Special Education Needs
Learning Support Faculty
Sir John Lawes is an inclusive school and the Learning Support Faculty works in collaboration with other Faculties in the school to offer support to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
As a school we are committed to the belief that every child is an individual who brings something special to the school community. All students, regardless of ability, background or ethnicity, have the right to participate in and enjoy all aspects of school life, and have the opportunity to meet their full potential.
The Learning Support Faculty is led by the SENCo, Ms Wright with the assistance of Deputy SENDCo Mrs Baker. We have a team of Teaching Assistants with training and experience of supporting students with a variety of needs such as Autism, Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties, Visual and Hearing Impairments, Down Syndrome and literacy difficulties. The faculty is supported by Mr Newbery, Head of School.
Admissions to Sir John Lawes School, including for students with education, health and care plans, disabilities and Looked after Children, are handled by the Local Education Authority. A copy of our Admissions Policy can be found on the school website. The Information Report below explains our approach to supporting students with SEND and how students access any additional help that they need.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Report - 2024-2025
Supporting students with disabilities at Sir John Lawes School
Although Sir John Lawes is an older school, we have in consultation with the relevant expert bodies, aimed to make as much of the school accessible to those with mobility needs as possible. However, challenges due to the building designs and site layout do remain. Any parent wishing to know more about this and to discuss specific case needs is encouraged to contact the Headteacher.
The most recent adjustments to increase the levels of accessibility across the school site include:-
- New handrails around the site
- New entrance into Textiles classrooms
- Edges painted on stairs
- New automatic doors to main buildings
- Phalanges on doors
- New acoustics in the sports hall
- Various paths and stairs widened
- Better parking arrangements on and off the site
- New doors into classroom blocks
- Improved signage
The school plans, over time to further increase the accessibility of provision for all students, staff and visitors to the school. The main priorities in the school’s plan will be in the following areas:
- Increasing the extent to which disabled students can participate in the school curriculum
- Improving the physical environment of the school to increase the extent to which disabled students can take advantage of education and associated services
- Improving the delivery of information to disabled students, staff, parents and visitors of information that is provided in writing for students and adults who are not disabled
Sir John Lawes is also a recognised local leader in SEN (Special Educational Needs) and has a long tradition of inclusivity and support for students who fall within this remit.
Hertfordshire County Council Local Offer
Services for parents, carers and families (hertfordshire.gov.uk) From this page you can find all the different types of support that parents and carers of children and young people with SEND might be able to access, including information on support groups, mental health, parenting courses and how to access services such as SENDIASS
Getting help at school from your SENCO (hertfordshire.gov.uk) This page explains what the role of a SENCO is, and how parents and SENCOs can work together to achieve the best results for a pupil. It may help you to work with a parent and set out for them what to expect and how to ensure things run smoothly.
If your child is too anxious to go to school (hertfordshire.gov.uk) This page is designed to help parents whose children’s attendance is low due to anxiety, and has advice on how to support them and where to go for help
Contact a SEND service (hertfordshire.gov.uk) This page has contact details of the different SEND services, including details of Advice Line for EPs, the SLCA team, the SpLD team and others
New to SEND (hertfordshire.gov.uk) This page has information and advice for those whose children have just been diagnosed with SEND, or have suspected SEND.
