Inclusion Service

Advice and support to schools, pupils and families when there is an additional learning need.

The Service is available to children and young people age 0-19 on a referral basis.

• 01446 709180
• inclusionservice@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

•  The Complex Needs Assessment and School Liaison

  The Service manages the statutory assessment and review of pupils with special educational needs and ensures that procedures are followed in accordance with the statutory requirements and regulations.

   

  Every child develops and learns at a different rate to others, some children find learning easy, some find it hard and some may need more support. If you or the school are concerned that your child is not making progress, it is possible that they may have special educational needs.

   

  The school's Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) can assess your child's strengths and weaknesses and advise other members of staff who are involved with your child. If the school considers your child has special educational needs they must tell you and discuss what help is needed.

   

  An Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be set up and will include information about what your child needs to learn, how this will be taught, who will help and when the plan will be reviewed. The school should always tell you how they are helping your child and what progress is being made.

   

   

   

•  Educational Psychology Service
  Work in partnership with schools, early years settings and parents to support children with complex special needs, emotional and behavioural difficulties and to promote the achievement of children looked after by the local authority.

   

  The service is delivered in schools through work with children, their teachers and parents.  It often involves observation, discussion and assessment, all of which contribute to a wider picture of the child’s needs and help formulate plans to support them.

   

  Much of our work is delivered around individual children though we also offer support for groups of children or wider school issues.  

    

  This work is supported by direct therapeutic work with children and young people both individually and in groups. Training to staff in educational settings on aspects of learning, behaviour and child development and advising the local authority on policies and initiatives and generally supporting the authority in carrying out its duties and responsibilities, including statutory assessments of children with special educational needs

   

  To access the Educational Psychology Service please contact the SENCo for your child’s school.

• Visual Impairment Service

  The Visual Impairment Service works together with school staff and parents to provide specialist educational support for children and young people who have a medically diagnosed visual impairment.

   

   - Support children from the moment they are identified as visually impaired

   - Give advice and training to school staff, including assessment and monitoring of how the child is using their vision.

   - Teach specialist skills such as Braille, touch typing and mobility.

   - Give advice and training on the use of access technology and loan of specialist equipment.

   - Offer advice and evidence for the statutory assessment process and annual reviews.

• Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS)      

  EMAS in the Vale of Glamorgan works in partnership with schools to raise the achievement of pupils with English as an Additional Language.

   

  The team support schools and mainstream teachers to ensure pupils with EAL have access to the National Curriculum. With access to translators the team can ensure that parents of EAL pupils have knowledge and understanding about the education of their children. 

• Education Welfare Service 
  The Education Welfare Service works in partnership with parents, teaching staff and partner agencies to ensure positive behaviour at school.

   

  The team comprises specialist teachers and learning support assistants. They work with schools and families to identify difficulties and identify strategies to improve behaviour of referred pupils. They deliver training for schools and build capacity and improve the skills of mainstream staff.

   

  Teach your child through play | Activities | Primary Teaching | Wales Learning - Parents | Vale Family Information Service | Children’s Commissioner | Families First

   

  Exclusions are used as a last resort and only when all other strategies have been tried and exhausted.  Exclusions, either fixed term or permanent may only be imposed by the Headteacher. When an exclusion is imposed, set procedures are followed and provide an appeal process for the parent / guardian(s) and, when appropriate, pupils.

   

  Fixed Period and Lunchtime Exclusion

  Permanent Exclusion

   

•  Speech and Language

  Children’s Speech and Language Therapy work together with schools, parents and specialists to support children with speech, language and communication needs. 

   

  Support the schools to identify children who need support in Speech and Language.

   

  Provide training, advice and guidance for school staff and parents. 

   

  Work with children to develop speech and language skills. 

• Looked After Children (LAC) Education Team

  Responsible for ensuring looked after children gain maximum life benefits from education opportunities. The LAC Education team promote the education of looked after children placed within and out of area. The team work in partnership with Children’s Services to provide a child centred approach to provision.

   

  The LAC Education Team ensure Personal Education Plans are in place and provide guidance on their implementation. These plans are used to monitor attainment of looked after children.

   

  In collaboration with schools, the team disseminate good practice including training for elected members, foster carers; social workers, school governors and designated teachers.

• Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) 

  The Cognition and Learning Service works in partnership with parents, teaching staff and other agencies to encourage and develop the literacy skills of pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties to enable them to succeed in mainstream school.

   

  The school makes a referral to the SpLD team having sought parental consent only after carrying out assessments, interventions and a review. When all the relevant information has been gathered it is sent to the team.

  
  

  A specialist teacher will visit the school to discuss the school assessment with the Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo). The specialist teacher will provide advice signposting other agencies if necessary. If necessary a specialist teacher from the SpLD team may support the pupil.

•  Hearing Support 
  The Hearing Support Service supports children with hearing loss, their families, teachers and schools. We support the child to understand their hearing condition and provide maintenance and checking of hearing aids, information upon other agencies and services, methods of communication and help to develop strategies for coping with hearing loss.