SEND and Student Support
Mr Jonathan Wilson - SENDCo
I joined Shelley College in September 2026 as SENDCo, having started my career as a newly qualified PE teacher in Bradford in 2017. After developing a real passion for supporting young people with additional needs, I moved into SEND leadership and qualified as a SENDCo in 2022.
Building strong, trusting relationships with young people and their families is at the heart of what I do. I believe that taking the time to really get to know each young person — their personality, strengths, interests, challenges and aspirations — is essential to understanding how best to support them. I am passionate about working closely with pupils, families, external agencies, and colleagues to remove barriers, build confidence and create opportunities for every young person to flourish and achieve their personal best.
I am really proud to be part of the Shelley College community and to play my part in bringing our ethos of “Valuing People, Supporting Personal Best” to life. I aim to model this through the way I work every day, allowing people to feel listened to, respected and valued, while maintaining high expectations and encouraging everyone to be the very best version of themselves.
Mrs Lauren Blackburn - Student Support Manager
I joined Shelley College at the beginning of 2026 as the new Student Support Manager, bringing with me a wealth of experience of supporting students and families.
Having worked as a Year Leader for eight years, I have developed a strong understanding of the challenges young people can face and the importance of building positive, trusting relationships.
My experience also includes working in a Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) school, supporting students who have found mainstream education challenging, as well as providing 1:1 support to numerous students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
I began my career as a Teaching Assistant, which has given me a valuable understanding of the different ways in which students learn and the support they need to thrive.
I have an open, friendly and approachable manner and want every student to feel comfortable, safe and supported in school. Most importantly, I believe every student deserves to feel valued, listened to and understood, and I am passionate about helping each young person feel that they belong and can achieve their full potential.
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 0-25 (2015) states that:
All children and young people are entitled to an education that enables them to make progress so that they:
- Achieve their best
- Become confident individuals living fulfilling lives.
- Make a successful transition into adulthood, whether into employment, further of higher education or training.
The provision for students with SEN at Shelley is one of our strengths and we have three clear principles to support any student who attends Shelley with additional needs:
- We will support you to make as much progress as anyone else in the school regardless of the special need you have.
- We will always support you in removing the barriers to learning you may experience because of your additional needs.
- We will ensure that you are treated with dignity and respect.
Introduction
Shelley College recognises the achievements and abilities of all of our students. We value the contributions that every child can make to the educational and cultural life of our school. We are committed to offering an inclusive curriculum to ensure the best possible progress for all our students whatever their needs or abilities. All staff will actively seek to raise achievement, remove barriers to learning and increase physical and curricular access for all. All students with SEN are valued, respected and equal members of our school community.
We believe that creating the right conditions and encouraging students to maximise their potential is a matter for the whole school and is the responsibility of all staff. Our educational pedagogy is firmly rooted in the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 (update 2015) and as such this policy complies with the statutory requirements in the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 (update 2015) and should be read in conjunction with the following guidance, information and policies:
- The Equality and Diversity Policy
- The Accessibility Plan
- Pupils with Medical Needs and Disabilities Policy
- The SEN Report
- The Safeguarding Policy
In accordance with the overarching principle of the new Code of Practice, this policy has been produced in consultation with:
- SENCO’s
- Senior Leadership Team
- Governing Body
- Families
- Students
Accessibility
We are a fully accessible school. Students who use wheelchairs are able to access every area of the school open to students. Please click here to see our accessibility report.
Local Offer
What is the Local Offer?
A Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families information about what support services the local authority think will be available in their local area. Every local authority is responsible for writing a Local Offer and making sure it is available for everyone to see.
The new law says that every local authority must consult with children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families to find out what kind of support and services they need.
There will be many different types of services that children and young people may need, including support services in school and specialist health services. Children, young people and their families may also have ideas about what leisure activities should be available and what services are needed to help young people to move towards independence in adulthood.
Every local authority must have a Local Offer that is available on the internet and must make sure that people without access to the internet can also see it. The local authority must also tell children and young people and their families how they can find out more about the Local Offer.
The local authority will then decide what services to make available. Every local authority must get feedback on its Local Offer from young people and their families. They must show what feedback they have been given and say how they are going to make improvements to the Local Offer and services.
A Local Offer should also include information about what transport services are available for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and if there is any help available to pay for these services.
You can find out more about the changes to your special educational needs and the Kirklees Local Offer by:
Talking to an impartial information, advice and support service.
Kirklees SEND information, Advice and Support Service 01484 225422
Talking to your family, teachers, tutors and support workers
You can find the Kirklees Local Offer at Kirklees Local Offer
Please find below links to:
SEND Policy and other related documents
If you require any additional information please contact a member of our SEND & Student Support Centre team via the contacts page here: Contact Us