Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
At Hurworth School, we are committed to ensuring that all students with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) make excellent progress and achieve the very best outcomes.
We believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in a supportive, inclusive and ambitious learning environment. Our aim is to ensure that all students, regardless of their individual needs or abilities, are fully included in school life and have access to a broad and balanced curriculum that enables them to flourish academically, socially and personally.
Our SEND Provision
Our SEND Department provides a wide range of support tailored to meet individual needs. This support may include:
- Emotional, physical and academic support within lessons
- Safe and supported social opportunities at breaktimes, lunchtimes and after school
- Homework support sessions after school
- One-to-one interventions to develop academic achievement or social skills
- Small-group reading interventions
- Alternative morning registration groups to help students prepare for a successful school day
- Additional Key Stage 4 pathways and alternative curriculum options, where appropriate
Our dedicated team works closely with students, families and teaching staff to ensure that every child receives the support they need to succeed and feel valued within our school community.
We recognise that every student is unique and that support may need to adapt as needs change over time. Through high-quality teaching, targeted interventions and close collaboration with parents and carers, we strive to remove barriers to learning and promote positive outcomes for all students.
Specialist Base
As part of our commitment to inclusive education, Hurworth School offers a Specialist Base for a small number of students with autism who require additional support to access learning and school life successfully.
Students remain fully included within our mainstream school community and access a broad and balanced curriculum alongside their peers. While most learning takes place within mainstream classes, students may also benefit from targeted small-group or one-to-one sessions delivered by experienced specialist staff.
These sessions focus on developing:
- Communication and language skills
- Social interaction and relationship-building skills
- Independence and life skills
- Emotional wellbeing and self-confidence
Our aim is to equip students with the skills, confidence and strategies they need to thrive both academically and personally, while preparing them for adulthood and life beyond school.
Allocation of Places – Specialist Base
Places within the Specialist Base are allocated through the Local Authority’s formal procedures which assess individual pupil needs against set entry criteria.
Students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) may be considered for a place through the Local Authority’s consultation process.
Working with External Agencies
In some cases, it may be beneficial to seek support from external specialist services. Referrals to agencies such as Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) can be arranged by Mrs Lawrence or a member of the Student Support Team, in consultation with parents and carers where appropriate.
We work closely with a range of external professionals to ensure that students receive the specialist advice and support they need. Recommendations from these services help us develop personalised strategies and interventions that support students both in school and at home.
Social Communication Outreach Service (SCOS)
The Social Communication Outreach Service (SCOS) provides specialist advice, guidance and training to primary and secondary schools across Darlington, supporting children and young people from Year 5 to Year 8 with social communication difficulties.
SENDCo Contact Details
Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENDCo) is Mrs Cath Lawrence.
Mrs Lawrence leads SEND provision across the school and works closely with students, parents and carers, staff and external agencies to ensure that students with additional needs receive the support, guidance and opportunities they need to succeed.
We value strong partnerships with families and encourage parents and carers to contact us if they have any questions, concerns or would like to discuss their child’s needs.
Further Information
Further details about the support available for students with SEND can be found in our SEND Policy and SEND Information Report. These documents provide information about our approach to identifying and supporting students with SEND, the graduated approach to support, and how we work with families and external agencies to ensure the best possible outcomes for all learners.
At Hurworth School, we are proud of our inclusive ethos and are committed to ensuring that every student feels valued, supported and empowered to develop the confidence, skills and resilience needed to succeed in school and beyond.
