SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS SURVEYS

The achievement of different groups of pupils is a crucial factor in judging a school’s overall effectiveness. Many schools struggle to provide clear-cut evidence of the effectiveness of their special educational needs provision or do not monitor provision rigorously enough to be sure about how well it meets pupils’ needs.

The purpose of Illumine’s Special Educational Needs Survey is to determine and provide specific evidence of how effectively your provision impacts on the progress of pupils with special educational needs in their personal, social, academic and/or vocational development. Our survey closely reflects the model used for the OFSTED special educational needs surveys that are being conducted across the country. Completing the Illumine survey and having it analysed by an Illumine consultant provides you with strong documentary evidence of your school’s effectiveness in this area. The findings of this survey will contribute significantly to your SEF, as well as giving you insight into how you might improve or fine-tune your existing practice.

Using this service provides you with evidence of:

• how effective your school is in meeting the special needs of different groups of pupils;
• how well provision for special educational needs is led and managed and incorporated into whole-school decision making.
• the progress, enjoyment and achievement of pupils with special educational needs;
• the quality of teaching and learning.
• how well your curriculum meets the needs of pupils with SEN;
• partnership with parents and the community;
• your school’s approach to inclusion.

Taken together, the completed survey, our consultant’s analysis and recommendations, and any follow-up action you decide to take provide powerful evidence of the rigour of your school’s self-evaluation and will contribute significantly to your SEF.

How this service works:

• On receipt of your booking form, we send you a self-evaluation questionnaire.
• You complete the questionnaire and return it, together with a copy of your latest PANDA, to Illumine for analysis.
• You receive a written critique and recommendations for action, produced by a SEN specialist consultant.
• You take any necessary action to develop your provision or strengthen your monitoring / evidence base.
• You include the survey and a record of your response to it in your self-evaluation evidence base in preparation for your inspection.
• Undertaking this sharply focused self-evaluation activity develops the leadership and management skills of the staff involved.