Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
Every child has the right to grow up in a safe and supportive environment where they can develop to their full potential- UNICEF
Furzedown understands that equity requires more than equal treatment, it requires targeted action to remove barriers and open up opportunities - Inclusion Quality Mark report (2025)
At Furzedown, we are committed to ensuring that every child is able to flourish, feel valued and achieve their full potential. We recognise that children learn in different ways and may require additional support at different stages of their educational journey. Our approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is underpinned by a strong commitment to inclusion, early identification and effective partnership working with families. In accordance with the statutory SEND Code of Practice, we aim to provide high-quality teaching, personalised support and a caring environment where all pupils are able to succeed.
The SEND Code of Practice identifies four broad areas of need
- Communication and Interaction,
- Cognition and Learning,
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health,
- Sensory and/or Physical Needs
Some children have difficulties that fit clearly into one of the 4 areas of SEND; some have needs that span two or more areas; for others the precise nature of their need may not be clear at the outset. It is therefore important to carry out a detailed individual assessment of each child at the earliest opportunity to make an accurate assessment of their needs.
Early Identification
Early identification is a central focus of our SEND provision. We strive to identify emerging needs as early as possible so that appropriate, tailored support can be implemented swiftly and effectively. Our approach is holistic, taking into account the whole child—their learning, development and wellbeing—rather than focusing solely on specific areas of need. Pupils may be identified as having SEND if they are not making expected progress, despite access to high-quality teaching, suitable adaptations and targeted interventions.
A Graduated Approach
The graduated approach is an ongoing cycle of Assess, Plan, Do and Review, which allows us to respond flexibly and effectively to each child’s individual needs. We carefully assess the child’s starting points and what is required to support their learning, plan targeted support and reasonable adjustments. These are closely and regularly monitored to evaluate their impact and identify any further adjustments needed. This continuous process ensures that support remains personalised, purposeful and responsive as pupils grow and their needs evolve. Where additional specialist input is needed, we work in partnership with external professionals to ensure that each child receives the right support at the right time.
Ordinarily Available Provision
“High quality teaching, differentiated for individual children, is the first step in responding to children who have or may have SEN” (SEND Code of practice).
The graduated approach starts with Ordinarily Available Provision which refers to the provision, strategies and adjustments that all mainstream schools should provide for all children and young people as part of everyday classroom practice, including those who need a more tailored approach. Its purpose is to remove barriers to learning early, so that most children can make good progress within the classroom. Wandsworth Local Authority has produced an Ordinarily Available Provision guide for parents.
Please click here to access Wandsworth’s OAP guide for parents.
Targeted support
A child may require targeted support either 1-1 or in a small group with identified targets. This targeted support may be delivered in the classroom or in sessions outside of whole class learning for a fixed period of time (usually 6-10 weeks) before being reviewed. The outcome of the review may be that the child has met their targets and no longer requires this targeted support, or that the child has not met their targets where they will be added to the waiting list for future waves of targeted support.
Some of the Targeted interventions we use to support children include; Colourful Semantics, Explore and Talk, Teach Talk, Attention Bucket, Little Wandle Phonics groups, Nessy, Precision Teaching, Social Detectives, Zones of Regulation, Lego Therapy, ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support).
Targeted support may be delivered by a Class Teacher, Teaching Assistant (TA), Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), SENDCo or Speech and Language Therapist.
Specialist Support: Support from outside professionals and services
If a child is not making expected progress despite accessing universal provision and successive cycles of targeted support—planned, implemented and reviewed in line with the graduated approach of ‘Assess, Plan, Do, Review’ outlined in the SEND Code of Practice—it may be appropriate to work in partnership with parents or carers to consider additional support options, including referral to external professionals.
This may be from Local Authority central services such as:
- Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)
- Developmental Paediatrics
- Educational Psychology (EP)
- Occupational Therapy (OT)
- CAMHS
- Education Wellbeing Service
- Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS)
- Wandsworth Hearing Support Service (WHSS)
- Wandsworth Vision Support Service (WVSS)
- Early years advisors
- Welcare
- Education Welfare Service
- Children’s Social Care
- Victoria Drive Child Referral Unit
- School Nursing service
- CENMAC assistive technology service.
- Feeding Clinic
Support and Advice for Parents and Carers
Here is a list of Wandsworth services available to parents and carers of children with SEND to help you to support your child.
Wandsworth Local Offer
Wandsworth’s Local Offer provides information for children and young people aged 0-25 years, living in Wandsworth, with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their families, and the professionals working with them.
WAND card
The WAND Card is for children and young people under 18 years old with special educational needs, disabilities, or complex health needs. The WAND card team have negotiated concessions and discounts that are available from participating businesses and services in Wandsworth for WAND Card and WAND+ Card holders and their parents/carers. Apply using the link below.
SEND Parent Carers in Wandsworth
Are you a Parent or Carer of a child or young person aged 0-25 with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) in Wandsworth? We want to hear from you!
We are SEND Parent Carers in Wandsworth, your local Parent Carer Forum. Run by, and for, Parents and Carers of children or young people in Wandsworth with SEND. We are here to help all Parents and Carers in Wandsworth to have a voice.
We have regular meetings with key policy-makers and service providers at Wandsworth Council and the NHS to provide feedback on existing services and to suggest improvements, so that SEND services meet the needs of families in Wandsworth. Please let us know about the issues that impact you and your family to help us make a positive change.
We inform Parents and Carers about changes in SEND provision, local SEND events, and signpost Parents and Carers to local and national organisations that can help them. SEND Parent Carers in Wandsworth is part of a national network of around 150 Parent Carer Forums across England (National Network of Parent Carer Forums, NNPCF) and so your views can help to shape policy nationally as well as locally.
Contact
admin@sendpcwandsworth.org.uk or visit the website
Wandsworth Information and Advisory Support Service
Wandsworth Information, Advice and Support Service (WIASS) provides free, impartial and confidential information about education, health and social care for children, young people, and their parents relating to special educational needs and disability.
020 8871 8065 (24 hr confidential answer machine - call back service)
Email: wiass@wandsworth.gov.uk
Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS)
All parents with a child with autism/social communication difficulties or those who are on the specialist pathway (undergoing an assessment for autism) can access this level of support.
What support is offered at this level?
- COFFEE MORNINGS - These are free for any parent of a CYP who has a diagnosis of autism (or is on the pathway for assessment). They provide a casual setting with no set agenda for parents to come and ask questions and also share experiences with other parents.
- PARENT WORKSHOPS - These are events which are run by professionals within the WAAS team and will focus on a particular area of need. They will focus on understanding more about autism and offer strategies to support parenting with a space to ask questions at the end.
SEND AllKind
SEND family support service - This service supports and empowers parents and carers of children with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (aged 0-19).
It offers advice and information to help you find the right services for your family. We know that families have different challenges, so our support is designed to be flexible. Whether it’s assistance with benefits issues or any other concern, we can offer support to meet your family’s changing needs.
For further information, please email SendAllKind@allkind.org.uk or visit website
Education Wellbeing Service
The Education Wellbeing Service (EWS) is an early intervention service that supports children, young people and their families by providing accessible, timely and evidence-based mental health and wellbeing support.
EWS offers advice, consultation and practical resources to ensure children and young people can access the right support at the right time. It also strengthens links between schools and external mental health services, promoting a more joined-up and collaborative approach. The EWS focus their support at the ‘Getting Advice’ and ‘Getting Help’ levels of need to provide wellbeing and mental health support and advice at a preventative or earlier stage.
In addition, the service provides parental consultations, signposting to appropriate services and a programme of webinars for parents and carers covering a range of mental health and wellbeing topics. Parents and carers are able to self-refer for one-to-one guided self-help.
Parents/ carers can refer to the service for support and advice using the QR code.
Chathealth
Wandsworth School Nursing Team have a Chat Health process which can support parents of children 5-19 and young people 11-19 to access physical and emotional health advice and onward referrals in a simple online process.
The number for parents is 07312263901 and is a texting service.
The number for young people is 07480 635996 and is a texting service.
Response Time: Within 24 hours, 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday (except bank holidays)