School Offer

REDDISH VALE HIGH SCHOOL - SCHOOL OFFER

Our School vision is "Positively Changing Lives" and our School Offer sets out how we make sure that this happens for every child.

How do we identify pupils with Special Needs and Disabilities?
We work closely with parents/carers, other schools and pupils to identify which of our pupils have special needs or disabilities. When pupils start at Reddish Vale High School they sit a small number of tests called CATS (Cognitive Ability Tests). We use these tests and the year 6 SATs scores to see who may need additional help and support. The end of year tests and progress reports can also help us to identify who needs support. We then look more closely at each pupil so that we know where their strengths are and what kind of extra help and support is best for them.

Our SENCO will organise small groups for Literacy and Numeracy Intervention with KS3 pupils. For pupils who need extra support, particularly emotional and social support, we have support groups in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. If we feel that a pupil would benefit from learning in a very small group setting we will place them in the support group.

How are Annual SEN Reviews organised?
From September, each pupil who has an EHC Plan will have a review once a year. At this review, school SEN staff will have the chance to discuss progress with parents and pupils.  Depending on the pupil’s needs, it may also be that the Assistant Head Of Year or a Senior Staff member attends the review as well.  The SEN team will then collate the notes and will make sure that the support is put in place to support the needs of the individual.  The SEN team will also make sure that all paperwork is sent to parents/carers, the Town Hall and the Learning Support Service.

Individual teachers will be made aware of pupils’ needs and will be given information and guidance on how to make resources suitable for each pupil and how to support them in lessons. Training will be given to staff if required. Pupils with specified special needs will be given diagnostic tests to see where best to target support and intervention. Pupils with EHCPs will have a Learning and Behaviour mentor working with them in lessons.  The exact number of hours of support that a pupil will receive will be dictated by the information from the EHCP.

Do Reddish Vale High School Staff go to Transition Reviews whilst pupils are in Year 6 at primary school?
The SENCO and/or the Assistant Head of year 7 will attend the Transfer Review meeting held in Year 5, as well as the Year 6 Review if we are asked to. At these meetings we will outline the support that would be available. Parents/carers and pupils are both welcome and encouraged to visit the school before the review meetings.

What happens if my child joins the school part way through a year?
The majority of pupils join us in year 7. However, a pupil may join the school at another time, during the school year. When this happens, we make sure that we liaise with teachers and support staff at the pupil’s last school so that we are aware of any special needs and disabilities. We may decide that the pupil should have a reading/spelling test on entry to Reddish Vale as a diagnostic tool to make sure that support is appropriate within the class.

How do you deal with bullying?
We take all cases of bullying very seriously.  Bullying can be reported to any member of staff, and we also have a designated member of staff who has special responsibility for dealing with bullying issues.  Older pupils help us with preventing bullying.  Each pupil has a tutor that they can talk to and a Head of Year and Assistant Head of Year who is available to talk through any problems that may arise in school. Reddish Vale have a very strong culture of Pastoral Support and Safeguarding.
Please see our Safeguarding section of our website and our Safeguarding Policy.

How is my child kept safe?
Mr Platt is the Designated Lead in school for safeguarding. Mrs Waheed is our Safeguarding Manager. Keeping all our pupils safe is very important to us. There is more information on Safeguarding here

Security/safety measures in place
Pupils are able to come into the school grounds through two entrances from 8.00am.  The gates are locked at 8.30am and reopen at 3pm. During the school day, visitors can only enter via the school’s reception. Some school corridors and grounds have CCTV.  All employees wear ID badges. There are staff on duty before tutor period, during the changeover of lessons, at break and lunchtime and at the end of the school day to ensure pupils move calmly between classrooms.  When pupils arrive at the start of the day and leave at the end of the school day, staff are on duty outside the school grounds. Staff wear high visibility jackets so that they can be easily identified. 

How do you keep in touch with Parents/Carers?
If parents/carers are concerned about their child they should email or call the school and ask to speak to their child’s tutor. If parents/carers feel they would like to speak to someone else, they should contact their child’s Head of Year or Assistant Head of Year. To find out who this is, parents/carers can look at the school website under Staff Details.  If parents/carers would like to come and speak to somebody face to face, then they should contact the school to make an appointment. 

We send our parents/carers a Progress Report for their child each term.  This will include information about their child’s progress in lessons, attendance, attitude to learning and homework, as well as the targets their child is working towards.

Each parent/carer will be invited to a Consultation Evening at least once a year. This is an opportunity for parents/carers to speak to each of their child’s teachers about their progress.  If we have concerns about a child then parents/carers may also be invited to one of our Targeted Parent Forum Evenings, which take place five times a year.  If, at any point during the year, the school has more serious concerns, then we will contact parents/carers to make an individual appointment.

In addition, there is an Open Evening towards the start of each academic year, when parents/carers of primary school children can come and look around the school and speak to staff.  Again, the date for this can be found on the school website.

Parents can give feedback to the school at any time.  They can do this by contacting the school directly and speaking to a member of staff or via email admin@reddish.stockport.sch.uk .  There will also be the opportunity to take part in parent surveys throughout the year.

How do Learning and Behaviour Mentors support pupils? 
The school has a number of Learning and Behaviour Mentors to help SEND pupils.  These are some of the ways they help support pupils:

• The Learning and Behaviour Mentor will make sure that class teachers know the targets of pupils with SEN. They will work with the pupils in lessons to support their learning.
• They can provide help sheets if pupils are struggling in lessons.
• They can provide differentiated tasks according to target levels after consultation with the teacher.
• They can use a variety of ways to check that new learning has been understood.
• They can provide personalised targets in books for pupils to work from.
• They can make sure that pupils understand their National Curriculum levels.

How are pupils able to more become independent?

• In different lessons and subject areas, discussion based activities are used prior to independent writing activities to help organise thoughts and ideas. Pupils are encouraged to talk with others in order to clarify their own thoughts, feelings and ideas.
• Computers, laptops and tablets are often used to encourage independent writing so that pupils don’t have to worry about poor handwriting or spelling; they can concentrate on the vocabulary.
• Writing frames are often used to encourage independent writing.
• There are many opportunities to enter writing competitions. 
• Real life audiences e.g. visiting writers and poets come into school to speak to pupils. 
• Motivating pupils through rewards and praise. We have a reward system in school called the RADI system which electronically records points that pupils are given for excellent work and behaviour in class.
• Teaching well-planned and engaging lessons that allow pupils to develop a love for learning. All teachers in school have undergone training in TEEP (Teaching Effectiveness and Enhancement Programme) in order to make lessons more stimulating and motivating. All teachers will differentiate activities in lessons so that pupils of all abilities can access work within a particular subject area.
• Giving pupils ‘The big picture’ before they start working, sharing with them what the lesson will be about and what they will achieve in that lesson.

What training do the staff have around SEN or disability? 
All teachers will have training and information to support them in working with SEND pupils. In the last few years teachers have received training in:

• ADHD awareness;
• Autistic spectrum awareness;
• Experience working with members of the traveller community;
• Supporting pupils with a visual impairment;
• Dyslexia awareness;
• Delivering literacy booster sessions

Teachers are also helped in other ways in supporting pupils with SEND by, for example;

• In class, support from experienced SEN teachers and teachers from Stockport’s Learning Support Service. 
• The Ethnic Diversity Service offers teaching and support for pupils with English as an Additional Language.  
• Teaching staff and support staff have regular timetabled discussion time to talk about the pupils and how best to help them.
• Information is given to teaching staff at the beginning of each academic year, which provides details of National Curriculum levels gained at KS2, KS2 assessment data, medical needs and behaviour issues.
• Training courses are available to all SEN staff via the Learning Support Service and other providers, to co-ordinate and run, for example, Better Reading Partnership,  to help deal with mental health issues, to support pupils on the ASD spectrum, with developing work on social stories, and developing motor skills.

What reasonable adjustments are made and what support is provided to the pupils during tests and exams? 
Certain pupils are assessed before the end of year 9 to see if they should have special consideration in tests and exams.  This could mean that they will have a reader to read the questions, or a scribe to write them, or that they may be able to use a word processor.  We also identify pupils who should be given special consideration because of medical needs, social and emotional issues or stress. These pupils are tested by a trained Access Arrangements specialist at the end of Year 9. If they are granted access arrangements, the school will support them with readers and scribes in all exams.

Pupils in KS3 may also be given special consideration for any end of year exams or assessments.

How do I know how my child is doing?
Information about progress is given to parents/carers as part of the school’s Progress Report system. This tells parents/carers how much progress their child has made, about their attendance and how they behave in class.

The annual Review Meeting (see above) is also a way of letting parents/carers know what progress has been made. 

There is regular contact between SEN staff and parents/carers so that we can work together.

What support is there for behaviour and attendance?
Pupils are organised into Tutor Groups and Learning Groups. Tutor Groups are made up of boys and girls from a single year group and is the group where they are registered each morning between 8.35 am - 9.00 am. Each year group has a Head of Year and an Assistant Head of Year to support the pastoral needs of pupils. 

Learning Groups are either made up of pupils of the same ability, or they may be mixed ability. The pupils are taught subject lessons in Learning Groups. 

How accessible is the site?
Reddish Vale High School has some toilet facilities adapted for wheelchair users in two buildings and in the sports hall. Temporary ramps can be put on parts of the ground floor. Unfortunately, Reddish Vale is not a designated school for wheelchair users.

What Careers Guidance is given, and how is my child prepared for the next stage of their education or training?
Reddish Vale High School has a qualified Careers Adviser to give impartial advice and guidance to students in years 8 -11.  We also have a designated member of staff in school who is our Careers lead. Please see the Careers section of our website for more information. Pupils have access to a range of resources to help them make decisions about their future. These include; a well stocked Careers Library with up to date books and college/university prospectuses.

Pupils in Year 9 can ask for a one to one interview to talk about the Options Process. Parents/carers are welcome to come to this interview. In Year 11, pupils can again ask for a one to one interview as they think about what to do when they leave school.  Pupils with additional needs are identified at an early stage to make sure they have the right help in Year 9 and Year 11.  

During Year 10, every pupil takes part in some group work run by the Careers Advisor.  They also complete a “Next Step” survey. This helps us decide who should be interviewed first and answer any questions they may have. It also tells us who is thinking of going to college and who is thinking of applying for an apprenticeship. This means we can make sure they get the right information.  Staff from our partner colleges and training providers also give presentations to Year 10 about the many options available. College Taster Days are offered to pupils towards the end of Year 10.

Reddish Vale High School has excellent working relationships with our partner colleges and training providers, who visit the school on a regular basis to take assemblies and have lunch time workshops. They also come to the annual Careers Evening and take part in our mock interviews.  

Pupils interested in the apprenticeship route have workshops to help them register on the National Apprentice Website. Training providers are invited into school to advise on local employment opportunities.  We help the pupils to fill out the application forms and to write their personal statements.

We are currently building on our employer network to encourage local companies to visit Reddish Vale to advise students on the skills and qualities required in the wold of work.

Together with our partner colleges/training providers, we track the destination of our school leavers to identify any pupil who is not in employment or training and may need additional advice and guidance.

How is my child prepared for adult life?
Both Citizenship and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) prepare pupils for adult life in a variety of different ways at KS3 and KS4.

KS3
At KS3, pupils are taught about managing money effectively, this is part of the new National curriculum in Citizenship and it is taught in Year 7.  In this scheme of work pupils are taught about savings and current accounts, borrowing money, pay day lenders, budgeting and clever consumerism. This helps pupils to have a clear understanding of how to manage their money. In Year 8 pupils learn about parliament, how voting works and the criminal justice system. This work helps the pupils understand how decisions are made.  In Year 9 Citizenship lessons cover the options process within school and provides early careers and subject guidance through lessons and talks with the careers advisor.

The curriculum covers information to raise awareness of homophobia, cyber bullying, the dangers of drugs and alcohol, body image and healthy eating.

KS4
At KS4 pupils have to complete two campaign projects about issues in their local area. This allows them to complete some thorough research about their local area and to aim to make a difference. This is part of the Year 10 controlled assessment work.  In year 11 pupils continue to build upon key skills developed at KS3 including communication and action and research. 

Within the PSHE curriculum pupils focus on the theme of relationships, looking at issues such as sexual exploitation, sexual health, positive relationships and sexual bullying.

Extra-Curricular 
The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award is offered as part of the Citizenship curriculum.  This award scheme prepares pupils for adult life by allowing them to take part in a voluntary, physical and skill based activity for 6 months. They then complete a 2 day expedition.

What happens if my child is ill or needs medication?
Parents/carers fill in a consent form, which means that medication can be brought to school. It is kept in a secure place in the First Aid Room. Some pupils, however, are allowed to keep their medication with them, inhalers for asthma for example. Sometimes a parent/carer will send in a letter if the pupil just needs medication for that day, such as pain killers.

Pupils with long term conditions such as asthma or diabetes etc. will have a care plan, which staff refer to.