SEND Support at The John Roan School

 

At The John Roan School, we are proud to provide an ambitious, inclusive, and safe environment where every student is empowered to thrive and achieve their full potential and bring out the best in everyone. We believe that every child can exceed expectations, regardless of prior attainment or experiences. Some students may need additional support at certain times, while others may require ongoing provision. Whatever the need, we are committed to delivering outstanding support that is planned, implemented, and reviewed to the highest standard by all staff. 

We achieve this by: 

  • Quality First Teaching: Every teacher is responsible for ensuring high-quality teaching in the classroom. This is the first and most important wave of support for meeting the needs of all learners, including those with SEND. 
  • Culture of Aspiration: We set high aspirations for every student and encourage them to aim beyond their expectations. We have high expectations of all our SEND students and believe it is paramount to match this with a level of pastoral support, to ensure students meet their potential. 
  • Disruption Free Learning: We are committed to ensuring our classrooms are structured to promote focus and success. We know  
  • Community: Our ethos is rooted in fairness, respect, and personal responsibility. We celebrate diversity and ensure every student feels respected and supported. 

How We Support Students with SEND 

Teaching and supporting students with SEND is a whole-school responsibility requiring a collaborative approach. We work in partnership with parents/carers, teachers, students, local authorities, specialist providers, and external agencies to meet individual needs. 

Wave 1: Quality First Teaching 

The foundation of our SEND provision is high-quality, adaptive teaching in every classroom. Teachers use strategies such as: 

  • Explicit instruction 
  • Clear explanations and modelling 
  • Scaffolding and chunking tasks 
  • Use of visual supports and structured routines 
  • Metacognition  

Wave 2: Targeted Interventions 

For students who need additional support beyond classroom strategies, we provide a small number of evidence-based interventions which are regularly reviewed for impact. These include: 

  • Literacy (Ruth Miskin and RapidPlus) 
  • Social Skills Groups 
  • Emotional Regulation Programmes (e.g., Zones of Regulation, ELSA) 
  • Speech and Language Therapy  
  • Handwriting Club 
  • TouchTyping 
  • Homework Club 

Wave 3: Specialist Support 

For students with more complex needs, we work closely with a range of specialists, such as: 

  • Educational Psychologists 
  • Speech and Language Therapists 
  • Occupational Therapists 
  • ASD Outreach 
  • CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) 
  • Physiotherapist 
  • Auditory and visual support services 
  • Local Authority SEN/ Inclusion Team 

Students requiring additional support are identified through our SEND Register, ensuring their needs are monitored and provision is reviewed regularly. The SEND Register is a key tool for teachers and staff and includes key information such as: 

  • The student’s primary area of need (e.g., cognition and learning, communication and interaction, social, emotional and mental health, sensory and/or physical needs) 
  • Strategies and adaptations recommended for classroom practice 
  • Relevant documentation such as Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) 

 

Transition  

We understand that moving to a new school can feel daunting for parents and students. Our SENDCo, is available to discuss any concerns and ensure a smooth transition. 
For any SEND-related queries, please email: sendenquiries@thejohnroanschool.org.uk 

 

We also recognise that parents of students in Year 5 and Year 6 with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) may wish to arrange a visit to see our school and ask more questions about our SEND provision before submitting your choices. To help us plan effectively and provide the best experience, please request your visit at least two weeks in advance, as we are unable to accommodate visits at short notice. 

Communication 

If you have any specific SEND enquires, please contact us via the SEND Enquiries email address sendenquiries@thejohnroanschool.org.uk 


Teaching and Learning of SEND Students

We believe that every teacher is responsible and accountable for the progress and development of all students in their class even where students access additional support from learning coaches and support staff.

Teaching and supporting students with SEND is a whole school responsibility requiring a whole school response. To achieve this, we work in partnership with parents/carers, students, local authorities, specialist providers and other external agencies to meet the individual needs of our students.

The department, under the leadership of the Assistant Principal (SENCO), aims to promote learning strategies and teaching approaches that allow the needs of students with Special Education Needs and additional needs to be met. Support is given to teachers to enable them to provide appropriate challenges and opportunities for success for identified students. In addition, we help students to recognise and plan for their own progress.

Specialist Learning Coaches

Our Specialist Learning Coaches have expert training in working with children with specific learning difficulties. The team works with all school staff to identify and assess students’ needs, plan for these needs and put into appropriate identified strategies.

Specialist Learning Coaches have a range of evidenced based literacy and numeracy resources available and use these tools to support the progress of SEND students, aiming to reduced any gaps in learning. A wide variety of support is put in place depending on the needs of the child. This can range from individual and small group withdrawal sessions, with our specialist Learning Coaches or external professionals.

Our Interventions Include:
  • Reading comprehension
  • Numeracy  
  • ELSA (emotional literacy)
  • SALT (speech and language therapy)
  • Memory and processing development
  • Fine Motor Skills
  • Regulation support
  • Homework club (afterschool)
Assessment and monitoring

All students who enter The John Roan are assessed for baseline reading, spelling and complete MiDYAS  testing. This information is used alongside other data to identify students who may require additional support. Intervention sessions are provided to target specific development needs and the progress of each student is monitored closely. Students who do not make progress in light of the interventions are placed on the SEN register and further interventions may be offered. The SEN register is reviewed on a termly basis to ensure that students are moved through the SEN stages of the Code of Practice in an accurate and timely manner. 

We work closely with a range of external agencies

We work closely with a range of external agencies who provide specialist support and advice for individual students depending on their needs. These agencies include:

  • SALT (Speech and Language Therapy)
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Paediatrician
  • Occupational Therapist
  • CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service)
  • Physiotherapist
  • Auditory and visual support services
  • Local Authority SEN/ Inclusion Team

Centre For Autism

At The John Roan we have the Centre for Autism (CFA), which is a designated specialist provision.

The CFA is a separately funded provision, within the mainstream school, and has a total of 16 places for students with autism across Years 7-11.

Families who are considering a CFA placement should first consult with the Local Authority SEN department or the SENCo at their child’s current school.

Lead Teacher of the DSP
Kate Ling - Kate.Ling@thejohnroanschool.org.uk

Read more about our Centre For Autism (CFA)

Head of Centre - Ms Kate Ling

The CFA is a separately funded provision, within the mainstream school, and has a total of 16 places for students with autism across Years 7-11.

 

Designated Special Provision for Students with Autism | Essential Information | About Us | The John Roan School

CFA students must have a diagnosis of autism (but not necessarily an EHCP). CFA students have the potential to access 50% of their lessons in mainstream and to achieve at the same level as their peers, given the right level of support. CFA students follow individual timetables which reflect their needs. They are taught both in the mainstream and in the CFA. CFA staff deliver the mainstream curriculum. Some mainstream staff come to the DSP to deliver their subject specialism.

The CFA provision is comprised of an Autism friendly classroom and a sensory room. Small breakout spaces are also available when needed by individuals dependant on their needs. The CFA offers a quiet space away from mainstream; skilled staff who are trained in autism; learning support; social and emotional support and access to outside agencies, such as speech and language services.

There are 4 full time members of staff, with additional support from the wider Inclusion Team. All CFA students will have access and support through the whole school Inclusion Team and its resources. In addition to the mainstream curriculum, the team make time for each student’s special interests. The frequent CFA trips incorporate the interests of the students.

The CFA Team encourage all their students to join in with social opportunities in school and facilitate this where necessary. The CFA Team work very closely with families and encourage parents and carers to contact them very regularly.

Parents interested in applying for a CFA place should first consult the SENCo at their child’s primary school and read the information on the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s website to find out about the applications process.

Head of Centre - Ms Kate Ling Email: Kate.Ling@thejohnroanschool.org.u

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