SEND Assessment

Assessment is an important part of identifying and meeting the needs of all pupils, including children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

At Fishburn Primary School, assessment helps us to understand what children already know and can do, identify barriers to learning and determine appropriate next steps. For pupils with SEND, recognising and celebrating small steps of progress can be particularly important.

The Graduated Approach

Teachers continually follow the graduated approach:

Assess → Plan → Do → Review

This enables staff to identify a child's strengths and needs, plan appropriate support, put this support into practice and review its impact.

Assessment and provision are adapted according to the individual needs of the child, while maintaining high expectations for all pupils.

Ongoing Assessment

Teachers assess children's learning continually through a range of approaches, including:

observation;
questioning and discussion;
children's work;
assessment activities;
learning conversations;
pupil feedback; and
information from interventions or additional support.

Where appropriate, specific assessments may also be used by teachers, the SENDCo or other professionals to help identify strengths, needs and barriers to learning.

Assessment should support children to make progress while promoting independence and encouraging pupils to take an active role in their learning.

Reviewing Progress

Teachers use a range of evidence to assess pupils' attainment and progress over time.

Pupil progress is reviewed regularly, and teachers meet with members of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss children's attainment, progress and individual needs.

For children with SEND, progress is considered in relation to their individual starting points, identified needs and the outcomes they are working towards.

SEND Plans

Where appropriate, pupils with SEND have an individual SEND Plan, which identifies their needs, intended outcomes, appropriate strategies and provision.

SEND Plans are reviewed termly with relevant staff, parents or carers and the child, where appropriate. These reviews consider:

progress towards identified outcomes;
what is working well;
the impact of current provision and interventions;
the views of the child and their family; and
appropriate next steps.

Provision is adapted where necessary in response to the review.

Working with Families and Professionals

Parents and carers are important partners in understanding and supporting their child's needs. We work collaboratively with families and value the information they provide.

Where appropriate, assessment may also involve advice or assessment from external professionals and specialist services.

Our SENDCo, Miss Hannah Robertson, supports staff and families with the identification, assessment and review of SEND provision across the school.