SEND
Our Approach
Staff at Woodcote believe that all children with special educational needs should have access to a broad and well-balanced education.
We believe that all students can experience success in learning provided that the work they are asked to do is differentiated to meet their individual needs.
Our approach to SEND follows the 2014 Code of Practice.
For our SEND Policies, please click HERE. And for our overall SEND information, please click here
For the 2023-24 Croydon Locality SEND Support document, please click here.
And for the SEND Support Brochure, please click here.Â
SEND – a definition
Pupils who are identified as having special educational needs at Woodcote include any student who:
- has significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age due to difficulties
in cognition and learning. - has sensory or physical needs.
- has emotional, social or mental health difficulties
- has communication and interaction needs
- has English as a second language.
FAQs & Other Information
There are well established links with the feeder primary schools. They are visited by the SENDCO in the term before they start, so that information concerning all students with special needs is collated and disseminated to staff. Additionally there is a centralised meeting of primary and secondary school SENDCos arranged by Croydon SEND .
Parents/carers of pupils with SEND are welcome to visit the school on an individual basis through contact with the SENDCo prior to making their selection in the autumn term of the school year preceding transition.
When a student is transferred from a mainstream or a special school, liaison takes place with parents, staff, the educational psychologist and any other relevant agencies.  The SENDCo disseminates regularly updated information to keep staff fully informed about the needs of all students with special needs. The SENDCo is usually invited to attend the last Annual Review of an EHCP student at Primary School.
There is a special transition day for high needs SEND pupils which takes place a week before the main transition day for all year 6 pupils. The purpose of this is to make these pupils more familiar with the school and make them more confident the following week.
Initial identification is via the information received by the SENDCo from their Primary school. On arrival at Woodcote screening tests take place to ensure that all those pupils needing support are identified. After that the teachers at Woodcote make referrals to the SENDCo with their concerns about individual pupils they teach. In addition there are half termly SEND meetings run by the SENDCo and attended by representatives of each subject. The driving force behind the identification process by teachers is the fact that a pupil is not making adequate or expected progress despite the teacher delivering lessons with differentiated tasks which should make tasks accessible to all pupils.
Pupils have two designations according to their levels of need
E – The pupil has an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) which means the individual has significant and long lasting needs, which requires additional funding form the LEA, in order to access the curriculum
K – The pupil has significant difficulties but whose needs can be met with funding from the schools budget
A wide range of support is available to support pupils with SEND. The range of support is constantly monitored in terms of effectiveness and appropriateness to meet the needs of pupils but at present these are the primary means of support:-
- in class support via the participation of a teaching assistant. At Woodcote we are not believers in one to one support for pupils with EHCP, to the exclusion of any possibility of aiding other pupils in the same group, and so our teaching assistants, although assigned to support an EHCP pupil will actually not spend the whole time with that student. Instead they will ‘work the room’ and support other high needs pupils and any pupil who needs help
- small group literacy and numeracy classes delivered by specialist teachers and/or TAs with significant experience under the teachers’ guidance.
- Social skills groups run by Speech and Language Therapists and/or TAs under their guidance following initial SALT assessment by Woodcote’s SALT provider.
- Social and emotional support as required for pupils with social/emotional difficulties who are struggling in their lesson (for as long as it is appropriate judged on an individual basis)
- Access to the SEN area before school, break and lunchtime for pupils who are uncomfortable in the normal playground areas.
Before long term interventions are commenced parents are consulted to get their permission and meetings with parents take place to evaluate it’s success and discuss next steps if there is a need.
Pupils are involved in the writing of their SEND support plan/Pupil Passport/Individual Education Plan as appropriate. They contribute to these documents so that they are aware of the agreed targets and how to achieve them.
As well as the annual parents evenings parents/carers can arrange to see the SENDCo for additional meetings if they require one. Those pupils with EHCPs have annual reviews which are attended by the SENDCo and any outside agencies who work with the pupil. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that the provision made by the school is meeting the child’s needs and that details of the pupil’s difficulties are still accurate. The views of both the pupil and parents/carers are included in this review.
Any concerns parents/carers have should be addressed to the SENDCo
The ethos of the school is one of inclusivity and so all pupils are expected to participate in mainstream classes alongside their peers. The content of lessons will be addressed in the first instance by ‘Quality first teaching’ with materials and tasks suitably differentiated so that all pupils can understand and complete them. Any additional support lessons are run with the agreement of parents/carers. In Key stage 4 pupils with significant needs will follow a modified curriculum in which they follow fewer options allowing for extra literacy and numeracy lessons. In Year 11 this cohort of pupils will take Entry level exams in addition to GCSEs.
Woodcote aims to give additional support to parents/carers in terms of bringing in outside agencies such as speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, the school counsellor and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. These agencies can offer advice and guidance to parents/carers.
Woodcote will make all reasonable adjustments to enable all pupils to participate in additional trips and activities unless there are serious health and safety issues.
The entire school is accessible to students with mobility issues. Where necessary adaptive equipment and furniture is available to enable participation by all students. There are staff trained in use of the ‘Evac chair’ to ensure children can be safely evacuated in the event of fire.
A range of specialist services is used by the school to address the problems faced by pupils with SEND. School staff, particularly those in the Enhanced Learning Provision, work with and liaise with outside agencies such as physiotherapy, occupational health, SALT and the Educational Psychology Service on a regular basis.
Staff receive regular training on aspects of SEND by means of INSET days and twilight INSET. Additionally the SENDCo holds regular meetings with representatives of each subject in which extra training, particularly on differentiation, is covered.
Woodcote works closely with employers and colleges to ensure that all relevant information, subject to consent, is shared to ensure a smooth transition from Woodcote. We provide careers interviews and invite representatives of LEAs to attend meetings with parents as appropriate to offer the best advice so that the most suitable choices are made by pupils for life beyond Woodcote.
To ensure all pupils, whatever their degree of difficulty, achieve their best possible results in public examinations the SENDCo collects information from teachers and carries out assessments. Following these all children who require special exam concessions such as :-
- Reader
- Scribe
- Extra time
- Rest breaks
- Use of a word processor
will have applications made to JCQ ( Joint council for Qualifications) and if granted they will receive them in internal and external examinations/assessments.
This is any absence that is approved by your Principal. These absence will be marked in the attendance register with an authorised absence code.
This is any absence that is not approved by the Principal. This can include:
- Absence for which a parent has not provided a reason
- Absence where the reason provided has not been accepted as justifiable or genuine by the Principal
- If your child arrives late after the close of registration
- If your child’s attendance falls below 90% we may ask for medical evidence before we are able to authorise any absence due to illness
- If medical evidence is not provided the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and we may need to hold an Attendance meeting to discuss your child’s attendance
- If your child’s attendance does not improve we may need to request the issuing of a Penalty Notice from the Local Authority following an informed monitoring period.
All absences must be reported by 8.20am on a daily basis. If your child is in a position to do so, they should attend in the afternoon.
Telephone the school on 020 8668 6464 option 1.
Or email [email protected]
Information should include:-
Your name
Your child’s name
Tutor group
Reason for absence
Appointments should be made out of school hours wherever possible. If this is not possible, please inform your child’s form tutor in advance by letter. Students should attempt to obtain an AM or PM mark to reduce the impact on attendance.
The law states that you do not have the right to take your child out of school during term time. The Local Education Authority works with schools to reduce the number of children missing school. Leave taken in term time, including family holidays, will not be authorised unless there are exceptional circumstances. Such unauthorised absences may lead to the school requesting that the Local Authority issue a penalty notice.
Only allowing time off school for genuine illness. Please speak to school if you think your child may be struggling to attend.
Sending your child to school for the pm session if they are well enough.
Attend school around medical appointments to obtain a registration mark.
Provide medication to the general office that can be accessed by your child throughout the school year if required.
Knowing the routines of the school day and ensuring they are prepared.
Speaking to your child about any worries and notifying school of any concerns.
Avoiding taking term time holidays.
Parents can email [email protected] to notify of lateness beyond the child’s control. Students who are late to school without reason will be set a lunch time detention.
The School Day
Our school day starts from 08:25, when we make our way to our Form Room to register and check we are ready for the day. Our gates open at 08:05 if you want to come in early to get breakfast, use the library or just see your friends!
A bell sounds at the end of each section of the school day so that we know where we need to be throughout the day. You can view the full breakdown of our School Day here.
Year 7 use the Old Diner at break and lunch – you can buy food or take your lunch in to eat at one of the tables. There are also benches outside where you can have your food, but you must not go past the yellow lines if you are eating so that we can reduce litter on site.
Lunchtime
At the start of the year, Year 7 go to lunch slightly early (your teachers will take you) so that you can get used to how the diner works. Each year group has a 10 minute slot during the lunch break to go into the canteen and purchase food if you want to. This means that the queues are shorter and everyone gets their food quickly! Year 7 go in the first 10 minutes of lunch in the Old Diner.Â
UniformÂ
We take pride in the way that we represent ourselves at Woodcote High School, and our uniform is an important part of this. It also shows that we are part of one community with shared values, so we can’t wait to see you wearing yours in September. Click here to see what our uniform looks like – everyone wears a white shirt, tie and blazer. You can then decide if you want to wear the jumper and if you would prefer to wear a skirt or trousers. Your socks should be plain white ankle socks if you choose to wear the skirt. Each Year group has a coloured badge above the pocket – you will get yours in September!
PE Kit
Here you can see the kit you need for PE – your shorts, polo shirt, tracksuit bottoms and jumper all have the Woodcote logo. You need plain navy blue football socks, white sports socks, trainers and football boots too.
Being Prepared
Every student needs to have the following items with them every day so that you can make the most of every single moment in lessons! We recommend that you check your timetable each night so that you can check that you have packed everything you need for the next day’s lessons.
In Your Pencil Case:
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Black pen (bring a few spares!)
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Pencil
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Ruler
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Rubber
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Green pen
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Calculator
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Drywipe marker to use with a mini whiteboard
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Glue
Please do not bring scissors, a pencil sharpener or compass. We will give you these in lessons.
In Your Bag:
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Reading book
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Mini whiteboard
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Water bottle
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Books for the day
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Mobile phone pouch
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PE Kit on days you have PE or a club
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Copy of your timetable
Mobile Phones
The use of a Woodcote mobile phone pouch enables our school to be truly mobile phone free. Students therefore do not have the distraction or temptation of looking at a mobile phone during the school day. Having a signal blocking pouch means that students are truly free of their devices in the day supporting them with learning and wellbeing. In utilising a school pouch the mobile phone remains the responsibility of the student. Students release their phone at the end of the day via magnets located by the exits of the school meaning that no student is left without their phone for their journey to and from school.
Please note that should a student’s phone be seen or heard during the school day (i.e. it has not been placed in a school pouch) it would then be confiscated. The only exception to this rule is for students with diabetes who use their phones for medical purposes. Woodcote Phone Pouches will be on sale at the transition evening and cost £16.00. Support to purchase a phone pouch is available for students in receipt of free school meals.
Behaviour and Rewards Â
Woodcote High School is a proud and inclusive community that strives for the highest standards of behaviour. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where all students can thrive. Central to this commitment is our belief that excellent behaviour is rooted in strong relationships and clear expectations. We recognise that the way students behave in school is closely linked to their future success, and we understand that promoting good behaviour is a shared responsibility across the whole school community. Â
Student Code of Conduct Â
 Students are expected to uphold the school’s high behavioural standards in every aspect of school life. In the classroom, this includes: Â
-   Demonstrating the ASPIRE values at all times (students are positively rewarded for this) Â
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Treating other people with kindness and respect Â
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Arriving on time and attending all lessons  Â
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Wearing the correct uniform with pride  Â
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Lining up and entering the room appropriately Â
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Bringing the correct equipment for the lesson and ensuring their mobile phone is locked in its pouch Â
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Placing pencil case, (white board) and book on the desk ready for learning Â
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Sitting in the assigned seat in accordance with the teacher’s seating plan  Â
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Actively participating in the learning activities planned by the teacher  Â
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Avoiding any behaviour that disrupts learning   Â
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Waiting to be dismissed at the end of each lesson Â
  When moving around the school site students’ expectations include:  Â
-   Following one-way systems and walking on the left  Â
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Queuing sensibly in canteen areas and for water stations  Â
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Not being in the buildings during break time and lunch time without good reason  Â
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Using the designated toilets for their year group  Â
  We take every opportunity to celebrate you doing the right things, making improvements, and demonstrating the ASPIRE values. You’ll receive positive points to recognise all that you’re doing well, and this will be shared with you and your parents/carers.
When those start to add up, we will celebrate you even further through:
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Certificates
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Phone calls home
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Rewards assemblies
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Principal’s breakfast
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Reward activities
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“spending” your points in the school shop!
Here are some of the questions the current Year 7 had, and their answers:
What teams and clubs are there?
We have a wide range of extra curricular clubs from sports clubs and teams, to anime, robotics, STEM and reading groups. In September a list of these will be shared with the days and times they are on. If you have an idea for a club that isn’t running then let your Form Tutor know and we will help you to set it up!
Any member of staff or any other students would be more than happy to help you with anything you need. If you’re really not sure who to speak to, start with your Tutor, Head of Year, or anyone wearing a pink lanyard around their neck.Â
Every student is given a copy of their timetable that tells you the lesson you have, who the teacher is and where to go. Make sure you keep this safe! You can also see this on the Arbor app, or ask your Tutor to give you a copy if you have lost it. We will give you a copy of the school map to help while you are learning where to go too. For the first few days there will be students around to help your class get from one lesson to the next, and anyone you see will be happy to point you in the right direction if you’re lost!
Ask anyone you see to help you – everyone at Woodcote High School is helpful and supportive, so will often walk you to the place you need to be. If you’re not sure where that is, go to Student Services in the main reception, or ask any teacher to check on Arbor and they can tell you where to go.
If you arrive at school late but during Form Time, go straight to your Form Tutor and explain what has happened. If you arrive later than this, you need to go to reception to sign in on the touchscreen so we know you are in school, then go straight to your lesson.Â
If you are late to Form Time, or to a lesson, there is a detention that day at lunchtime, or the following day if it is p.5. as we know it is so important to be on time so that you are ready to learn.
At WHS we have a no phones policy because it will help you focus and avoid distractions. Every student has a pouch that their phone goes into at the start of the school day, that you can then unlock on your way out at the end of school. Keep this in your bag, then put it on the desk when you are asked to. If you don’t have one of these, your phone MUST be turned off and kept in your bag. If it is seen or heard for any reason then it will be confiscated until the end of term as it is so important that mobile phones don’t distract you.Â
We are a cashless school so as long as you have had money topped up on your Parent Pay account, you can buy food before school, at break or lunch. Year 7 all go to the Old diner for food. We have hot and cold food options and the main meal menu changes each week, but ranges from roast dinners, to different curries, lasagne, noodles, fish and chips and so much more! You can also choose pasta or jacket potato, or from the salads and sandwiches we have. The patties sold at break are one of our most popular items!
Detentions are only set when students haven’t met our ASPIRE values – this might be for not following instructions, talking in class or not doing your homework. If this happens then a detention will be set on Arbor and your parents will be informed. Different types of detentions are different lengths, and are held in specific places – you can find out more from the teacher setting it or on your Arbor portal. You go to the room, register and then work in silence, often completing a reflection on what happened and what you would do differently next time.
Our current Year 7 students know exactly how you are feeling at the moment, so they have shared some of their thoughts and experiences with you. Here you will find their advice and tips for September, as well as their reflections on what it means to be part of the Woodcote High School Community.
This is how Year 7 describe our school:
These are some of the things that Year 7 have to say about their experiences here at Woodcote:
(student messages here)
Useful Links
Further websites to support parents of children with speech and language needs.
Local Authority Information
Local authorities are responsible for publishing a Local Offer and ensuring it is available for everyone to see. This is important to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families are given information about support services the local authority think will be available in their local areas.
Please click on the links below for further information.
