SEND

The government’s SEND Code of Practice states that: 

A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her…

A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:  

• has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or  
• has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.

---

The SEND Code of Practice also describes ‘four broad areas of need’ which are:

• Communication & Interaction (C&I) / Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
• Cognition & Learning (C&L)
• Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH)
• Physical and/or Sensory (P/S)

---

As well as SEMH needs, many of our students have other needs, disabilities and diagnoses that span across all these areas, such as:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism 
• Developmental trauma 
• Dyscalculia 
• Dyslexia 
• Global Developmental Delay
• Other medical and health related 
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Processing and working memory needs
• Sensory processing needs
• Speech, language and communication needs
• Tourette’s Syndrome

---

How do we identify and assess a student’s special educational needs?

All our students come to Future Education with an EHCP. This means they will have special educational needs, disabilities and/or diagnosis already identified.

As they develop as learners and young adults, we recognise that our students’ needs will change and evolve over time. They may be on a pathway awaiting a formal diagnosis, such as ADHD or autism. 

We’re in the unique position where we get to know and observe our students in different learning environments, because of our bespoke, broad curriculum and therapeutic approach. [inset link to curriculum and therapeutic pages?]. Ongoing observations, progress assessments, student voice and our work with external agencies and professionals support our identification of our students’ current needs.

We can support parents/carers by providing relevant information for services such as neurodevelopmental diagnostic/support services and CAMHS.

What is like to be a student with SEND at Future Education?

We take pride in following a therapeutic, trauma informed approach to teaching. [Link to therapeutic approach page] Providing all students with a safe, nurturing learning environment and emotionally available adults is at the centre of all we do. 

Classes

There are up to 8 students in each class group. Each class has a learning support assistant. 

Where a student’s SEND requires a greater level of adult support, we have our ‘Tailored Delivery’ provision. Here, students are taught in groups of 1-3.

As well as core subject study, (e.g. English, maths, STEM, PSHE etc), we personalise students’ timetables so they can follow their strengths and interests.

Students can choose options in creative subjects (e.g. photography, art, music, drama), vocational subjects (e.g. construction, hair & beauty, vehicle maintenance, cookery), and outdoor and physical activities (e.g. PE & fitness, adventure studies, bushcraft, fishing).

Many of these optional subjects are taught in groups of 2-3 or 1:1. 

This means we can offer a learning environment with a flexible but high-level of adult support for our all our students. 

Interventions

We offer a variety of interventions, including: 

• Lego Therapy – a Lego-based therapy that focuses on developing communication, language, memory skills, and fine motors skills.
• Speech and Language Therapy – our in-school therapist supports students to develop their individual needs in relation to their speech, language, and communication skills. 
• The R&R – our therapeutic youth worker works with students in our ‘Regulate and Reflect’ room, engaging them in therapeutic, trauma informed and sensory activities. The focus is to support students to build and maintain relationships, gain social skills, self-confidence and a sense of belonging in their world.
• Creativity & Communication – a safe space for students to explore their thoughts through creative modalities in art, music, play and creative writing.
• Wellbeing and ‘Personal Training’ – from cooking pancakes to flipping tractor tyres to puppy walks, these activities focus on developing student life skills, physical health and confidence in a nurturing context.
• English, Phonics and Maths interventions 

Building relationships

We believe that only through meaningful relationships of trust and understanding can we help students develop the wellbeing and confidence to learn and grow. 

A key strategy that we use is PACE:

• Playfulness (having a light-hearted, relaxed and playful attitude)
• Acceptance (accepting the child for who they are)
• Curiosity (exploring the meaning behind the behaviour) 
• Empathy (“stepping into their shoes”). 

Opportunities for teambuilding, communication and personal development can be found throughout our school day – PSHE, PE, bushcraft, Friday football, table tennis, board games, drama, Lego Therapy…

All students have the opportunity to be on the Student Council and to be a ‘Student Leader’ in an area of our curriculum that’s important to them.

How do we involve parents/carers and SEND students in their education?

Our students often describe us a big ‘family’ and we warmly welcome parents and carers to visit us at Future Education! 

Joining us

Before offering a place, we invite prospective students and their key adults to a tour of the school to meet our team, and to find out how our provision meets their special educational needs. 

We also like to invite potential students to a taster day at Future Education and the opportunity to learn more about our school environment. This is especially important for students who have been out of education for some time. It’s a big step to take!

Communication

Regular communication between school and home is important to our parents and carers. Throughout the transition process and beyond, we involve parents/carers in discussions about their child’s provision, including bespoke timetabling and SEND therapies. Our senior leadership team, teachers, learning support assistants and therapeutic practitioners provide regular contact with parents/carers about student progress, needs and support, whether its over the phone, by email or face-to-face.

We hold half-termly coffee mornings and a summer BBQ for families to join us in celebrating their child’s achievements! 

EHCP Annual Reviews, and Personal Education Plan & Child in Care Reviews

All students will have an EHCP Annual Review each academic year. Children in Care will have regular PEP and Care reviews throughout the year. The SENDCO (or local authority representative) will invite the team around the student, including parents, carers, social workers, health and any other relevant professionals to contribute to and attend the reviews. 

All students will be invited to contribute to their individual EHCP, PEP and Care reviews; and through their Future Passport – a one-page profile about the themselves – they communicate with staff how they would like to be supported in school. 

The SENDCO will send requests for EHCP amendments to the local authority as appropriate.

How do we involve other bodies in supporting SEND students and families?

Many of our students are supported by outside agencies and other professionals. 

We have a close working relationship with various departments in Norfolk County Council who are intrinsically linked to our work, such as children’s services and the Virtual Schools for SEND and Children in Care.

All appropriate agencies and professionals in the team around the child are invited to relevant professional meetings that are arranged by the school, including EHCP reviews and care reviews. 

How do we support SEND students with transfers between settings, to post-16, and preparing for adulthood and independent living?

Curriculum

Weekly PSHE lesson explore student future aspirations and prepare them for adulthood and independent living. 

Our vocational subjects, such as Construction and Hair & Beauty, offer opportunities to earn qualifications to support a career pathway. There is opportunity to study Home Economics and to be involved therapeutic cookery sessions. 

Planning for Post-16

Independent Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) is provided by a qualified member of our student support team. 

All students receive CIAG meetings throughout Year 10 and 11. In the Autumn Term, students in Year 11 and their parents/carers are supported by the school to explore post-16 options and to make applications to their chosen post-16 providers through Help You Choose.

Student aspirations, transitions and preparing for adulthood are key elements of the EHCP, PEP and Care reviews from Year 9 onwards. The SENDCO and school Careers Lead work closely together to support students and parents/carers identify work experience opportunities and Post-16 settings that can meet the needs of our students.

Who else can you contact for SEND support outside of school?

Norfolk SEND Local Offer provides information for anyone in the life of a child or young person aged 0-25 who has a special educational need and/or disability (SEND) in Norfolk. This includes information on education, special needs services for children, young people and their families, support networks, and advice and guidance for planning for adult life.

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and-families/send-local-offer

Suffolk SEND Local Offer provides similar advice for families of children and young people with SEND in Suffolk.

Home – Suffolk SEND Local Offer (suffolklocaloffer.org.uk)

Norfolk SENDIASS and Suffolk SENDIASS provide free and impartial information, advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes health and social care where it is linked to education. 

Norfolk

Website: https://www.norfolksendiass.org.uk
Phone: 01603 70470
Email: norfolksendiass@norfolk.gov.uk 

Suffolk

Website: https://suffolksendiass.co.uk/
Phone: 01473 265210
Email: enquiries@suffolksendiass.co.uk  

KIDS SEND Mediation Service is an independent organisation that supports families with disagreement resolution. 

Website: https://www.kids.org.uk/send-mediation  

Local Support Groups

Current information about local support groups be found at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/children-and-families/send-local-offer/advice-andsupport/send-support-groups-organisations-events/local-send-supportorganisations-and-group

Tribunals

Parents and carers can also appeal to the Government’s SEND tribunal if you disagree with the Local Authorities’ decisions about your child’s special educational needs. You can also appeal to the tribunal if the school or council has discriminated against your disabled child. Information on this process is available here https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/first-tiertribunal-special-educational-needs-and-disability