FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions from Parents/Carers:

Question	Answer	Who can help
What do I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?	Contact the Curriculum Leader for SEND. Curriculum Leader for SEND will meet you and discuss your concerns. Information about your child will be gathered from teachers. An assessment of needs will take place and if an area of SEND is identified, appropriate support will be put in place and your child will be added to our SEN register. It may be that a referral is made to other professional agencies.	Ms Jane Dempster (maternity cover for student concerns) Ms Jessica Foster (on maternity leave) Tel: 0113 393 0304 (Ext. 246) E-mail: janedempster@allertongrange.com Ms Rachel Seller, Administrator for SEND, DAHIT and Safeguarding Tel: 0113 393 0304 (Ext. 246) E-mail: rachelseller@allertongrange.com
How will school support my child?	An Education Passport will be drawn up, outlining the young person’s strengths, areas of need and strategies that teachers should use to support their identified needs. Lessons are differentiated to match individual needs. There may be some additional in class support by a teaching assistant. The young person may be placed in a specific programme of intervention, such as Sound Training for improving reading and spelling.	Subject teachers Form tutors Behaviour and Welfare Managers
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?	Schemes of learning are designed to meet the needs of all learners. Each student has access to a curriculum which is differentiated to challenge and meet individual needs. Students may be grouped to access targeted support or specific resources. Departments provide bespoke interventions. In exceptional circumstances, school may disapply or modify the national curriculum and its assessment requirements for an individual student.	Curriculum Leaders
How accessible is the school?	The school building has been designed to meet a wide range of accessibility requirements. There is a lift to enable students to access all floors and disabled toilets are provided. Building acoustics meet the BATOD Standard. Specialist desks, chairs and other furniture and equipment are used for students with physical needs, as and when necessary, on the advice of the Local Authority. All reasonable steps are taken to ensure SEND students are not disadvantaged. Parents/carers are invited to discuss any individual access needs.	Curriculum Leader for SEND
How will I know how well my child is doing? How will you help me to support my child’s learning?	Student reports are produced six times per year and sent to parents. Reports contain the current level/grade, attitude, target and comments given during the data collection along with a record of the behaviour and achievement points and attendance data for the student. Tutors discuss the reports with students following each reporting cycle and set targets. Teachers discuss progress with parents at the annual Parent Consultation Evening. Termly reviews take place for students with Education, Health and Care Plans. Parents / Carers are invited to these. Professionals from external agencies consult with parents / carers. Parents / carers are encouraged to be involved in supporting their child’s education in consultation with subject teachers, behaviour and welfare managers and form tutors. Parents / carers are encouraged to use the ‘Show My Homework’ app, which can be accessed on the school website or downloaded onto any smartphone. Achievement and behaviour can be monitored by downloading the app from www.schoolgateway.com which can be viewed on i-phones and android as well as laptops/desktops. Parents / carers of young people with SEND are always welcome to contact the Curriculum Leader for SEND to share concerns or request an appointment.	Curriculum Leader for SEND
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?	Allerton Grange School is passionate about the wellbeing of its students and all staff have responsibility for ensuring the highest level of pastoral care is provided. We are proud of the specialist support that The Behaviour and Welfare Team provides for students. There is an experienced team of designated Child Protection staff. All staff are trained in child protection procedures to ensure the safeguarding of all students.	Ms Sarah Whittingham Assistant Headteacher, Behaviour and Safeguarding sarahwhittingham@allertongrange.com Ms Ruth Phillips CLA and Safeguarding Lead ruthphillips@allertongrange.com
What specialist services and expertise are available or accessed by the school?	Teachers of The Deaf Communication Support Workers Deaf Instructors Advisory Teacher of the Visually Impaired CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) Speech and Language Therapy Child Protection Advisors STARS (Specialist Training in Autism and Raising Standards) SENIT (Special Educational Needs Inclusion Team) Educational Psychologists SENSAP (Special Educational Needs Statutory Assessment and Provision service) NHS therapists Social Services	Ms Kim Davis Lead Teacher of the Deaf Kimdavis@allertongrange.com Ms Jane Dempster (Ms Jessica Foster - maternity leave) Ms Sarah Whittingham Ms Ruth Phillips
What training and development is done by staff supporting those with SEND?	All staff undertake continuous professional development (CPD) which includes training on SEND so that staff can understand, support and develop our students with particular needs, be up-to-date with developments and share best practice. Staff are responsible for identifying their training needs in their own development plans. Teacher Learning Communities have been established for bespoke, personalised CPD with a focus on assessment for learning with SEND students. SEND Champions take a leading role in cascading information and training programmes. Members of The Behaviour and Welfare Team have specialist training in promoting SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health). Regular meetings take place with teaching assistants which include skill sharing. Staff Training needs are also identified through monitoring processes and addressed at an individual level.	Mr Hadi Alnassiri Staff Development Leader Ms Jane Dempster (Ms Jessica Foster - maternity leave)
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom?	At Allerton Grange School, we strive to be fully inclusive and our aim is to involve SEND students in activities both in and out of the classroom. Wherever possible, activities and school trips are available to all. Parents/carers may be involved in planning of activities to ensure safety and inclusion. Risk assessments are undertaken and appropriate procedures put in place to safeguard our young people when participating in activities.	The main office will help you contact the most relevant member of staff to help Ms Jane Dempster (Ms Jessica Foster - maternity leave) Behaviour and Welfare Manager
How will the school help children and young people transfer to the next phase of education?	Transition arrangements are firmly established in school to support students moving between year groups, phases and settings. In school, transition is made smooth by the quality of data which teachers can access about students on SIMS. Exercise books and folders are also transferred so that new subject teachers can identify starting points. KS2 to KS3 Information sharing with primary schools begins in spring, including discussions and data collection. Year 6 students attend Taster Days at Allerton Grange. SEND students attend Ambassador Mornings, representing their school on an information gathering activity task. Curriculum Leader for SEND collects information from primary school SENCOs, visits SEND students and attends EHCP Reviews where possible. A Parents’ Information Evening takes place for the New Year 7 intake. KS4 to KS5 During Key Stage 4, careers plans are drawn up by the Careers Coordinator and reviewed as needed. Plans are used to inform decision-making about the most appropriate curriculum for students when selecting subject options. The Careers Coordinator attends EHCP Reviews of SEND students from Year 9 to support transition planning. Year 9 Guidance Evening and Options Information Evening. Transition Meetings with colleges and other providers.	Ms Leanne Hosty Key Stage 3 Manager and Transition Lead leannehosty@allertongrange.com Ms Jane Dempster (Ms Jessica Foster - maternity leave) Ms Lorna McDermott Careers Coordinator lornamcdermott@allertongrange.com
How are school resources allocated and matched to the children’s needs? How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?	The SEND budget is delegated by the Local Authority to the Governing Body. In addition to the notional SEND budget, Leeds City Council provides top-up funding for a small number of students with a high level of need. Funding is allocated to support identified needs, including the deployment of staff, resources and equipment. Decisions about the type and amount of support a student with SEND requires are made by the Curriculum Leader for SEND in collaboration with parents/carers, the student themselves if appropriate, Behaviour and Welfare Managers and any services who are involved with a student. The best package of support will be presented accordingly and reviewed regularly to ensure it is having a positive impact on the student’s learning and progress.	Ms Catriona Wilkinson Parent Governor with responsibility for SEND
How are parents / carers involved in the school?	All parents/carers are encouraged to take an active part in their child’s or young person’s education and are welcome to contact school at any time to discuss any concerns about their child’s education and well-being. Parents can keep informed through regular website updates, student reports, consultation evening and school apps. The Allerton Grange Parent Forum is an excellent opportunity for parents to get involved and contribute to many aspects of the school. The forum meets on a regular basis and new members are always welcome.	The main office will help you contact the most relevant member of staff to help. Ms Beverley Manfredi Headteacher’s P.A. beverleymanfredi@allertongrange.com
Who can I contact for further information?	Teaching and Learning Pastoral Attendance	Ms Kirsty Myers Deputy Headteacher kirstymyers@allertongrange.com Mr Phil Derych (Mrs Jen Green - maternity leave) Progress and Welfare Manager, Year7 philderych@allertongrange.com Mr David Gracey Progress and Welfare Manager, Year 8 davidgracey@allertongrange.com Ms Sabiah Altaf Progress and Welfare Manager, Year 9 sabiahaltaf@allertongrange.com Ms Connie Lima (long term cover) Progress and Welfare Manager, Year 10 gilliangordon@allertongrange.com Ms Jess Walker Progress and Welfare Manager, Year 11 jesswalker@allertongrange.com Ms Natalie Harris Attendance Manager natalieharris@allertongrange.com