Specialist teaching service

This service consists of Specialist Advisory Teachers and Higher-Level Teaching Assistants who are dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Our primary aim is to promote inclusion through capacity building, within schools and settings, by providing specialist support for teaching and learning.

Who is the service for?

We provide support to special schools, colleges, mainstream schools, pre-school settings and   families with children and young people, aged 0 to 25 years, who have SEND, as identified in the SEND Code of Practice (2015).

We make provision for those with needs identified in the following areas:

• autism/social  communication and social interaction/neurodiversity
• blind or vision impairment
• deafness and hearing impairment
• developmental language disorder
• early years   
• English as an additional language
• physical/medical difficulties
• severe learning difficulties

What support can be provided?

Although the teams work differently depending on the area of need, all staff maintain high levels of specialist knowledge and have significant experience within their specialism.

Support can be offered on the following:

• identification of a child or young person’s individual needs and learning style
• modelling of support strategies and recommended approaches
• target setting, tracking and monitoring progress
• adaptation, differentiation and scaffolding
• managing transitions
• resources and specialist equipment
• making reasonable adjustments and exam access arrangements
• sign posting to other agencies
• developing specific and focused action plans.
• the provision of written documentation, when appropriate
• giving verbal feedback to relevant staff
• contribution in accordance with the assess, plan, do, review process
• contribution to the EHCP assessment process
• the provision of training
• attendance at relevant professional meetings

Working in partnership

Specialist teaching is an integral part of the SEND and Inclusion Service. The SEND and Inclusion Service brings together the work of the Psychological Service, Access and Inclusion Team and the SEND Team.

Working in partnership, Specialist Advisory Teachers and Higher-Level Teaching assistants, build collaborative and constructive relationships with Cumberland colleges, schools, pre-school settings, families and other services including health, social care and the voluntary sector.