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Blackfen School for Girls

Blackfen School for Girls

Raising aspirations - releasing potential

Resource Provision

The Resource Provision Unit at Blackfen School for Girls is for students with Statements and/or Education Health Care Plans for;

  1.  Visual impairment (VI)
  2. Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN) and working below NC3 on entry in year 7.

Our Resource Provision was reviewed positively by OFSTED, in November 2011:

"Provision for students with statements of special educational needs and/or disabilities is very effective with specialist teaching for students with visual impairment and very good use of resources."

Ofsted, November 2011

A number of staff support students including our SENCO, teachers and teaching assistants. A QTVI and VI Music teacher also support VI students as necessary.

Students with SLCN are taught in our JIGSAW classrooms where they receive highly differentiated specialist teaching in English, Maths and Humanities. Lessons also focus on literacy development using a multisensory, structured programme of 1-1 reading comprehension, spelling, Word Shark and touch typing.

VI students attend mainstream classes, supported by teaching assistants with specialist skills. In class, low-vision aids - handheld magnifiers, laptops with screen reader/magnification software (JAWS/SuperNova) and BrailleNote notebooks are used.

Each term, a Celebration Afternoon is held, where students present an aspect of their work or learning that they are proud of. Governors, parent and members of the senior Leadership team are invited and our guest book (made by a current student) is signed; the afternoon is hosted by our students who oversee details of the afternoon including refreshments.

The resource provision has a base room, equipped with a range of DAISY and CD players and specialised equipment for practical subjects, such as Science, Food Technology, PE and Geography. Written materials can be provided in each student’s required format – large print, DAISY audio, Braille (Grade 1 or 2) or Moon. Staff have experience of producing 3D models with enlarged or Braille labels, as well as tactile diagrams, using heat fuser (Zychem) paper. Texts can be adapted quickly, using Textbridge and Duxbury software, and embossed on an Index Everest V4 embosser. The resource maintains a large stock of textbooks in electronic format, and a broad range of DAISY and MP3 audio titles are available.

Teachers and support staff are provided with VI awareness, curriculum adaptation and sighted guide training, and understanding is fostered among other students through assemblies and awareness training.

All students within the Resource Provision are monitored closely and complete half termly assessments to evidence progress. Once a student has attained a secure level 3, they are supported in transitioning to mainstream lessons. For some students this occurs during year 7. For others it is not appropriate and they continue their lessons in JIGSAW. This overlapping support allows students to make considerable progress.

Close collaboration with speech and language therapists (SLT) and specialist teachers from the Bexley Joint Communication Team enables regular support for students. Developing social communication skills for students with VI is an area of focus, and the SLT visits every week. Bexley’s qualified teachers for hearing impairment (QTHI) support students who also have HI. Staff have experience in supporting students with hearing aids, including the use of radio aids, and the Jigsaw classroom is equipped with a Soundfield system, to maximise hearing.

For further information, or to arrange a visit, please contact:

Ms McCauley SENDCO
Blackfen School for Girls
Blackfen Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 9NU
Tel: 020 8303 1887
E-mail: admin@blackfen.bexley.sch.uk