How is High Tunstall College of Science accessible to children with SEND?
At High Tunstall College of Science, we strongly believe in fulfilling our statutory requirement to be an inclusive school. We support all students with special educational needs and disabilities to engage fully in all elements of the curriculum including extra-curricular activities and visits.
We adapt the curriculum and the learning environment for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities through differentiated learning opportunities, quality first teaching and individualised strategies. We use resources that are tailored to the needs of the students who require support to access the curriculum. We ensure that the curriculum is reviewed regularly to ensure it meets the needs of all students. We also incorporate the advice provided as a result of assessments, both internal and external, and the strategies outlined in Education, Health and Care Plans and Individual Health Care Plans.
Outside of college, our young people have benefitted from specific adaptations so that they have been able to access extra-curricular clubs, college trips, residential trips and workshops.
The school site is fully accessible to young people with physical disabilities:
- Lift to access all floors
- Wide corridors and doors for wheelchair access
- Specialist teaching areas – The ARC, Shine Centre, MLD Provision
- Sensory room and Safe Space
- Flat, even surfaces and walkways around the school building
- Adaptable desk heights
- Disabled parking bays
- Disabled toilets and changing facilities
- Hygiene room with hoist
- Physiotherapy room
- Hydrotherapy pool with hoist
- Staff receive training and advice on how to support specific needs and SEND students
- Internal signage, pictorial representations, large print resources
- Emergency escape routes are clear for wheelchair users
Access arrangements are made by the SENDCO for children with SEND who take part in exams and assessments.
Where external advisors recommend the use equipment or facilities, which the school does not have, we will purchase it using the notional SEND funding as appropriate, or seek to find additional funding where possible. For highly specialist communication and movement equipment the school will seek the advice of relevant professionals.