Ullswater Community College
Ullswater Community College is an optimistic, inclusive and ambitious school, proud of our year-on-year achievements though far from complacent. We are determined to provide an authentic education for each individual student who chooses to study at this school, in an environment that is personal, relevant and tailored to individual needs.
UCC is proud of its status as a strategically resourced school for students with severe learning difficulties.
We are fiercely ambitious for all our students, whatever their level of ability, whether they have or may have SEN. The right to the highest quality teaching and learning, the most appropriate curriculum offer and the best personal guidance is at the heart of our day-to day practice.
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Mrs Dawn Ellery
- Contact Position
- SENCO/ Learning Support Co-ordinator
- Telephone
- 01768 210206
- admin@ullswatercc.co.uk
- Website
- Website
Where to go
- Name
- Ullswater Community College
- Address
-
Wetheriggs Lane
Penrith
Cumbria - Postcode
- CA11 8NG
Other Details
Availability
- Other notes
For further information please visit our school website and look at the information we have for SEN. (You will find this under the information section).
Our web site is: www.ullswatercc.co.uk
Local Offer
- Description
Ullswater Community College is proud to be a resourced provision for secondary school. We are ambitious for all our young people who have special educational needs. Our Learning Support team are experienced with providing support for students with a wide range of learning and physical needs. Our inclusive personalised approach enables our young people to gain a wide range of qualifications including ASDAN, Entry Level, GCSE and A Level. The Applied Learning Centre provides vocational courses for our students.
Our SENCO works closely with our feeder primary schools and other professionals to ensure that transition from primary to secondary is a successful as possible. We also work very closely with a wide range of agencies to ensure that students with SEN move onto further education, apprenticeships or employment.
- Contact Name
- Rachel Ridley
- Contact Telephone
- 01768 210206
- Contact Email
- frichardson@ullswatercc.co.uk
- Links
-
SEN Information
- Local Offer Age Bands
-
16-18
11-15
Schools Extended Local Offer Response
- 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?
If you think your child may have special educational needs, you should contact the form tutor, Head of Year or SENCO at our school.
Our feeder primary schools pass on information to us about children who have special educational needs. For some children this information sharing begins as early as Year 5, for others it happens in Year 6. Our SENCO likes to come to Annual reviews for children with Education Health and Care Plans in Year 5.
At UCC we also do our own screening tests at the start of Year 7. They consist of Cognitive Ability Tests (CATS) and Literacy tests (reading and spelling). Literacy tests are then carried out at the end of Year 7 and at the end of Year 8. For selected students they are then carried out in Year 9. We use the results of these tests to see if any further support is required.
In addition to this subject teachers, Heads of Department, Heads of Year and our SENCO analyse data regularly to check children's progress, and where there are concerns we look to intervene.
Please see our website for more information.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?
We cater for a wide range of difficulties within our school. Support is given in a number of different ways - dependent on need.
This could be curriculum support within the class setting from a Learning Support Assistant. It could be small group work or 1 to 1 work within or away from the classroom. It could be following a specialised programme.
In addition to this we aim to offer a wide curriculum to suit the needs of a wide range of learners, and option choices for Year 10 and 11 reflect this.
Please see our website for more information.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- How will the curriculum be matched to my child's/young person's needs?
The curriculum will be matched to your child's needs. We pride ourselves in being able to offer a broad and balanced curriculum which is accessible to all. For those students who have severe learning difficulties we make necessary adaptations to make the curriculum accessible.
For further information see our website.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- 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?
It is our school policy to regularly review the progress of students. In addition to this, for those students who have an Educational Health and Care Plan additional reviews are held across the year, which have a specific focus on their Special Educational Need. We like to work with parents during these reviews and you will be invited in to school to talk part in these reviews with specialist staff.
For more information visit our website.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall well being?
We have a pastoral system in school which is led by Mrs Richardson - Assistant Head Teacher. Each year has a Head of Year who stays with the year group from Year 7 to Year 11. Within each year group there are a team of tutors who look after the welfare of the tutors in their form. It is the aim that tutors stay with their forms from Year 7 to Year 11. Should there be any concerns about your child's well being the form tutor is the first point of contact.
Please see further information on our website.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- What specialist services and expertise are avaliable at or accessed by the setting/school/college?
As we are a strategically resourced school for Severe Learning Difficulties, we have a specialist teacher for Severe Learning Difficulties within the school who is also our Assistant SENCO and is a specialist teacher for Physical and Medical difficulties - Mrs Ridley. In addition to this we have: a specialist teacher for Autistic Spectrum Conditions - Mrs Ellery; an additional SEN teacher - Mrs Pickup who specialises in severe learning difficulties; a specialist teacher in assessment - who specialises in assessing students for access arrangements. Our SENCO / Learning Support coordinator has additional qualification in specific learning difficulties and maths recovery, and ASC.
We also have a team of Learning Support Assistants who have a wide range of expertise at end. We have Higher Level Teaching Assistants, Senior Teaching Assistants and Teaching Assistants within the team. We also employ a speech therapist for one morning a week who works with children with severe speech difficulties.
We have access to the Local Authority SEND team which include Educational Psychologists and Specialist Advisory teachers. We work with a wide range of professional agencies in a Team Around the Child / Family approach whenever necessary.
Please see information on our website regarding this.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had? Are any being trained currently?
Out staff regularly attend training to support students with SEND. For see the range of training that we have been involved in over the course of the last year visit our website.
www.ullsatercc.co.uk
- How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?
UCC are really proud of activities that are on offer outside of the classroom, and we like to consider as being inclusive in what we offer. Please visit our website.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- How accessible is the setting/school/college enviroment?
UCC is an extremely large site, and therefore does have its challenges. By working with parents, Occupational Therapist and other specialists we aim to make learning accessible at UCC to all. Due to the nature of our site it is always best to begin working with our school early so that we can plan to meet the needs of those who wish to come. We have an accessibility plan in place.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- 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?
We begin working with Primary schools and parents when they contact us. For students with an Education Health and Care Plan we like to put a bespoke transition plan in place. Every child is unique so the transition plan needs to be tailored to meet the individuals needs. For some students this begins in Year 5, for others it begins in Year 6.
Please see information on our website regarding this.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?
For students with an Education Health and Care Plan, parents and students are involved in all discussions regarding their support during regular review meetings. Support is tailored to the needs of each individual. School staff are also consulted. We have a Team Around the Child approach within the Learning Support team and this is really important.
We use our screening tests in Year 7 and 8 to decide who has additional literacy support.
For any other type of support the SENCO works directly with the Assistant Head or Head of Year - this is dependent on need and resources available at the time.
Please see information on our website regarding this.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?
For students who have an Education Health and Care Plan we allocate support according to the advice given with this.
For students with literacy difficulties in Year 7, 8 and 9 we aim to provide some type of support for students who have Standardised Scores below 80 in literacy tests. We monitor students with scores between 80 and 85.
For other support the SENCO liaises with the Assistant Head / Head of Year.
Please see information on our website regarding this
www.ullswatercc.co.uk
- How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?
Parents are invited regularly to reviews for students who have an Education Health and Care Plan. There are at least three opportunities for this throughout the year. We have an Annual Review, a Support Plan review and an opportunity to meet with subject teachers and the SENCo.
For students at SEN Support, parents are invited to contribute to the support plans in a variety of different ways - depending on the difficulty that each child has. It is hoped that parents will feel involved in the process. For all students the form tutor is the first port of call, and it is hoped that parents will contact the form tutor when there are concerns. Parents will receive regular contact regarding progress.
Please see information on our website regarding this.
www.ullswatercc.co.uk