School Based Data / Information: 2021 / 22

How many students did we have at our school with EHC plans at the end of July 2021

Willow Dene has 272 children on roll with 215 of these in the EYFS and Primary phase and 57 in KS3 and KS4. The school caters for children and pupils with a wide range of significant learning difficulties, all of whom have (or are undergoing assessment for) an EHC Plan (Education, Health and Care Plan). 65.81% of these plans are for children with an ASD diagnosis and 34.19% per cent are for children with complex needs.

How many students did we have at School Action Plus at the end of July 2021

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How many students did we have at School Action at the end of July 2021

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What were the outcomes for children within our school with SEND for 2020 - 2021

Willow Dene's Compare Schools page

What training did staff at our school have in SEND over the year 2020/21

Whole school training

Our programme of professional learning and development continues to ensure that staff training maintains a high profile across the school. Needs and priorities differ widely according to a number of factors and much of the CPLD programme is individualised so that specific needs are met. Weekly teachers’ professional development meetings address areas such as Essential Skills, Transitions and TA appraisal. Class team meetings on Monday afternoons enable professional discussions between team members, facilitate joint planning and assessment and provide opportunities for team tasks such as priorities identified in team development plans and the putting up of displays.

• Class teachers who are new to the school, as well as those requiring improvement, are provided with ready access to coaching and mentoring bypeers, members of the leadership team and therapists. Using this approach, we can target individual needs and make the best use of in-house expertise.

• All TAs including those who work part-time over the lunch period (i.e. Midday Meal supervisors) participate in training opportunities. Although lunchtime staff are not contracted to attend INSET days, many ask to participate voluntarily.

• All new staff members receive our comprehensive Induction programme, delivered during the first few weeks of employment at Willow Dene. There is so much for new employees to learn and understand – much of which relies on the capacity of new recruits to observe, listen, question, reflect, commit to getting it right and to put advice into practice. We now have our newly compiled and printed ‘Professional Guide for support staff’ which provides the foundation on which staff can build expert and exemplary practice.

• Although much of our training programme is delivered in-house there are courses delivered by external providers either on or off-site.

• We also make sure that all staff competencies are updated and that statutory obligations are met. Staff have regular updates in Safeguarding, First Aid, National Pool Lifeguarding, Team-Teach, a range of medical competencies, and so on.

What was in the Headteachers report to the Governors 20/21?

Where there have been any other important changes in SEND over the year 2020/21?

Ofsted

• Ofsted section 8 inspection in December 2019

MOVE accreditation

• MOVE accreditation and centre of excellence re awarded in 2020

NAS ASD accreditation

• NAS accreditation re awarded in July 2021 with the addition of 'advanced status'.

Two new classrooms

• Two new temporary classrooms have been built which opened for ASD children in April 2021.