SEND

Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEND)  

SEND at the Nar Valley Federation of Church Academies

Welcome to the Nar Valley Federation SEND page. We hope that you find the information provided helpful. 

The most important thing to say is that all children have their own needs, and every child at our schools is seen as an individual. You are your child's first educators and you know them best. If you have any worries at all, whether your child is identified as having additional needs or not, then do come and talk to us and you will be listened to. 

Within our Federation we have an experienced SENDCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator), Mrs Emma Spaul,  who oversees SEND provision across all three of our schools. She leads an experienced team of support staff who often work with or alongside pupils with special educational needs. If you wish to speak to Mrs Spaul, she can be contacted through any of the school offices.

All of our children at the Nar Valley Federation are individuals and everyone has their own strengths and needs. We include all children, including those with additional needs, in every aspect of school life. 

In accordance to the Code of Practice we have published our SEN Information Report 2023/24 which we hope may answer any questions you might have. Alongside this you will find our Accessibility Plan which fulfils our requirements as set out in the Equality Act 2010.

Norfolk Schools have access to a wide range of specialist resources; these can be explored through our local offer. Please do take a look at our SEN Information Report 2023/24 where we hope you will find any information you may need;  if you have any queries or comments please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Spaul via any of the school offices. 

Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

At different times in their school career, a child or young person may have a special educational need.  The Code of Practice defines SEND as:

“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 them.  A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they:

(a)    have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age: or

(b)   have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.”

If a learner is identified as having SEND, we will provide provision that is ‘additional to or different from’ the normal differentiated curriculum, intended to overcome the barrier to their learning. For further information, please read our Core Offer SEND Information Report.

Within the Nar Valley Federation we are committed to ensuring that all learners have access to equal learning opportunities, and for those who are at risk of under achievement or low progress, we will ensure support is put in place and appropriate provision is developed.  

For some learners we may want to seek advice from specialist teams.  In our school and cluster we have access to various specialist services as detailed in our Information Report.  We have access to services universally provided by Norfolk County Council, which are described on the Local Offer website. 

Every teacher is required to adapt the curriculum to ensure access to learning for all children in their class.  The Teacher Standards 2012 detail the expectations on all teachers, and we in the Nar Valley Federation are proud of our teachers and their development.  

Our Teachers will use various strategies to adapt access to the curriculum. This might include using:

• Visual timetables
• Writing frames
• Laptops, or other alternative recording devices
• Peer buddy systems
• Positive behaviour rewards system

Each learner identified as having SEND, is entitled to support that is ‘additional to or different from’ a normal differentiated curriculum.  The type of support is dependent on the individual learning needs, and is intended to enable access to learning and overcome the barrier to learning identified.  This support is detailed on an individual provision map which describes the interventions and actions that put in place to enable a pupil to achieve and make progress. Parents/carers are invited to half termly meetings to discuss and review the plan. These may happen over the phone or in person and are normally held with the class team but the SENDCo may be invited to attend in certain circumstances. 

Children who are looked after by the Local Authority, either in residential care or by foster parents, will have a written Personal Education Plan to ensure that they are given the support they need to achieve their full potential.

The Nar Valley Federation’s Special Educational Needs Policy is available for you to read as an attachment below.

Here is a useful link from the Government for parents of children with SEND

Here is a link to Norfolk County Council’s policy and advice on SEND

Comments and observations - from our Safeguarding Governor Lead, Louisa Sliwa

Everyone is responsible for every child and every child matters. 

Senior leaders meet on a fortnightly basis to discuss issues regarding individual children, what action needs to be taken and outcomes of actions.

Staff have built strong relationships and trust with the families who need support and they go out of their way to provide help and advice

Staff are very passionate about the care of every child and provide the best possible care they can