Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND)

SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability. Children and families with SEND are entitled to specialist provision and services.

For more information on the new SEND reforms see the Children and Family Act and statutory guidance on SEND in England and Wales can be found in the national SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years.

SEND at Pen Green and Kingswood

At Pen Green we celebrate all children and families. We embrace diversity and recognise the rich contribution of each unique child. We believe that children and families need person-centred services which promote full social participation, enabling everybody to maximise their health, well-being and life chances.

We always focus on children’s achievements and look at children as learners no matter what their starting points are.

We do not use a deficit model of what children cannot do.

We believe that every child and adult has something unique that they bring to the centre
We value their contribution and aim to nurture and develop each individual
We respect, value and celebrate our differences
We support each child’s well-being, self image and confidence in their abilities to learn and achieve
We recognise that we all learn from each other
Everyone has a fundamental right to a fair and equal education

Pen Green and Kingswood Local Offer Policy 2024

North Northamptonshire Council Local Offer

Pen Green SEND Report

Pen Green SEND Report 2024

Inclusive Practice and Equality of Access

Pen Green are on a journey to becoming an fully inclusive centre with equality of access. To achieve this, our staff are breaking down the barriers families face when accessing services or asking for help. We are pro-actively seeking the children and their families with special rights, not waiting for them to come to us. Our goal is to work with all children and families with SEND in Corby.

What do I do if I think my child has SEND?

For more information about steps to take if you think your child has special educational needs or disability please see the Local Offer Policy 2024

What does the Local Offer do?

improves choice and transparency for families
helps professionals to understand the range of services and provision available locally
improves joint commissioning arrangements for services by setting out in a single place what is available locally.

Pen Green and Kingswood Local Offer

Parent support group that has run at the centre for over 30 years
Let’s Play Together group for children and their families with diagnosed or undiagnosed conditions
Group for premature babies
Hope Project
Trips and activities for families throughout the summer holidays
Inclusive Summer Playscheme – Aiming Higher
Weekend events for children with SEND and their families throughout the year
Specialist provision in the centre: Soft room, Snoezelen, Water therapy room, Discovery area and the Beach. We have access to forest school off-site
Volunteer Service
IPSEA training for staff
Portage accreditation for staff
Makaton training for staff, parents and volunteers

A Holistic Approach to SEND Assessment in the Early Years

The Early Years Working Party acknowledged the progress of children with SEND cannot easily be demonstrated or celebrated using existing Early Years frameworks and identified key challenges in relating to this notion. Through discussion the Working Party identified a set of principles informing their recommendations and suggestions and considered several assessment pathways with associated assessment tools. The aim being to place the child at the centre and to celebrate their learning and development. The outcome has been the publication of a booklet ‘A holistic approach to SEND assessment in the Early Years’. The booklet provides templates, interactive links and video vignettes and it will be uploaded on to the DfE website to be accessed nationally by practitioners.

The SEND team at Pen Green and Kingswood

Amy Devine - SEND Lead

Amy Devine - SENDCo Support Worker

Amy supports all families with SEND across the centre, including nursery and group work.

Angela Prodger - Joint Head of Centre

Angela is the lead for the nursery provision. She also supports the Let’s Play Together group on Friday afternoon.

Michele Duffy - SENDCo for 0-3 Provision

Michele takes a lead on SEND work throughout our 0-3 provision and also at Kingswood Community Nursery.

Pen Green Centre for children and their families