Meet the SENCO

Hello, I am Georgina Spoor and I am the SENCO at Educate U.

My role is varied, but for our school, our families and for our  children and young people I will be your main point of contact for:

• Annual reviews
• Access arrangements
• On-going testing
• Sensory audits
• EHCP related queries
• External agencies, especially West Sussex Local Authority and its support services.
• Signposting to correct external pathways for support with adoption and ASF, sleep issues and for a child’s general welfare.
• PEPs (Designated Teacher)

When a child or young person joins our school, I liaise with your child’s previous setting, educational psychologists and health and any social care professionals involved in your child’s care. I also meet with our Educational Psychologist to ensure all our students who need extra support receive it. We will contact you regularly when arranging any assessments for our new students and for any on-going assessments within school such as dyslexia and dyscalculia testing and Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs).

I will be in touch with each family/carer to ensure that the annual reviews meet the statutory requirements and that a firm plan is in place to help your child. Plans are child/young person centred to ensure that provision is carefully planned for, so that your child can meet their EHCP targets. Parents/carers will be given lots of support to ensure these reviews run smoothly. The class teacher/TA will be present to ensure that all questions can be answered accurately. All annual reviews will be conducted at Therapy House for accessibility and your young person will be invited to attend.

I work closely with teachers implementing the Graduated Approach and ensuring the Assess, Plan, Do, Review teaching strategy is followed. This teaching approach is to ensure individual progress is monitored and teaching materials adapted to our children and young people’s individual needs.

Part of my role involves me working with the headteacher and exams officer to ensure that the school meets its responsibilities with Access Arrangements for all students in year 10 and 11 (where needed) to ensure the young person can access any formal exams with confidence with the right support in place and I attend provision meetings for Year 9, 10 and 11 students so that I fully understand the needs of each child to make KS4 assessments equitable and as fair as possible for our young people. I will also liaise with potential next providers of education to ensure pupils and their parents and carers are informed about options and a smooth transition is planned.

I also conduct school based sensory audits for children or young people who may need extra support with their sensory needs. A report will be written in consultation with families. The classroom may be modified, or sensory items purchased to support full engagement in classroom learning. In addition, children may be offered regular sensory circuit sessions to help with regulation and learning.