SEND Zone
Welcome to the new SEND Zone. This page will provide parents of those with SEND and those interested in SEND with additional resources and information on meetings and courses that may be of interest to you.
SEND information
Who to contact
If you have any concerns about your child’s development or learning, please speak to your child’s class teacher in the first instance.
After that you may choose to meet with the SENDCo – Mrs Bryan.
Our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) is Mrs Bryan. She leads and manages the SEND provision across school.
Please complete the following form if you would like to book an appointment with Mrs Bryan
https://forms.office.com/e/hEdjQ45tYa?origin=lprLink
Please ensure that you have spoken to your child’s class teacher regarding your concerns before completing this form
Contact details:
Telephone: 0121 464 9800
Email: enquiry@christkng.bham.sch.uk – FAO SENCo
The link governor for SEND is: Rhiannon Fumarola
Information from Birmingham Local Authority Local Offer on SEND
The Local Authority sets out the provision they expect to be available across Education, Health and Social Care for children and young people in their area who have SEN or are disabled. This is known as Birmingham Local Authority’s Local Offer.
https://www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk/home/parents-and-carers/
Here you will find help, advice and information about the services available for your child or young person from birth to 25 years with a special educational need or disability (SEND).
https://youtu.be/TcAblK6EVQ0?si=4uxTMI5ExWkEWgi3
Ordinarily available guidance
The OAG is Birmingham’s shared guidance for all mainstream schools.
It explains the support that should be available for children and young people every day.
- It is for all children, not just those with a diagnosis or EHCP.
- It helps schools act early when a child needs extra help.
- It gives everyone shared language and expectations.
- It explains what schools can do with their usual resources.
For more information please see the parent/carer guides
https://www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/OAG-Parent-Carer-Guides.zip
Specialist support:
Communication and Autism Team
The Communication and Autism Team (CAT) are an educational advisory service who advise staff regarding how to build their autism knowledge and work strategically with settings to embed good autism practice. CAT work with settings to ensure children and young people have full access to their educational experience.
The Communication and Autism Team is a regional partner with the NEN. The NEN are a not-for-profit organisation supporting the development of good autism practice since 2007. Their programme offers education professionals training, practical tools, and a wealth of free resources to better support autistic children and young people aged 0 to 25.
Video
NEN materials are based on current research into autism and education conducted by the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) at the University of Birmingham. ACER published their findings in their ‘Good Autism Practice Report’
CAT works with settings strategically using the NEN Eight Principles and the accompanying Autism Standards and Competency Frameworks to improve their provision for autistic children and young people.
For more information about NEN: Neuroinclusive Education Network
Language Learning and Strategic Support
LL&SS are a team of qualified teachers who support children and young people in educational settings who have cognition, learning and language difficulties. The Language, Learning and Strategic Support Team work collaboratively with schools to offer a range of support and advice.
All Birmingham mainstream schools and maintained nursery schools receive an allocation of support from an LL&SS teacher. An additional allocation of core hours is given to all resource bases with a primary designation of Cognition and Learning and Speech and Language. LL&SS work with schools to:
- Develop the strategic approach of SENCo’s, ensuring they are able to lead whole school improvement
- Increase the capacity of staff to support pupils with SEN
- Promote inclusive practice; setting aspirational targets and raising attainment
- Support early identification of needs and evidence-based intervention
- Remove barriers to learning, set aspirational targets, and raise progress and attainment levels
- Ensure they keep up to date with policies, initiatives, and statutory procedures
- Promoting and facilitate the use of person-centred approaches and developing co-production
https://www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk/pupil-and-school-support/supporting-children/
Birmingham Educational Psychology
Birmingham Educational Psychology are a large team of HCPC registered educational psychologists with multiple specialisms and, as such, we have up to date knowledge of psychological evidence-based theory and research. This enables us to develop an understanding of complex situations in order to support you to address a wide range of developmental issues from birth to early adulthood such as:
- Enhancing teaching and learning
- Complex special educational needs
- Understanding and managing challenging behaviour
- Organisational change management
- Early years
- Adult learning and professional development
- Assessment and intervention with young adults (19-25)
- Parenting support and family work
As the primary provider of psychological services to Birmingham schools and early years settings, we are uniquely positioned to support your school community. We have well-established working relationships with the local authority, independent and third sector services and will always work in an integrated, child-centred way.
The Educational Psychology Service is the sole provider commissioned by Birmingham City Council to carry out statutory work in order to identify, assess and monitor children, young people and young adults with special educational needs.
https://www.localofferbirmingham.co.uk/birmingham-educational-psychology-service/about-the-service/
Speech and Language Therapy
Supporting children (0-19) with a range of specific speech, language and communication difficulties and those with difficulties swallowing, eating and drinking.
In Birmingham, we recognise that the most fundamental life skill for children is the ability to communicate. It impacts on their ability to learn, to develop friendships and on their life chances.
As a team, we aim to place children and young people at the heart of delivering speech and language therapy services. We aim to develop and deliver evidence –based functional interventions in partnership with children and young people, their families and others around them.
We recognise that Birmingham is a vibrant and diverse city and as such work to ensure that all elements of our service offer culturally and linguistically appropriate support.
The Speech and Language Therapy service values multilingualism and the positive advantages of using your home language with children. We are able to work alongside interpreters and are able to access a diverse range of languages. Should you or the families you work with need an interpreter please let us know the languages spoken in the home environment on the referral form and/or at the time of booking an appointment.
https://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/childrens-slt-about-us
COMPASS
Compass is leading the way in supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children, young people, and families in selected educational settings across Birmingham.
Birmingham Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) offers free, and confidential support to Children, Young People and Families with mild to moderate emotional health and wellbeing needs.
Whether it’s feeling sad, scared, worried, or experiencing challenges like anger or frustration, Compass is here to connect you with the right help.
Compass Birmingham MHST works across selected schools across Birmingham, working directly with primary and secondary schools to ensure every child and young person has access to the support they need.
How Can We Help You
Our team of compassionate and friendly Practitioners, are here to support you in building coping skills and strategies for a range of issues, including:
- Low mood and motivation
- Anxiety and irrational fears
- Challenging behaviours like angry outbursts or frustration
- Difficulties in family and peer relationships
- Adjusting to change and transitions.
- Managing emotions effectively
Our low-intensity, one-to-one or group support sessions (typically 6-8 sessions tailored to your needs) are available for children and young people aged 5-19 who attend our partner schools.
ADHD
ADHD is a disorder that is defined through analysis of behaviour. People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with day-to-day functioning and/or development.
For more information please visit:
https://adhduk.co.uk/about-adhd/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-children-teenagers/
Autism
Autism influences how people experience and interact with the world. It is a lifelong neurodivergence and disability. Autistic people are different from each other, but for a diagnosis they must share differences from non-autistic people in how they think, feel and communicate.
Being autistic means you may feel things and react to them differently to non-autistic people. You may find socialising confusing or tiring, and you may become overwhelmed in loud or busy places. You may have intense interests, prefer order and routine, and use repeated movements or actions to calm yourself or express joy.
For more information please visit:
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs-in-children/
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone's experience of dyslexia. It can have varying impacts, and it can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition.
For more information please visit: