Early understanding and identification is crucial for children with a special need or disability. Staff, in partnership with parents, pupils and where needed, outside agencies, monitor, assess, plan and provide the best education possible for each individual child. 

At Kingsmoor Lower School, we pride ourselves in our inclusive, community focused environment where all of our children are treated with respect and integrity. Children build up trusted relationships with staff and peers and are then encouraged to become independent learners and thinkers. Children with a special need or disability are treated in the same way and staff work hard to ensure that all children are included in every single subject and area of the daily curriculum.  

This page is here to support parents and children in understanding Kingsmoor Lower School's Local offer. It also offers information on some types of special needs that you, as parents and carers, have asked for support on, and suggests other local agencies who can offer more support. 

In England, the government defines special needs as:

A child has special educational needs if they have a learning problem or disability that make it more difficult for them to learn than most children their age. They may have problems with schoolwork, communication or behaviour. 

'Special educational needs' is a legal definition and refers to children with learning problems or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most children the same age.  

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/children-special-educational-needs

There are four main areas of Special Educational Need: 

cognition and learning

communication and interaction

 social emotional mental health 

physical and sensory 

The SEND code of practice is a statutory code containing:

details of legal requirements that you must follow without exception

statutory guidance that you must follow by law unless there’s a good reason not to

It explains the duties of local authorities, health bodies, schools and colleges to provide for those with special educational needs under part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

The code, which applies to England, is for:

headteachers and principals

governing bodies

school and college staff

special educational needs (SEN) co-ordinators

early years providers

other education settings

local authorities

health and social services staff

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-support-easy-read-guide-for-parents

Who can I contact? Where can I go for more information or support?

1. School: SENDCO - senco@kingsmoorlower.co.uk

2. Your Doctor

3. CHUMS - mental health and well being service for children: http://chums.uk.com/

4. CAMHS support. Contact through the Local Offer: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/18/health_and_social_care/325/mental_health

5. Find a list of resources and phone apps that may be useful to maintain mental wellbeing during the Covid19 crisis and beyond. These resources are free to use unless otherwise stated. https://centralbedfordshire.app.box.com/s/tjfxcuh6xuzbgyx78u1w26xu3gs0yv7s 

Who can I contact? Where can I go for more information or support?

1. School: SENDCO - senco@kingsmoorlower.co.uk

2. Your Doctor

3. Autism in Beds: https://www.autismbedfordshire.net/

4. Facebook Bedfordshire Autism support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/586781791470589

5. Carers in Beds: https://carersinbeds.org.uk/ 

6. Outside in: https://outsidein-solutions.com/

7.  Sensory Processing: https://localoffer.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/kb5/centralbedfordshire/directory/advice.page?id=ciXynimvoR0

Who can I contact? Where can I go for more information or support?

1. School: SENDCO - senco@kingsmoorlower.co.uk

2. Your Doctor

3. The ADHD national support charity: https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/ 

4. ADHD Bedfordshire facebook support group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/254710464986048

5. Outside in: https://outsidein-solutions.com/

A guide for young people: https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Young-Persons-Guide_FINAL.pdf

Who can I contact? Where can I go for more information or support?

1. School: SENDCO - senco@kingsmoorlower.co.uk

2. The dyslexia association https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/what-is-dyslexia/ 

3. British dyslexic association https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ 

4. Facebook support group for parents with dyslexic children https://www.facebook.com/groups/dyslexiasupportforparents 

Empowering parents booklet: https://cdn.bdadyslexia.org.uk/documents/Empowered-Parents.pdf?mtime=20200324144644

Who can I contact? Where can I go for more information or support?

1. School: SENDCO - senco@kingsmoorlower.co.uk

2. https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/specific-learning-difficulties/dyscalculia/

3. The dyscalculia information center: https://www.dyscalculia.me.uk/

4. The dyscalculia facebook support page UK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dyscalculia

SNAP

SNAP (Special Needs Action Panel) is a pro-active, independent forum of parent carers who all have children or young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). SNAP’s purpose is to improve the services provided for our young people, aged between 0 and 25 years. 

http://www.snappcf.org.uk/

IPSEA

IPSEA offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We also provide training on the SEND legal framework to parents and carers, professionals and other organisations. 

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/

The Early Years SEND team

Early Years SEND Team (preschool and foundation years) 

0300 300 4364 

The SEND team

Telephone: 0300 300 8356

Email: statass@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

The Medical Needs Team

Telephone: 0300 300 8038

Email: medicalteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

The Hearing Impairment Service

Telephone: 0300 300 8038

Email: hearingteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

The Visual Impairment Service

Telephone: 0300 300 8038

Email: visualteam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk 

The Child Development Service

Address: Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7EB

Phone: 01234 310278