The JCoSS Learning Support Faculty aims to assist staff in meeting the needs of all students within the school, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  The Director of Inclusion, who also holds the role of SENCo, leads a team of staff, including a Deputy SENCo, two part-time SEN teachers, and Learning Support Assistants, some of whom act in the role of seniors.

At JCoSS our aim is to build the independence and resilience of students in all aspects of their lives.  We provide individualised support as specified on a student’s Statement or EHCP, or where necessary according to their needs.  Learning Support Assistants either work with a range of students, usually within the classroom but sometimes on a withdrawal basis, or are based in faculties. We use our best endeavours to ensure that support is tailored to meet individual needs.

Although the students themselves are the focus of our support in school, we highly value the involvement of parents and carers and seek to form a partnership with them to achieve the best outcomes. Communication with the faculty is welcomed, whether by phone or email or through meetings at school.

We liaise with a range of specialist services to support students as necessary.  We ensure that students have  Access Arrangements in place as needed for examinations.

The Learning Support Faculty works alongside the Pears Special Resourced Provision (PSRP) for students with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, but in terms of admissions and funding the two departments operate on an entirely different basis.  The main school Learning Support Faculty is resourced in the same way as any other Barnet secondary school.

In common with all schools, JCoSS is working towards full implementation of the new Children and Families Act 2014, and the revised Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs.  The School’s policies for SEND and for Disability Equality & Accessibility, as well as Barnet’s Local Offer and our SEND information report can be found in our Policies and Guidance section below.

If you wish to contact our SENCo, Mrs Louise El-mesnaoui, please email admin@jcoss.barnet.sch.uk or phone 020 8344 2220

The Pears special Resource Provision (PSRP)

The Pears Special Resource Provision (PSRP) is an additionally resourced provision within JCoSS, offering up to 49 places (seven per year group) for pupils with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC).  The PSRP was established with significant support from the Pears Foundation, and benefits from ongoing input and partnership with Norwood, the Jewish Educational & Social Care Charity. The PSRP provides an education for children with autistic spectrum conditions in a safe, secure Jewish environment. There are 7 places in each year group and admissions are managed by the London Borough of Barnet. 

Curriculum

As far as possible, PSRP students who are able to access the main school will follow the National Curriculum, with the long term view of taking up to 5 GCSEs at the end of Y11, which, if passed at Grade 4 (or equivalent) is currently sufficient to gain access to 6^th form courses within the main school.

All PSRP students follow a highly differentiated curriculum focusing on developing social cognition, through the SCERTS framework and the Social Thinking curriculum. Most PSRP students will also follow ASDAN/CoPE courses, the Personal and social Development curriculum and the Employability and Work Related Learning curriculum.

Admissions:

Students must have a medical diagnosis of autism and an EHCP naming autism as their primary need in order to be considered for a place in the PSRP. Barnet Local Authority (LA) is the ‘admitting authority’ for the PSRP; JCoSS does not make decisions regarding admissions to the PSRP.  Parents should express an interest to their home local authority by the deadline in October, published by Barnet LA.

Process for admission – Main School – Learning Support

The Admissions Procedure for students with Statements of Special Educational Need or Education & Health Care Plans is different from other students.  Parents wishing to name JCoSS on their child’s Statement/Plan should contact their Local Authority.  Transition to secondary school is an important part of the discussion at Annual Reviews for children in Years 5 and 6.

Process for admission – PSRP

The Pears Special Resource Provision (PSRP) at JCoSS is a Local Authority-commissioned, mainstream-integrated autism provision for up to 49 students with ASC stated as their primary need on an EHCP.   It is designed for students who can access a mainstream curriculum with appropriate adjustments, benefit from peer interaction, and engage in structured, group-based learning with a typical staffing ratio of 3:1.   The provision supports increasing independence and mainstream inclusion and is not intended for students requiring continuous 1:1 supervision or highly specialist environments. 

As JCoSS is a busy mainstream environment, students should feel able to function within this context with appropriate support 

Students are expected to:  

• Benefit from learning alongside peers  
• Engage in group-based learning  
• Share space safely with others and respond positively to structured support and evidence-based behavioural approaches  
• Have the capacity to spend most of the time in mainstream classes (with support as needed) 
• Have demonstrated suitable progress at Key Stage 2, to enable them to access a Key Stage 3 curriculum
• Show the potential to develop increasing independence over time 

Students should be able to make progress whilst supported through a staffing model of approximately 3 students to each staff member. 

Students should show that sensory demands can be supported and managed with reasonable adjustments, so that they do not significantly limit access to learning  

Therapy that is quantified and specified within the EHCP remains the responsibility of the local authority. 

Students are unsuitable if they:  

• Require continuous 1:1 supervision  
• Cannot engage in group learning  
• Cannot safely share space with others  
• Are unable to access mainstream education  

Admissions are determined by the Local Authority in line with the Children and Families Act (2014) and SEND Code of Practice (2015). Placement decisions are made holistically in line with statutory guidance, ensuring suitability for the child, compatibility with others, and efficient use of resources.  If a child is unable to meet the above criteria, they are unlikely to be suitable for PSRP and may be better supported in a more specialist setting. 

SEN Admissions to JCoSS – PSRP or Main School

Please click on the links below for information regarding SEN admissions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

• SEN Admissions
• FAQs

From September 2014 a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice became statutory for all schools.

All schools and local authorities have a legal duty to publish details of their provision for pupils with SEND.

Please click on the links below for the SEND Provisions document and our SEND Policy:

• SEND Policy February 2026
• Educational provision for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) that is ordinarily or normally available in Barnet maintained schools and academies (2016).
• SEN Information Report
• Disability Equality Scheme and Accessibility
  
• How to access information about the Local Offer