Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND)

Lainesmead Primary School is an inclusive school. We believe in providing every possible opportunity to develop pupils’ full potential. All pupils have access to a broad and balanced education and are fully integrated into the life of the school. The school is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. Lainesmead supports mutual respect and a caring and non-judgmental attitude throughout the school. We have high aspirations for all learners and ensure that they make the best possible progress and achieve the best outcomes.

Lainesmead encourages staff, pupils and parents to work in partnership with each other to identify pupil's needs, support and provision. Lainesmead update parents of their child's special educational needs (SEND) and provision throughout the year, at parents' evenings and in the annual school report.  We also promote effective partnership and liaise with outside agencies as appropriate.

If parents have any queries regarding of concerns regarding their child’s needs and provision they should contact their child’s class teacher in the first instance.

If the parent still has concerns then they should contact the school and ask to speak with the special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO); Mrs Deacon-Willis via the school office (tel 529106) or by email: NDeacon-Willis@lainesmeadprimary.co.uk

If your child has special educational needs and wishes to join the school a meeting may be arranged with the SENCO..

If your child has an Education Health Care Plan you must first contact Swindon BoroughCouncil's Special Educational Needs and Disability Service team to discuss any change of placement. SENDService@swindon.gov.uk

Support and Information for Parents

At Lainesmead Primary School, we understand how important it is for families to have access to clear, accessible information and support around Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We encourage all parents and carers to explore the following services in Swindon:

SIAS – Swindon SEND Information, Advice and Support Service

SIAS is an independent and confidential service offering free advice, information and support to parents, carers, and young people with SEND. They can help you understand your rights, navigate the SEN process, and access the support your child needs.

🔗 SIAS Website
📧 Email: SIAS@swindon.gov.uk
📞 Phone: 01793 466515

Swindon SEND Families Voice

Swindon SEND Families Voice is a parent-led group working in partnership with the local authority and other services. They ensure the voices of families with children and young people with SEND are heard in shaping services and support.

🔗 Swindon SEND Families Voice Website
📧 Email: info@sendfamiliesvoice.org
📞 Phone: 07985 404945

The Swindon Local Offer

In accordance with the Children and Families Act, all local authorities must publish and review information about services available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who are aged from 0 to 25 years, which will be reviewed annually. The aim is to improve the Special Educational Needs system, enhance the quality of life for families living in the local area and ensure the best outcome for children and young people.

Swindon’s Local Offer website highlights the full range of support and services available; some of these are Council services, some are independent and others are collaborative. The information is easily accessible and in enough detail to enable families to make the best choices for their children. 

Lainesmead Inclusion Champions

Our Inclusion Champions are a dedicated group of pupils who help make Lainesmead a place where everyone feels welcomed, supported, and able to succeed. They work alongside staff to ensure that our school remains inclusive, fair and reflective of the needs of all pupils.

What do the Inclusion Champions do?

• Monitor our learning environments
  Champions visit each classroom using the Lainesmead Inclusive Classrooms Checklist to see what is working well and what could be improved. They focus on areas such as accessibility, classroom layout, communication and how pupils are supported.
• Gather pupil voice
  They speak with classmates to understand how pupils feel about inclusion, learning and wellbeing. This helps us ensure every child’s experiences and feelings are heard.
• Drive positive change
  After reviewing pupil voice, our champions identified that children wanted more chances to move and regulate during the day. As a result, they helped develop and introduce the Six‑Minute Sensory Settle, now used in all classes to support focus, calmness and readiness to learn.
• Support new initiatives
  Their current project is monitoring how well our Solve It Yourself areas are being used in classrooms. They are helping us improve these spaces so pupils can develop independence, problem-solving skills, and ownership of learning.

Why this matters:

Our Inclusion Champions play a key role in shaping an environment where difference is celebrated, barriers are reduced and every child has the chance to thrive.