“The importance of developing independent learners, promoting positive mental health and well-being, life skills, social skills and cultural awareness, underpins the belief that the curriculum offered provides the widest and most beneficial pathway for all students.”

Our goal is for every student to reach their full potential through a broad and balanced curriculum, offering varied and engaging learning experiences. By removing barriers to learning and carefully considering each student’s pathway, we aim to equip them with the skills, resilience, respect, and reflectiveness needed to thrive in school and society.

The SEND Team

The SEND Team supports students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This support will be specific and personalised to the student and falls into three categories:

1. The support for students with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
2. The support for students identified as SEND Support.
3. Working closely with parents and external agencies to identify and support students with potential SEND needs.

The SENCO is responsible for the strategic co-ordination of the day-to-day provision of education for students with SEND as well as the management of the team of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs). Our team of Learning Support Assistants are often the first point of contact, raising concerns and initiating discussions about SEND and students who may require additional support. To address low reading ages and significant literacy needs, selected students in Years 7, 8 and 9 take part in daily small-group literacy sessions. For further details, please see our SEND Provision link.

Outreach Inclusion Service

The Outreach Inclusion Service offers every Lewisham mainstream primary and secondary school access to support for children aged 4-16, and their families, who are experiencing difficulties participating fully in their educational setting. The team comprises teachers, advisors and therapists specialising in working with children and young people (CYP) whose main barriers to learning are their social and emotional needs. They are a multi-disciplinary team, drawing on all of their vast experience gained from working in mainstream schools, specialist schools and alternative provisions, adjusting their support to meet the needs of all learners. Currently, at Deptford Green we have one mentor who comes to the school once per week to work with our students.

SEND Provision

Deptford Green School is an inclusive mainstream school where every pupil is valued equally. We are committed to developing the best in everyone by providing access to a broad, balanced, and relevant curriculum adapted to individual needs. Through equal opportunities and a challenging, supportive learning environment, we encourage all students to achieve their full potential, whatever their academic or physical ability.

Our provision is built around a graduated approach. This ensures that the needs and differences of students are clearly identified and that reasonable adjustments and interventions are put in place to ensure the best possible outcomes for all learners.

Students with an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP)

All students with an EHCP receive additional support when moving from primary to secondary school. At Deptford Green, each student is assigned a keyworker who acts as the main point of contact between home and school. Support also includes implementing and reviewing the provision outlined in their plan, ensuring they are well supported to achieve their outcomes. This ongoing process feeds directly into their Annual Review meetings.

Support and intervention for those with an EHCP may include:

• In-class support
• Out of class small group or 1 to 1 targeted support
• Environmental adjustments and adaptations
• Adaptation of or provision of additional learning materials
• Access to the use of assistive technology

Details can be downloaded here of our local SEN provision offer. This comprises part of the Lewisham offer of provision overall. To see the SEN provision in Lewisham go to https://lewisham.gov.uk/localoffer .

Exam Support

Some students will be eligible for additional or specialised arrangements during assessments and examinations.

Assessments and observations will be undertaken by teachers, Inclusion staff and specialist assessors in order to support an application for access arrangements.

Access arrangements during examinations include:

• Extra time
• Scribe, reader or use of reading software
• Prompter
• Use of a laptop
• Enlarged print / examination paper
• Rest breaks

The Four Main Areas of SEND

External Agencies and Services

For the purposes of assessment, advice, and intervention the SEND team at Deptford Green regularly liaise with and might refer a student to any one of a number of external agencies or specialist teams.

External agencies and services we regularly work with include:

• Educational Psychology Service
• Drumbeat Outreach – ASD advisory, support and training service
• Specific Learning Difficulties Specialist Teachers
• Sensory Teachers Team (specialising in supporting those with visual and hearing impairments)
• Speech and Language Therapist
• CAMHS / Mental Health Support Team; Lewisham, Greenwich & Southwark

For SEND related queries please contact our SENDCO

• Ms Karen Swanson - kswanson@deptfordgreen.co.uk

For Inclusion and Resource Base related queries please contact our Head of Inclusion

• Ms Natasha Cameron - ncameron@deptfordgreen.co.uk