Meet The SEND Team
The SEND team at Yeovil College aims to ensure that the principles within the SEND reforms are met across the College campus.
YC SEND Team
We are delighted to introduce the fabulous YC SEND Team – Sophia, Melanie, Kerri, Harriet & Jaz. Our SEND team act as a safety net for students, putting measures in place to ensure that everyone has a positive experience at College, and that their needs are supported.
SEND Practitioner Team
We are fortunate at Yeovil College, to have a small team of talented SEND practitioners, who all carry their own unique experience, and skills sets. The SEND Practitioner Team provide 1:1 interventions, support in class, make themselves available on Teams for student check ins, exam invigilating, personal care and hoisting for some learners, supporting on trips and at SEND events, create a bank of resources and share practice on interventions and supporting learners 1:1. The team gathers information from students and provide updates on the Individual Learning Plan (ILP) notes accordingly, to ensure shared information and practice on supporting the individual learners. The SEND Team are buddies or mentors for each other. The team collates views for EHCP reviews (as and if appropriate) for our Deputy SENDCo. The team are advocates for our EHCP and SEND Learners in College meetings, including fitness to study, disciplinary meetings, and other meetings and processes.
Sophia Dickson
SENDCo
Sophia Dickson
SENDCo
As the SENDCo, I oversee SEND provision across all areas the College, from the moment we receive a consult, liaising with the local authority and on leaner panels; making sure the College and right course provision is sign posted for each learner. Attending internal and external SEND events, liaising with SEND Partners, transition panels, School SENDCos and parents and learners, all helps us to build a good transition picture as a College, for our learners with EHCPS and for those with ALS needs but no EHCP (across all areas of the College). Work with our Admissions Team is also proving vital in this first point of SEND need identification and support building, for those that have no EHCP, but have SEND/ALS needs. Internal teams and Curriculum Area Manager (CAM) liaison (including the CAM for Foundation Learning and his team) with me as a SENDCo and the SEND Team is also key to ensuring the support from the EHCP/support needed is put in place and evolved and reviewed from the start. Annual reviews also form a key part of the assess-plan-do-review process. Observations of SEND/support practice in liaison with The TLQ Team and linked training (as well as training linked to the provision on the learner Plans/Individual Learner Plans) also strengthens the Assess Plan Do Review Cycle.
Melanie Houghton
Deputy SENDCo and EHCP Administrator
Melanie Houghton
Deputy SENDCo and EHCP Administrator
I am Mel. I have many years of experience in education and training and with foster care also. I have worked with the cadets also and I really enjoy helping learners re-engage in learning and finding what they are passionate about. My talents are that I am a strong advocate for accessibility and work hard with our facilities team to ensure we get that right for our learners, now and into the future.
As the Deputy SENDCo, I support the SENDCo to carry out the day-to-day operational activities linked to SEND, SEND Provision and the EHCP reviews/learner reviews. I ensure parent and learner views are collated and represented in the annual reviews. I chair the annual reviews and make sure they are uploaded onto the SEND portal. I attend internal learner meetings, for those with EHCPs and SEND needs and attend SEND events. I liaise with different Local Authorities and learners’ parents, to ensure good communication and outcomes for our learners in relation to their annual reviews. I also liaise with tutors and Curriculum Area Managers (CAMs) over any issues or support/actions needed, relating to our EHCP and SEND Learners. I work closely with the administrator in the Foundation Learning Team and the Manager of SEND Practitioners, to liaise over training and SEND provision for the Foundation Learning Department and across College SEND Practitioner Team.
Kerri Swabey
Inclusion Support Manager
Kerri Swabey
Inclusion Support Manager
I am Kerri. I have experience previously managing a team and I have worked in education, training and support for a number of years. I was a SEND/Inclusion Practitioner for a few years also, prior to securing the role of Inclusion Support Manager. My talent is the ability to remain calm in most situations. I can also bring views together to a united focus on providing the best support for the learners to gain the support needed, develop independence and work towards their preferred future destinations. My aspiration was to develop and I am proud of all I have achieved, of the amazing learners I have had the privilege to support and the wonderful, talented and diverse team of SEND/Inclusion Practitioners I have been lucky to work with.
In my role as Inclusion Support Manager, I manage a team of dedicated SEND Practitioners, dealing with the deployment and timetabling, which could be 1:1 interventions, 1:1 in class support or small groups. EHCP/High Needs and SEND (but non EHCP) learners will be supported by the team. I am Involved in recruitment of SEND Practitioners, manage their induction, I have general management duties, coaching mentoring and developing wellbeing activities and managing monthly staff 1:1s. Observing SEND Practitioner practice with the SENDCo. I also link their CPD and observation and IMV findings (and other points) from the SENDCo back to practice in the SEND Practitioner 1:1s and other performance reviews.
Jazmine Radford
Advanced SEND/Inclusion Practitioner
Jazmine Radford
Advanced SEND/Inclusion Practitioner
I am Jaz. I've worked for a number of years with young people with Special Educational Needs and have experience supporting and teaching in the capacity of Higher Teaching Assistant duties. My strengths are my ability to advocate for those with SEND, due to personal experience and my previous work. I am passionate about getting it right for learners, so they can achieve their very best outcomes. I am now an Advanced SEND/Inclusion Practitioner and I work with the Apprentices and adults with ALS/SEND needs in the following areas: Heath and Social Care (HESC), Early Years and Childcare , TALQ, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality and Construction. My aspirations are to become a Deputy SENDCo and eventually a SENDCo.
As Advanced Inclusion Practitioners, we manage and overlook the ALS and SEND support for Apprentices and adults. It is our priority to ensure best support is implemented in both college and where the learner agrees to inclusion of the employer in the process, the workplace. This is implemented through initial meetings to assess need, weekly/monthly meetings if needed, referral to access to work service if needed, liaising with CAMs, assessors and employers (as needed and agreed to). This all helps ensure the right support is in place to drive success and best outcomes for the learners.
Harriet Jones
Advanced SEND/Inclusion Practitioner
Harriet Jones
Advanced SEND/Inclusion Practitioner
I am Harriet. I've worked with learners with difficulties accessing mental health care and education for a few years prior to coming to Yeovil College. My talent with learners is listening to them and finding strategies that work for them, to help them develop their wellbeing, social and study – life balance skills in order to thrive. At Yeovil College, I started as a SEND/Inclusion Practitioner, supporting the learners with EHCPs and SEND (but no EHCP) in class and with 1:1 intervention sessions. The curriculum areas, which were allocated to me in my new role, as Advanced SEND/Inclusion Practitioner, are: IT, Motor Vehicle, CDI, Business, Engineering and adults for these areas too.
As Advanced Inclusion Practitioners, we manage and overlook the ALS and SEND support for Apprentices and adults. It is our priority to ensure best support is implemented in both college and where the learner agrees to inclusion of the employer in the process, the workplace. This is implemented through initial meetings to assess needs, weekly/monthly meetings if needed, referral to access to work service if needed, liaising with CAMs, assessors and employers (as needed and agreed to). This all helps ensure the right support is in place to drive success and best outcomes for the learners.
Exams Access Arrangements and SEND
Exams Access Arrangements and SEND
Our amazing Exams Access Arrangements and SEND person, worked and taught in education for many years, bringing a wealth of experience to the table. She has already transformed aspects of the Exams Access Arrangements process at Yeovil College, working closely with iZone, MIS and Exams. She also constructs the provision maps for EHCP learners that we are consulted for and develops the responses to consults for EHCP learners, working closely with the SENDCo.