Family Information and Services Hub
Local Offer

Ballard School 116524 850/6012

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5
  • Secondary school aged children
  • Primary school aged children
Carescheme type:
  • Nursery Units of Independent Schools

Who to contact

Telephone
01425 626900 01425 626900
E-mail
Bursar@ballardschool.co.uk
Website
www.ballardschool.co.uk
Scan to visit this website

Where to go

Address
Ballard School, Fernhill Lane
New Milton
Postcode

BH25 5SU

View BH25 5SU on a map

Availability

Age Ranges
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Childcare Information

Funded Places

Offers 3 & 4 year old funded places
Yes
Offers 2 year old funded places
No

Opening Times & Facilities

Opening Times
Opening Times
DayOpening TimeClosing Time
Monday 08:00 17:00
Tuesday 08:00 17:00
Wednesday 08:00 17:00
Thursday 08:00 17:00
Friday 08:00 17:00

Local Offer

Description

In line with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2014)
and the Children & Families Act (2014) all schools are required to produce a
SEN information report (sometimes known as the ‘school’s local offer’).

The link below is for our SEN Information Report, which includes information
about our provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Contact Telephone
01425 626900
How does the setting/school/college know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

Before each child starts Ballard School, we ask parents to supply information relating to any additional needs a child may have along with any medical needs and health history.  Ballard School tracks each child’s progress as they proceed through the School. We have regular parent meetings to exchange information and to maintain support for both the child and the family if additional help is needed and a formal School report is provided during the Spring Term. 

The Pre-Prep department have a parent/carer handover at the beginning and end of each child’s day. Should a parent or member of staff have concerns that cannot be dealt with at handover times a meeting is arranged between the parents and staff. 

In the Early Years classes, a special education needs co-ordinator (SENDCO) along with the class teacher puts into place a Pupil Passport and Enhanced Learning Plan (ELP). As the child progresses through Ballard School the Head of Department for Enhanced Learning (SENDCO) takes over the SEND provision. 

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

The class teacher will plan an educational programme for each child in their care. The class teacher   works closely with the classroom assistants to monitor the individual needs of each child. Each day at the end of the session the teacher will feed back information relating to your child’s day. Regular parent time meetings are held and information sharing between the staff and the individual child’s parent/carer is encouraged to ensure each child’s needs are met. 

The class teacher is your child’s Key Person and the classroom assistants provide support as Co Key persons. The Early Years SENDCO, Mrs Acott works with both the teaching staff and parents to provide continuity of care. The SENDCO will also support the process of obtaining extra care or support from outside professionals or agencies. Additional support will be provided by the school SENDCO Jan Brook, head of DEL.  

The Department of Enhanced Learning within the School support the child as they proceed through each year group. They work closely with the children before exams to ensure they have an equal opportunity to succeed.  

How will the curriculum be matched to my child's/young person's needs?

The initial parent meeting which is held before your child starts School will enable the teacher to get background information and discuss and plan with the parents the most suitable approach to plan for and support the individual child’s needs. We encourage each child to come in for a short taster session so that we are able to get to know them before they start. This allows time for planning and differentiating play to enable them an equal opportunity to pursue the various activities that are completed within the sessions. 

In Early Years each child with additional needs will have an ELP (Enhanced Learning Plan) compiled with the help of the class teacher and the SENDCO. We work with outside professionals, such as speech therapists and occupational therapists, and they will often provide individual targets for the teacher to use in School. 

The children’s progress is documented by regular observations that enable us to assess and plan for the individual child’s needs on a continuing basis. 

Children with English as a second language will be supported to gain confidence in English language skills. 

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child's/young person's learning?

Through tracking their progress during the session and by regular observations, we will constantly monitor the individual child’s progress. Reports and parent meetings are held on a regular basis. 

Holding regular meetings with the parents / carers enables Ballard School to support the family as well as the child. We value the support of the parents/carers to share information and knowledge of the individual child’s progress and needs. 

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall well being?

At Ballard School we have a qualified School Nurse on hand for any medical emergencies or Health concerns. There are also staff in Pre-Prep who have paediatric first aid training. Only prescribed medication is administered unless a medical concern arises then the School Nurse will administer paracetamol or other homely remedies having received parental consent at entry to Ballard School on the medical consent form. 

Parents/carers are asked to fill out a medication form when handing over the prescribed medicine. This is signed and witnessed by staff as the medicine is given and then signed again by the parent/ carer on collection of the child. Parents are given a copy and the School retains a copy of this form. 

We seek training, where available, on administering medication and work closely with the outside professionals that are involved in the care of the child. 

Staff attend various training throughout the year to enhance their knowledge and understanding on the care and development of the Early Years child. 

Details of all our Early Years Policies, including the administration of medicines, can be found at  www.ballardschool.co.uk on the Pre-Prep page. 

What specialist services and expertise are avaliable at or accessed by the setting/school/college?

All class teachers hold relevant qualifications. At Ballard School we have an Early Years Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Mrs Acott, who is also the Nursery Teacher. The Kindergarten teachers, who work with children the year before Reception, liaise with all Reception teachers where the children transition to. If the child moves into the Reception class at Ballard School, and continues to progress into the main body of the School, the Department of Enhanced Learning oversee and assist subject teachers, to provide Quality First Teaching to all as part of the staged approach and support the child as they proceed on through each year group. Mrs Jan Brook is Head of the Department of Enhanced Learning.  

The School will contact and liaise with external agencies as the need arises in the Early Years. 

Further one to one support is available, if required, please see SEND policy. 

What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had? Are any being trained currently?

The Early Years Special Education Needs Coordinator will attend regular refresher courses. When the child moves into the Reception class the Department of Enhanced Learning take over the learning needs of the child. It is staffed by fully qualified Specialist Teachers, details of which can be found on our School website www.ballardschool.co.uk  

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

Children attending the Early Year’s section of the School from Nursery until Kindergarten remain on site. The School has extensive grounds for the children to explore on regular nature walks and outside play. We discuss the individual child’s needs and address those needs where possible. 

Risk assessments will be undertaken as necessary. 

How accessible is the setting/school/college enviroment?

All classrooms in the Early Year’s section of the School are on ground level. We have made a small ramp to enable walking frame or wheelchair user’s access to the main corridor leading into the dining room and Sports Hall. Children with a walking frame or wheelchair can access the outside play area but not the woodchip area surrounding the climbing frame.  

Consideration will be made for children with English as a second language to include resources that reflect their home language or environment.  Please see the School’s EAL policy. 

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

Before each child starts Ballard School we ask parents to supply information relating to any additional needs a child may have along with any medical needs and health history. Upon joining Ballard School if an additional need is known, a supportive plan is put into place in order to support the child’s individual and/or additional needs. 

We encourage any new schools, to which the child may be transferring, to visit and see the child in session; parents are also welcome at these meetings. We liaise with the new school offering any information, including the latest reports, which they may need at the time of transfer and are willing to receive contact from the new school at any time. 

How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

Special educational needs funding may be applied for where appropriate from the Local Education Authority and may involve use of outside agencies.  If the application is successful, the funding would be used to provide additional resources to support the child. 

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

Ballard staff work closely with both the children and the parents. Regular assessments are carried out on each child. If a child appears to need extra support in a certain area we work together with the parents. Some children behave differently at School and a different approach may be needed for that child. If support is still needed and progress is slow the special educational needs coordinator will work with the class teacher and compile a personalised programme that is monitored and reviewed regularly. The next step would be to call on outside professional help. The teacher and parents work together throughout this process.  

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

At Ballard School we hold regular parent meetings and feedback information on a daily basis at handover time. Parents can also contact teaching staff through email and phone. When recording each child’s progress, we take into consideration any developmental milestones that have occurred in the home environment.  

A parent’s first port of call would be their class teacher who is also their Key Person. The Early Years SENDCO is Mrs Acott who can be contacted by email at lara.acott@ballardschool.co.uk. The head of DEL department is Jan Brook and can be contacted on jan.brook@ballardschool.co.uk 

All of the above staff can also be contacted by phone on 01425 626900. 

Offering services to:
  • Children 0-5
  • Secondary school aged children
  • Primary school aged children
Carescheme type:
  • Nursery Units of Independent Schools

Actions

Remove from shortlist

Last Updated: 27 November 2023

Go back to top