What is SEND?

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability. A child or young person has special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. This means provision that is additional to or different from that normally available to pupils of the same age.

About The Willows School Academy Trust

The Willows School Academy Trust is a specialist SEND school for pupils in Years 1 to 6. We are a fully inclusive setting where all pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and receive personalised support tailored to their individual needs.

We support pupils with a wide range of special educational needs across all four broad areas of need identified in the SEND Code of Practice (2015):

• Communication and Interaction (including autism and speech, language and communication needs)
• Cognition and Learning (including moderate learning difficulties and specific learning difficulties)
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (including ADHD, attachment difficulties and mental health needs)
• Physical and Sensory (including hearing impairment, visual impairment and physical disabilities)

Our SEND Information Report

As required by the SEND Code of Practice (2015), we publish detailed information about our SEND provision in our SEND Information Report. This report explains:

• The range of needs we support
• How we identify and assess pupils' needs
• How we adapt teaching and learning
• The specialist support and expertise available
• How we involve parents and pupils in decision-making
• How we support transitions
• How we measure progress and evaluate our provision

Our SEND Information Report is reviewed annually and updated in consultation with parents, pupils, staff and governors.

Our SEND Policy

Our SEND Policy has been developed in accordance with current legislation and statutory guidance, including:

• The SEND Code of Practice (2015)
• The Children and Families Act (2014)
• The Equality Act (2010)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025)
• The Education Inspection Framework (2025)

The policy is written for, and by, the whole school community: staff, pupils, parents/carers and governors. It is designed to be a working document that reflects our practice and is reviewed regularly.

Our SEND Policy should be read alongside:

• Our SEND Information Report
• Our Accessibility Plan
• Our Equality & Diversity Policy
• Our Admissions Policy
• Our First Aid Policy

How We Work in Partnership with Families

At The Willows School Academy Trust, we believe that the education of children with SEND is a shared responsibility. We work in close partnership with:

• Parents and carers
• Pupils themselves
• The Local Authority and Virtual School (for looked-after children)
• Health services (including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and school nursing)
• Social care services
• Educational psychologists and specialist advisory teachers
• Other external agencies and professionals

We are committed to listening to the views of parents and pupils, and involving them in all decisions about provision and support.

Contact Us

If you would like to discuss whether The Willows School Academy Trust could meet your child's needs, or if you have any questions about our SEND provision, please contact:

Ms D. Vourdanou – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENCO)

Mr M Shaw – Head teacher

Telephone: 020 8841 7176

We welcome visits from prospective families and are happy to arrange a tour of the school and a meeting to discuss your child's individual needs.