Dear Kayleigh
Thank you for your request for information which is now receiving
attention.
We are looking into this request and shall contact you within 20 days.
Kind Regards
Jordan

Jordan Smith
Administrative Assistant Apprentice
Prentis Cynorthwy-ydd Gweinyddol
Gwasanaethau Cyfreithiol a Llywodraethol | Legal & Democratic Services
Swyddfa Cwm Clydach  Office Clydach Vale 01443 424029
Pafiliwn E, Y Pafiliynau, Parc Hen Lofa’r Cambrian, Cwm Clydach, CF40 2XX
Pavilion E, The Pavilions, Cambrian Park, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy CF40 2XX
[1][email address]

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Dear Ms Rosewell

 

We refer to your Freedom of Information Request in respect of Special
Educational Needs, the Authority’s response is set out below:

 

1. Who is primarily responsible for all Special Educational Needs within
the local authority?

 

Director of Education & Lifelong Learning

 

2. Do you have an SEN or SENCO/Inclusion Manager, if so what is their name
and contact details

 

Yes.  Contact Details:  Ceri Jones, Head of Access and Inclusion, Ty
Trevithick, Abercynon, Mountain Ash. CF45 4UQ / Email:
[email address]

 

3.  Does the authority currently manage SEN and have a system for managing
SEN assessments and statements and use any particular interventions?

 

Yes.

 

Statutory assessments -  we adhere to the statutory timescales outlined in
the SEN Code of Practice for Wales(2002).

 

Other assessments – this would refer to the graduated response to meeting
pupils’ SEN and is outlined in the SEN Code of Practice for Wales. This
entails schools taking responsibility for identifying and assessing
pupils’ needs at School Action and the involvement of external agencies
through referral to undertake more specialist assessments. The Local
Authority Access and Inclusion Service consists of an Educational
Psychology Service and a Learner Support Service with specialist support
teams for Cognition and Learning, Speech, Language and Communication
Difficulties (including ASD), Sensory Difficulties (including Visual and
Hearing Impairment and  Physical / Medical Difficulties) and Behaviour
Support. The above services operate on a referral system whereby schools
can refer to any of the above for assessment or consultation.

 

Interventions – the LSS teams use a range of interventions specific to
different areas of SEN – e.g. TEACCH, PECS for pupils with Autistic
Spectrum Disorder, Cumbrian Reading Intervention strategies and precision
Teaching for pupils with dyslexia / literacy difficulties, Numicon
resources for pupils with difficulties in mathematics. Many interventions
are tailor made to address the needs of individual pupils and reflect the
outcomes of detailed assessment.

 

4. If so which systems do they use?

 

Please see “interventions” above.

 

5. Are there any SENco cluster meetings/events? If so, what is the name
and contact details of the organiser?

 

SENCo training days for all SENCos in Rhondda Cynon Taf are held twice a
year. The Head of Access and Inclusion organises the above events (see
above for contact details) with the assistance of Lisa Carter, Inclusion
Manager, Ty Trevithick, Abercynon, Mountain Ash. CF45 4UQ.

 

Welsh medium SENCo cluster meetings are held on a termly basis in the
main. These are organised by the schools’ Educational Psychologists.

 

SENCo Surgery sessions are organised on a half termly basis for SENCos to
discuss referrals for individual pupils or to obtain advice regarding SEN
issues – e.g. specific interventions. SENCo Surgeries are organised by Ann
Smith, Administrative Assistant, Access and Inclusion, Ty Trevithick,
Abercynon, Mountain Ash. CF45 4UQ.

 

We trust this answers your queries.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Claire

 

Claire Gummer

Corporate Governance Team

Legal & Democratic Services

Rhondda Cynon Taff C.B.C.

The Pavilions

Cambrian Park

Clydach Vale

Tonypandy

CF40 2XX

 

Tel:  (01443) 424111

Fax: (01443) 424114

Email:  [1][email address]

 

 

 

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