Whitworth Park Academy

We are a fully inclusive school catering for students of all abilities. We have a strong support team and dedicated resources to ensure all students have the opportunity to progress in a friendly, safe and supportive atmosphere.

We are also proud to offer an enhanced mainstream provision for students with speech, language and communication needs; a dedicated team working extremely closely with Speech and Language specialists, parents and the Education Psychology services. This team includes a dedicated specialist full time teacher and additional support staff that caters for up to ten students.

When is it on?

Time of day
Morning
Afternoon

Who to contact

Telephone
01388 824 800
E-mail
office@whitworthpark.org.uk
Website
Whitworth Park Academy

Where to go

Address
Whitworth Road
Spennymoor
County Durham
Postcode
DL16 7LN

Other details

Related links
Ofsted reports

Local Offer

Local Offer description

We are a fully inclusive school catering for students of all abilities. We have a strong team of SEN staff, including four Learning Support Assistants, who work hard to ensure all students have the opportunity to make good progress and enjoy success. We offer a range of intervention, from in-class support in core subjects to social groups and individual mentoring, depending on the level of need.

We are also proud to offer an Enhanced Mainstream Provision for students with Speech, Language and Communication needs for up to ten students. This is run by a Specialist teacher, Mrs Todd. The provision is also accessed by a range of other students with Speech and Language needs.

Contact name
Vicki Pitchford
Contact telephone
01388 824 800
Contact email
v.pitchford@whitworthpark.org.uk
Links
SEND Policy
SEND at Whitworth Park School

How do you identify Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?

How does the setting/school/college know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

At Whitworth Park School we invest in the most important person that will understand the needs of all students - the teacher. We ensure our staff are well trained to provide Quality First Teaching for all students irrespective of their difficulties.

Where a teacher feels that additional support or assessment is needed they will inform the school SENCO who will carry out or make arrangements for additional testing of students. This is completed with parents who we consider essential in the support for their children.

Parents who have concerns and are unsure what to do should contact the school SENCO who will arrange a meeting to discuss these concerns. The SENCO will work with parents/Carers and the student to ensure they have the full support to access the school curriculum.

How will you support my child with their special educational needs and disability?

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

Whitworth Park School is well staffed and teachers well trained to support students. Where needed we provide:

  • One-to-one in-class support
  • group in class support
  • Mentorship
  • Small group work
  • Speech and language specialism
  • Accelerated Reader Programme
  • Lexia literacy support
  • Withdrawn intervention where needed
  • Small nurture classes in Years 7, 8 and 9.

How will you make sure my child's education meet their needs?

How will the curriculum be matched to my child's young person's needs?

Teachers have received additional training on supporting students with Special Educational Needs or/and Disability through Quality First Teaching and differentiation that ensures all students have full access to our curriculum.

Our nurture classes in years 7, 8 and 9 are smaller classes with specialists teachers and support staff that work very closely with students who have more complex needs; this included students with an Educational, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or Statement.

How will we know my child is progressing?

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child's/young person's learning?

Where students have additional needs that require support over and above what is given through Quality First Teaching and differentiation, the SENCO will, in conjunction with students and parents/carers, provide a SEND Support Plan. This plan will provide specific outcomes required to ensure students can progress in line with their peers. This plan will be reviewed regularly with the school working very closely with home.

How will you support my child's overall wellbeing?

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall wellbeing?

Whitworth Park School is a large school and remains proud at our ability to continue to provide a safe and supportive environment. Each Year group has a dedicated Pastoral Manager who does not teach and is available throughout the day to ensure the well being of our students.

We have also invested heavily in support staff and the school 'Fred Walker Support Base' that provides students with a smaller and quieter area. Clubs and homework help is also provided in these areas.

In addition the school has a full time counsellor dedicated for the support of our students, a team of older students who have been highly trained to offer support for students who are feeling vulnerable.

The school is also proud to have rolled out our 'Tootoot Anti-Bullying software' in year 7 (Year 8 in the summer term) that provides students with the means to contact our pastoral team 24 hours a day on any laptop, IPad, tablet or Smart phone if they are feeling bullied, picked on or are feeling unsafe. This has been particularly useful in this modern age of the use of 'Social Media'

What specialist services and expertise is available at or accessed by the staff?

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the setting/school/college?

We have been successful in our bid to provide an Enhanced Mainstream provision for up to 10 students with complex speech, Language and Communication Needs. To access this service students would normally require a Statement of Educational Need or an Educational , Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Parents and carers should contact the school Speech and Language Teacher, Angela Todd on 01388 824 800 if they require further information.

How are staff trained regarding SEND?

What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND have had or are having?

All staff are trained to provide Quality First Teaching with respect to the four areas of student need:

  • Cognitive and learning
  • Communication and interaction
  • Social. emotional and mental health
  • Sensory and/or physical needs

School Support staff are provided with further training to support the needs of students, particularly with regard to the emotional wellbeing of all students.

What activities outside the classroom will there be?

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

We are a fully inclusive school and will make all reasonable adjustments to ensure all students can partake in all activities within school and outside of school safely.

How will you support my child's needs?

How accessible is the setting/school/college environment?

We are proud of our accessibility and provision for all students whatever their physical needs. All classrooms are accessible with two dedicated lifts at either end of the school. Further ramp lifts are provided in order that students in wheelchairs or mobility scooters can fully access the school.

The school stage has dedicated lift for students to access and star in our plays, award ceremonies and music events.

The school Design and Technology rooms have dedicated tables for students in wheelchairs and the Food Technology suite has been adapted for students with limited mobility.

Where needed, adjustable tables are also provided in all classrooms.

What is available to help my child with their education?

How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

We have resourced specialist classrooms and suites for the provision of students with educational needs.

This includes:

  • Dedicated small nurture classes in years 7, 8 and 9.
  • Specialists rooming for students with speech and language needs.
  • Dedicated Higher Level Teaching assistants (HLTA) to provide addition support for students with numeracy and literacy needs.
  • A full time counsellor to provide support for student wellbeing.
  • Highly trained Learning Support Staff to provide additional support for students both within and outside the classroom.
  • The Fred Walker Support Base resourced to support the needs of all students with SEND.

What support can I expect for my child?

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

All decisions regarding the support of students in school are undertaken in conjunction with parents/carers and students. Normally these will be agreed and packaged as an SEND support plan that lists agreed outcomes required of students. These outcomes will also list and cost how they are to be achieved and when they are to be reviewed.

How will I be involved in my child's education?

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

The school takes great store in the knowledge that all parents and carers have of their children. All support plans and extra provision given to students are agreed with parents/carers and students.

Parents who wish to be further involved should contact the school SENCO who will be more than willing to discuss how parents can be involved in their child's education.

My child is going to be starting or leaving soon, how will you help them?

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

Throughout their time in school students will be provided with additional education with regard to their future careers. This is provided through the school's dedicated links, as well as buying in professionals who are trained to provide advice and support for students.

Our PSHCE programmes ensure students are provided with the skills needed to make informed decisions and have the general knowledge and skills to engage with society.

Students with a Statement of educational need or Educational, Health and Support Plan (EHCP) will also be provided with a one point advisor to support their transition from secondary school to sixth form or a college of further education.

Disclaimer

Durham County Council's Families Information Service does not promote nor endorse the services advertised on this website. Anyone seeking to use/access such services does so at their own risk and may make all appropriate enquiries about fitness for purpose and suitability to meet their needs.
  • Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College

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Address: Whitworth Road  Spennymoor  County Durham

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