balance and coordination, gross and fine motor skills, physical disabilities)

SEN co-Production Charter