If a student is identified as having SEND, then provision that is additional to their normal differentiated curriculum is put in place to overcome the barrier to learning. Learners fall behind for different reasons and the Academy is committed to ensuring that all learners have access to learning opportunities. Students at risk of not learning receive intervention packages however, this does not mean that all vulnerable students have SEND. Only students with a learning difficulty requiring special educational provision will be identified as having SEND. Students will be placed on the SEN register in accordance with the Multi Academy Trust protocol. 

Prior to arriving at Fakenham Academy information about students special educational needs are gained  from Primary Schools, KS2 results, baseline testing and progress data. A series of visits by the SENCO to feeder primary schools during Spring and Summer Terms including attendance at  EHCP reviews in Y6 helps to complete the picture.

During the year students are monitored through retesting of identified students, parent Consultation, feedback from teaching staff and observations, academic monitoring and reporting system based on formal subject testing and continuous assessment and student self referrals.

Provision for SEND students includes:

• quality teaching with appropriate differentiation in place
• additional adult support in classrooms where appropriate
• reduced class sizes where appropriate
• Literacy support. Students may be withdrawn from Language lessons in order to address identified literacy needs.  This occurs in consultation with the student and parents and targets students with a reading age below 8 years.
• Morning intervention. Reading sessions are targeted at those students with a reading and/or spelling age below 9 years. 
• Individual mentoring sessions are provided for identified students to support social / communication skills 
• Referral for advice and support from outside agencies.

FAN receives direct funding to support the needs of learners with SEND. This is known as the SEN Notional funding and for 2020-21  is £258,156.

Monitoring progress is an integral part of teaching and leadership.

The stages of intervention are:

• Assess
• Plan
• Do
• Review

Students, parents and carers, teaching staff and support staff are involved in reviewing progress. Appointments are available at Parents’ Evenings. Parents are encouraged to contact staff immediately should they have any concerns. If a student has an Educational Health and Care Plan then a formal review will be held annually.

The SENCO collates the impacts of interventions to ensure that effective interventions are used. Progress data for all students is collated by the Academy and is monitored by teaching staff, Senior Leaders and Academy Council members. FAN is monitored by Ofsted.

• Use of Pupil Premium money to support students activities
• Bursary payments for post 16 learners
• Link to Educational Visits policy
• In line with the Equality Act 2010 and the DIsability Discrimination Act 2010  Fakenham Academy is committed to making reasonable adjustment to ensure participation for all students 

Students are well supported by: Learning for Life lessons that provide a social, emotional and mental health programme, a pastoral system that provides targeted support for individual / groups of  students including programmes such as anger management and self esteem building, a student voice through the school council, an anti-bullying policy that is supported by a House system, a vertical tutoring system. Individual students may also be referred to the Welfare Officer and outside agencies such as MIND.

At transfer from Primary to the Academy a series of visits by SEND Manager to feeder primary schools takes place during the Spring and Summer Terms in order to meet Year 6 students with special educational needs, discuss needs/previous provision with  primary SENDCOs and to collate information. There are a number of Transition  Arrangements in place including Open Evening, Make a Friend Day, Additional  morning for SEND students, Transition Weeks, Transition Evening.

Post 16 students with SEND are offered specialist careers advice and  collaborate  closely with  the institutions of further education that our students progress onto.

Ms Romala Gill / Deputy Headteacher – romala.gill@fakenhamacademy.org

Charlotte Pistorius SENCO – cpistorius@fakenhamacademy.org

• Charlotte Pistorius, SENCO, BA (Hons) degree in English & Media Studies, PGCE and National Award for SEN Coordination
• SEND staff includes a further 9 Student Support Assistants with additional expertise and training. 
• Whole staff training – Differentiation, Dyslexia, ASD, Epipen, Safeguarding, Literacy, Quality first teaching

In addition, students may be offered support from Outside Agencies such as Welfare officer, Short Stay School, Children’s Services/Social Services, Early Support and Family Intervention, MASH, Police, MAPP, Victim Support, Matthew Project, Nelsons Journey, Nurse and the Attendance Officer.

The views of parents are regularly collected at parents evenings and we carry out an annual survey where  students are asked for their views. In addition we welcome feedback at any time from parents, careers and students with SEND.

Norfolk County Council SEND Offer

Norfolk SEND PartnershipCambridge Family Mediation Service Appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal

SEND Provision Map

During a regional or nation wide lockdown the services offered for SEND students will change. 

Students with a special educational need or disability will be supported through weekly phone calls, remote support via google classroom and email. Some students will be offered a place in school where they will continue to receive support with accessing the learning. 

Support and Self Help Guide