SENDs and Equality

Government legislation within the Code of Practice 2014 requires governing bodies of maintained school to publish information on their website about the implementation of the governing body’s policy for pupils with SEN.

‘A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special education provision to be made for them. A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they:

a) Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age;
or
b) Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post 16 institutions.’

The government has transformed the system for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Children and Families Act 2014 now extends the SEND system from 0-25 years giving children, young people and their parents/carers greater control and choice in decisions, ensuring needs are met. The main changes are:

- Replacing Statements of Special Educational Needs with the Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).

- Extending rights and protections to young people in further education and training and offering families personal budgets so that they have more control regarding the support they need.

- Improving cooperation between all services that support children and their families; requiring Local Authorities and Health Authorities to work together.

- Requiring Local Authorities to involve children, young people and parents in reviewing and developing provision for those with special educational needs and to publish a ‘Local Offer’ of support.

We provide all our pupils with the opportunity to learn, to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally and to celebrate personal achievement. We do this by:

• Providing equality of access for all pupils and striving to prepare them to contribute towards life in a diverse society, both locally and globally.
• Incorporate topics and materials which reflect the rich diversity of the school, the local community and Great Britain without stereotyping.
  Promoting attitudes and values that challenge any discriminatory behaviour or prejudice. Attitudes and values which promote understanding and respect for the differences in the world and encourages children turns from extremism and focus on love for one another.
• Providing opportunities for pupils to understand and appreciate their own culture, the culture of their school and celebrate the diversity of other cultures both within Great Britain and beyond.
• Striving to involve all parents, carers, grandparents and wider family members in supporting a child’s education.
• Using teaching practices which aim to meet the needs of the children within our school, maintaining high expectations and support and enabling children to reflect on their learning.

TMPF admissions arrangements are fair and transparent.

TMPF admission arrangements do not, and will not, discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health or socio-economic background.

TMPF are proud to provide an effective and interesting education for the children within each school and have the interests of the pupils at the heart of decisions which we make.

Decisions on Admissions and Exclusions will always take into account the current pupils at each school and the Trust’s values.

TMPF will make all appointments and staffing changes with fairness and equality of opportunity whilst always searching for the best candidate for each role, as that is what our children deserve. Appointments will always be in compliance with the law.