The subject teachers in the Academy will identify if your child has Special Educational Needs (SEN). They will be the first people to address your child’s individual needs within the classroom setting. They will also use information provided from primary schools and results from prior testing. Information from parents regarding their child’s history is valuable evidence in supporting identification.

Your child is assessed regularly throughout the school year and the results from this help assess whether your child has SEN. If you think that your child has SEN, please contact the Academy directly.

The majority of your child’s learning needs will be supported or addressed by high-quality, differentiated teaching in the classroom.

Additional SEN support may be required where evidence points to the pupil needing support ‘additional to or different from their peers’.

For a few SEN pupils, highly differentiated and individualised interventions may be necessary.

If your child is identified as having SEN, you will be notified by the Academy and a graduated approach supporting your child will be put in place. Your views and the views of your child will be requested when considering appropriate interventions.

Information will be shared with you at review meetings in addition to normal reporting arrangements.

All teaching staff work towards ‘Quality First Teaching’ which ensures that provision is made in each lesson for meeting the diverse needs of all learners. This may include appropriate seating plans within the classroom, specialist IT equipment for students with specific needs and where identified, additional support may be offered in lessons. Relevant staff will be made aware of your child’s identified needs.

Access to medical intervention is provided by the school matron, this is supported by staff who are trained in first aid. Opportunities for vaccinations, health checks and staff training where appropriate are also available.

Pastoral teams are also available to support the student’s social and emotional wellbeing and will liaise with parents / carers. Referral to outside agencies may also be appropriate. A Common Assessment Framework could be implemented if more than one agency is involved.

There is access to the Hertfordshire County Council School Nurse Service.

Specialist teacher for Access Arrangements, Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language Team, Connexions, Low Incidence Team (sensory & physical impairment), Young Carers Development worker, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Communication Disorders Team, Targeted Youth Support Team, Counsellors. Occupational Therapy and Physical therapy teams, Education Support Team for Medical Absence (ESTMA) and other services as required and appropriate.

The Academy has an ongoing programme of Continuing Professional Development opportunities both in and out of the Academy for all staff.

In addition, your child’s teachers and support staff will have access to a designated Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo).

We will communicate with you regarding your child’s progress on a regular basis. This may be through parent’s evenings, normal reporting procedures, contact with form tutors, subject teachers, pastoral leaders and / or the SENCo.

All the contact mentioned in Section 8 will provide you with an opportunity to discuss plans for your child’s education.

In addition, the pupils receiving SEN Support will follow the graduated response as recommended by the SEN Code of Practice, 2014 and will include you in the ‘Assess, Plan, Do, Review’ formula.

All reasonable adjustments will be made in order that your child is given the opportunity to participate in activities outside the classroom including school trips.

Please refer to the Academy's Accessibility Policy found here.

Your first point of contact in the Academy will be your child’s Form Tutor or Head of Year who may liaise with the SENCo.

The Academy will help prepare and support your child through their transition from primary school by liaising with their previous school and sharing information. We will further provide information to ongoing schools or colleges in line with statutory requirements from the SEN Code of Practice, 2014.

The budget for SEN pupils is used to provide staffing and relevant resources for those pupils identified as requiring SEN Support.

All teaching staff work towards ‘Quality First Teaching’ which ensures that provision is made in each lesson to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

The support that your child will receive will depend upon the type and degree of need which is ‘additional to and different from that of their peers’.

Via www.hertsdirect.org/local.