November 2022
Dear parents/carers,
There have been a number of changes in the SEND team in recent weeks, and lots of exciting news to share. Please read on to learn about some of the highlights including super sporting events, chatty coffee mornings, and an introduction to new members of the team. What hasn’t changed of course is the excellent support and care provided for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
As you may know Ms Hunt is now on maternity leave. We send huge congratulations to Ms Hunt and her family, now it is slightly larger; mother and baby are doing well. A new SENCo is starting in January while Ms Hunt is on maternity, and we look forward to welcoming him when he arrives. In the meantime, Mr Lynch is working closely with all colleagues in school to maintain the excellent work of Ms Hunt. Mrs Ivery is spending more time leading the SEND team now, as Assistant SENCo, and Miss Jeffers and Mrs Cambridge also have more leadership responsibility. All three ladies are working incredibly hard and doing a fantastic job by continuing to build on the major efforts made by the whole team in recent months.
We also welcome two new colleagues who have made an excellent start by building relationships with students and families, as well as bringing their expert knowledge from previous roles. Mrs Sarah Newman joins us from Beaufort Special School and has wide knowledge of SEMH. Mrs Kayleigh Walker also joins us from a local Special School and brings with great understanding of the needs of children with autism. Some families will already know our new team members and they will maintain close contact with they are a key worker for your child. As ever if you have questions about your child’s needs, please first make contact with their key worker. For wider questions about special educational needs and disabilities at school please contact Mrs Ivery or Mr Lynch.
Many children have taken opportunities to be involved in some really exciting events recently. The Boccia tournament this week and the Curling were a huge success and students really took to the sports showing excellent resilience and skill. Also the visits on enrichment day to were thoroughly engaging, offering a chance to see how learning in the classroom connects with the wider world. Students also really engaged with the Careers Fair and many came away not only with clearer ideas of what they want for their future, but also how to get there. Throughout students’ time at Erdington Academy the SEND team are focused on building increasing independence and always start by providing the least amount of help possible. This means that our students learn to cope and as much as they can will succeed by their own efforts.
As we do every term, before the end of December we will be reviewing the progress of every child with special educational needs. Please expect a call from your child’s key worker, or a meeting to talk about your child. All the teachers will also be working hard to provide information to the SEND team on your child’s progress. All of this will allow us to decide who needs what support next term, and we look forward to being in touch with you shortly.
One way we are supporting families is by providing information, advice and guidance for you about your child’s needs. This month we have had two coffee mornings with experts in their field. The first was led by Nora Young from Compass Support Birmingham. She spoke to families passionately about her experiences of living with ADHD, the impact of the disorder, and how her children with ADHD coped with school. The second coffee morning saw specialists who work closely with the school take time to meet families informally and talk about their children. This included the school’s Educational Psychologist (June Russell), a colleague from Birmingham’s Communication and Autism Team (Jaswinder Boghal) and Hollie Haywood from Pupil and School Support who is a specialist in learning difficulties. Do please look out for more events in the Spring term, and we look forward to seeing you in school.
As ever the SEND team appreciate good communication with families, and this helps to make sure the right support is in place at the right time. Do get in touch should you have any questions or queries, and your child’s key worker will continue to keep you informed about things at school. This close collaboration has been important in keeping excellent attendance for children with SEND this year, and will continue to make a difference in future.
Kind Regards,
Simon Lynch
Trust SEND Lead
