It has been a very busy but successful year in the Department as highlighted by the recent Inspection. Due to the support given both within and outside the Department, the Inspectorate rated the delivery of SEN within the school as excellent. The number of pupils on the SEN register has remained average with previous years. The academic year had 93 pupils on the register. There were 30 statemented pupils, 49 pupils on School Action (SA) and 14 pupils on School Action Plus (SAP).

The school has used its allocation of funding for SEN to maintain the level of adult support, many of whom have assessed appropriate training. The school has high regard and appreciates the essential, difficult, sensitive and demanding work that the carers perform both in the SEN Department and in mainstream. The Department employed 15 adult support workers to assist pupils with their educational/medical/emotional difficulties. Members of the Department play an important role in mainstream as they support their allocated pupils in their teaching groups. The success of this support and the efforts made in planning of allocation and the work done by the LSA's was high commended in the School Inspectorate Report.

These were further supported by 2 teaching members of staff. A further requirement of the Department is the teaching of English as a Foreign Language and provision of support in mainstream. To assist, the Department has employed .2 of an LSA. There are 5 members of staff undergoing training at NVQ 3 level.

The Department has observed continuing success in promoting the language skills of pupils and their being able to use these taught skills to access the curriculum, some with increasing independence, others with continued reliance on adult support and differentiation. Success was further seen in the Key Stage 3 and 4 assessments. Courses offered in the Department are GCSE (English Language), Entry Level (Language) and Skill Power (City and Guilds vocational course at Key Stage 4/5) and these ensure that all the special needs pupils are given the opportunity to participate in accredited courses with the majority leaving school with a qualification. As part of the forward planning of the Department further courses are being looked at as to their validity especially for those pupils of lower ability and in Key Stage 5.

There has been continued close workings with a number of external agencies, which have played a role in assisting and enhancing the pupils' education. We find that the role of these agencies is increasing and their work, in some circumstances, has been a necessity in assisting pupils with increasing difficulties. These include, for example, Health Service, Social Services, Behaviour Support Service, Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapy. Other agencies have been of equal importance in that they have assisted pupils to overcome difficulties, but also given them a broader spectrum on their education, especially at Key Stage 4. The National Trust has assisted at Key Stage 4 in taking pupils on a one-day Work Experience each week. They have successfully linked up with the Skill Power course and add another dimension in that these pupils are also able to follow and NVQ Level 1 in Land Management. Local businesses, in fields such as care and retail, are providing opportunities for the pupils to attend extended work experiences and assist the Department in its continued following of a successful ‘Inclusion Policy'. The Department also appreciates the input made by the RDA, Disability Sport/Chwaraeon Anabledd Cymru.

The Department is also involved in a number of additional activities including fundraising for Children in Need as well as for the Department itself. Pupils following the Skill Power course, assisted by other members of the SEN Department successfully raised over £200 for Children in Need last year. A raffle was also held for the British Heart Foundation.

Pupils from the SEN Department have also accompanied their peers on school visits arranged through the mainstream departments. These have included Big Pit, Pembroke Castle, Food Fair etc.

Over the past year the new SEN Block has shown its benefits and both the staff and pupils agree that the new facilities have made the work easier. For some pupils who require additional attention to more physical aspects of their education, the self-contained nature of the building assists the development of independence but provides the security of on-hand support especially in toileting and, where necessary, showering. It is also supportive of the Disability Act 2001.

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