SEND

Throughout this document the word ‘parent/parents’ should be taken to include carers and other family members with a significant caring responsibility for a pupil’

At Ormiston South Parade Academy the first point of contact is the class teacher who will in turn signpost to other members of staff where necessary.
Key contacts for SENCo or inclusion team:

Mrs Fitzsimmons – SENCo
[email protected]
01472 231659

Miss Young – SENCo 
[email protected]
01472 231659

Inclusion – our ethos

The Governing Body and staff of Ormiston South Parade Academy are committed to providing an appropriate, inclusive and high quality education to all our children. We believe that all children, including those identified as having special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have a common entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum, which is accessible to them and that they should be fully included in all aspects of academy life.

We aim to give every child the very best chance to succeed by removing barriers to childrens’ learning and preparing them for a happy and successful future. We believe in a ‘Growth Mindset’. We aim to foster a sense of community and belonging, and to offer new opportunities to learners, taking into account their needs and experiences. We want our children to believe in themselves!

We recognise that pupils learn at different rates and that there are many factors affecting achievement, including ability, emotional state, age and maturity. We are particularly aware of the needs of our Key Stage 1 pupils, for whom maturity is a crucial factor in terms of readiness to learn. However, we also believe in both early identification of need and early intervention. We understand that many pupils, at some time in their Primary academy journey, may experience difficulties which affect their learning and we recognise that these may be long or short term.

Please click on the link below for information on the Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Code of Practice 2015

About this report

This report is designed to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about academy’s policies and provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

We will review and update this information regularly to reflect changes and feedback.

If you need any more information please see our SEND Policy or contact our SENCO on 01472231659.

Ormiston South Parade Academy is a large Primary academy, with a highly effective inclusion team dedicated to providing outstanding provision for all pupils with a SEND.

Our SEND Profile

In October 2024 our SEND profile if that 20.8% (National 18.4%) of our pupils have been identified as having a Special Educational Need or Disability (113/543).

  • 18.6%  (21 children) of these have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP)
  • 81.4% (92 children) are at School Support
  • 3.9% of total school population have an EHC Plan (National 4.8%)
  • 17% of total school population are at School Support (National 13.6%)

Primary Need:

Communication & Interaction    67(13 EHCP)

Cognition & Learning                       20 (3 EHCP)

SEMH Difficulties                              17 (3 EHCP)

Sensory and/or Physical Need     9 (2 EHCP)

Breakdown of numbers for SEND Register:

EYS (15%) 17 children, KS1 (30.8%) 33 children, KS2 (55.8%) 63 children 

Under the 2015 Code of Practice SEND are categories under the following four headings:

  • Communication and Interaction e.g. Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger’s Syndrome
  • Cognition and Learning e.g. Specific learning difficulties (SpLD), moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD) global developmental delay, dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia, profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)
  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties (SEMH) e.g. attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), depression, eating disorders, attachment disorders.
  • Sensory and/or Physical needs e.g. visual impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) or Cerebral Palsy (CP) epilepsy (Note – the academy building not fully accessible to pupils with mobility difficulties.)

Where pupils have medical needs and special educational needs, we will plan and deliver education provision in a co-ordinated way with their healthcare plan if they have one. We will also follow the statutory guidance on supporting pupils at academy with medical conditions, see key documents section below.

We aim to identify any special educational needs and disability as early as possible. The decision to place a child on the SEND register is always made in discussion with the class teacher , teaching assistants, Inclusion Team and Principal together with parents/carers and professionals. The best interests and wellbeing of the child are paramount. When considering if a child needs SEND support the academy takes into account:

  • The pupil’s previous progress and attainment
  • The teacher’s assessment and experience of the pupil
  • The pupil’s development in comparison to their peers and national data
  • The views and experience of parents
  • The pupil’s own views
  • Specialist assessment and advice from external support services, where appropriate
  • The pupil’s attendance rates at academy over time

Most of our pupils with SEND have their needs met as part of high quality teaching. This may include teachers differentiating learning to enable all children to have access to the curriculum. In some cases, personalised learning plans and/or interventions will be provided by the academy. If a pupil is identified (through the assessment process) as having special educational needs their teacher and SENCO will consider everything we know about the pupil to determine the support that they need and remove their barriers to learning. Where additional provision for SEND is needed, we work with pupils and their families to plan what to do. Below is the graduated response protocol (Assess, Plan, Do, Review) that staff at Ormiston South Parade Academy follow:

Step 1: Quality First Teaching. Need identified by Class Teacher/ Professional/ ParentAssessPlanDoReview
Formative/ summative assessments show that a child is not making progress or is finding an area of learning difficult. The barrier to learning will fall under one of four categories;Cognition and learningSensory or physicalCommunication and interactionSocial, emotional or mentalThe class teacher will
differentiate planning
as a means of
removing the barriers
to learning.
Differentiation could be done in a number of ways including;Pre and post learningDifferentiated taskAdult supportSpecialised resourcesPeer supportPrompts and frameworksUse formative and summative assessments to evaluate the impact of the differentiation. This could also be done at pupil progress meetings.
Has the child made better than expected or at least expected progress? If yes, then continue at the current level as long as is necessary. If no, move onto step 2.
Step 2: Concern form completed and child moves onto SEND Register for SEND SupportAssessPlanDoReview
Use formative, summative and standardised assessments for example Single Word Spelling Test (SWST) and New Group Reading Test (NGRT), to get a full picture of the child’s learning profile.Complete a SEND concern form outlining the areas of difficulty or need under the following categories;Cognition and learningSensory or physicalCommunication and interactionSocial, emotional or mentalPlanning at this stage will be completed using the Academy’s provision mapping. The SEND concern form will be discussed by the inclusion team and the class teacher and appropriate interventions will be put into place, if necessary.Planning with parents will be undertaken at Parents’ Evenings.Interventions will begin and differentiation in the classroom will be evaluated and developed with the inclusion team. Use formative and summative assessments to evaluate the impact of the interventions and differentiation. This could also be done at pupil progress meetings.
Has the child made better than expected or at least expected progress? If yes, then continue at the current level as long as is necessary. If no, move onto step 3.
Step 3: SEND Support A Personalised Learning Plan and/ or outside agency supportAssessPlanDoReview
A request for outside agency assessment and/or support will be requested at this stage. The following services may be utilised;Specialist Advisory Service (S.A.S)Educational PsychologistSpeech and language support (SALT)Child development centre (CDC)Occupational TherapyPhysiotherapyFortis TherapyA personalised learning plan (PLP) will be created by the class teacher, following the completion of a child’s view proforma (part 2 of EHC Plan). The PLP will be drafted with the support of the Academy Inclusion Team.Once agreed, a meeting will be held with parents to gain their view, redraft the plan and agree final outcomes.The PLP, any further interventions and differentiation will be implemented for another cycle.At this level there may also be some staff training and support.Use formative and summative assessments to evaluate the impact of the PLP, interventions and differentiation. This will be done at an Inclusion team meeting and may involve outside agencies
Has the child made better than expected or at least expected progress? If yes, then continue at the current level as long as is necessary. If no, review and implement another cycle of PLP before moving onto step 4.
Step 4: Request for Education Health and Care PlanSee below*AssessPlanDoReview
A request for an Education, Health and Care Plan will be discussed with all interested parties. If it is agreed that this is the best pathway to removing barriers from the child’s learning then the SENCo will move forward with this request.EHC PlanEHC plan implementationAnnual Review with the Local Authority (LA)Termly reviews within the Academy

*For our youngest pupils within our Academy (Pre-School to Nursery) additional support could be provided through the Early Years Inclusion Funding Pathway.

Referral for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

If a child has lifelong or significant difficulties they may undergo a Statutory Assessment Process which is usually requested by the academy but can be requested by a parent. This will occur when the complexity of need or a lack of clarity around the needs of the child are such that a multi-agency approach to assessing that need, to planning provision and identifying resources, is required. The decision to make a referral for an EHCP will be taken at a progress review. The application for an Education, Health and Care Plan will combine information from a variety of sources including:

  • Parents
  • Teachers
  • SENCO
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Specialist Advisory Teacher
  • Social Care
  • Health professionals

Information will be gathered relating to the current provision provided, action points that have been taken, and the preliminary outcomes of targets set. A decision will be made by a group of professionals from education, health and social care about whether or not the child is eligible for an EHCP. Parents have the right to appeal against a decision not to initiate a statutory assessment leading to an EHCP. Further information about EHCPs can found via the SEN Local Offer using the following link:

Local offer

The quality of teaching is the most important factor in ensuring all pupils make progress. We regularly review the quality of teaching in the academy and ensure that teachers are able to identify how individual children learn best and what support they need.

We test the effectiveness of our SEND provision by checking pupil progress, to see if the agreed goals and outcomes for a pupils are being met. The teachers work with the SENCO, the parents and the child to make sure any SEND support is adapted or replaced by another approach if it is not being effective.

The SENCO and the Principal report regularly to Governors on the quality of SEND provision and the progress towards outcomes being made by pupils with SEND. Governors also consider the attainment data for pupils with SEND and compare it with the progress of other pupils and the progress of pupils with SEND nationally. This helps to ensure that the approaches used are based on the best possible evidence and are having the required impact on the progress and life chances for our pupils.

Every pupil in the academy has their progress reviewed regularly and this information will be shared with both parents and pupils. We provide an annual report to parents on their child’s progress, normally at the end of the academic year. Where a pupil is receiving SEND support, we provide review meetings on a termly basis. Some pupils with SEND may have more frequent reviews if they are required. Reviews involve the pupil, the family and other professionals where this is appropriate.

They are used to:

  • Discuss what is working well and not working well
  • Find out if the provision has been delivered as planned
  • Review the pupil’s progress towards meeting their goals and longer term outcomes
  • Discuss and agree clear outcomes for the future and update the personalised learning plan (PLP) if necessary
  • Discuss and agree the support needed
  • Share advice and information on the things that parents can do at home to reinforce or contribute to their child’s progress
  • Identify the actions needed to meet the agreed outcomes, the responsibilities of the parent, the pupil, the academy, the local authority and other partners.

Ormiston South Parade Academy is committed to inclusion. We aim to maintain and extend the academy’s culture, policies and practices of inclusion for all learners. We aim to foster a sense of community and belonging, and to offer new opportunities to learners, taking into account their needs and experiences.

For all children quality first teaching including pre and post teaching is the initial and most powerful provision. When necessary (see graduated response) specialist SEND provision mapping and personalised learning plans will be used to provide additional and different support. Academy staff such as Teaching Assistants and other more specialist staff, may be directed to work with pupils , in pairs or small groups and sometimes individually. When planning, we take into account pupils’ wishes, the wishes of their parents and the needs of the individual. Every effort will be made to educate pupils with SEND alongside their peers in a mainstream classroom setting. We believe technology is an effective tool that we can use to remove barriers to learning and it is utilised in a variety of ways for our SEND provision.

The SENCO, supported by the Senior Leadership Team ensures that staff members are kept up to date with teaching methods which will aid the progress of all pupils including those with SEND. Regular training is provided to academy staff on the subject of SEND. In class, provision and support staff are deployed effectively to ensure the curriculum is differentiated appropriately. When necessary, training is provided for staff to ensure they have sufficient skills and knowledge to deliver specific interventions that pupils need.

We are committed to meeting the needs of all pupils including those with a SEND. We have a duty not to directly or indirectly discriminate against, harass or victimise pupils with SEND. We make all reasonable adaptations to the curriculum and the learning environment to make sure that pupils with SEND are not at a substantial disadvantage compared with their peers. We work closely with families and partners to determine what pupils with SEND might need before they start with us and what adjustments we might need to make. We discuss with families what we can do to adapt the curriculum and/or the academy environment and to obtain additional resources and support.

Our action plan sets out the proposals of Ormiston South Parade Academy to increase access to education for pupils with an SEND in the three key areas identified below as required by the planning duties in the Equality Act 2010:

  • promote opportunities for disabled pupils to participate in the academy curriculum;
  • develop the environment of the academy to ensure that disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services;
  • ensure that information is provided in appropriate formats for disabled pupils so that they are not disadvantaged

A requirement of our specific duty under the Equality Act 2010 is to publish a Disability Equality Scheme. We have therefore created an Equality Scheme and extended this action plan to address how the academy will:

  • eliminate harassment related to a disability
  • eliminate discrimination
  • promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people
  • promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
  • encourage participation by disabled people in public life
  • take steps to take account of disabled people’s disabilities even where that involves treating disabled people more favourably than other people

We intend to implement the general duty by actively reviewing all our policies, procedures and planned access improvements to remove barriers. In doing so, we aim to achieve greater recruitment and retention of disabled staff and greater participation of disabled pupils, disabled parents and community members.

Additional support is organised into three categories:

Wave 1 (Universal): describes quality inclusive teaching which takes into account the learning needs of all the children in the classroom. This includes providing differentiated work and creating an inclusive learning environment.

Wave 2 (Targeted): describes specific, additional and time-limited interventions provided for some children who need help to accelerate their progress to enable them to work at or above age-related expectations. Wave 2 interventions are often targeted at a group of pupils with similar needs.

Wave 3 (Specialist): describes targeted provision for a minority of children where it is necessary to provide highly tailored intervention to accelerate progress or enable children to achieve their potential. This may include specialist interventions.

SEND needs and interventions/provision that Ormiston South Parade Academy offer is as follows:

Area of needPossible interventions/ ProvisionPossible outside agencies
Cognition and Learning ICT Lexia, Lexia Follow-up, Dragon Naturaly Speaking software, Clicker 7, ICT Nessy, Rapid Phonics, Beat Dyslexia, Rapid Maths, Plus 1 Maths, Power of 2 Maths, Rapid ReadingSpecialist Advisory Service (S.A.S)
Educational Psychology Services
Speech and Language Service
Communication and InteractionSocial and emotional aspects of Learning groups (SEAL), LEGO club, Narrative Therapy, Autistic Friendly Zones, Visual Timetables, Now and Next cards, Social Stories, Social Communication GroupBarnardo’s Autism Outreach Service
Speech and Language Service
Family Information Service
Sensory and PhysicalWrite from the Start, Clever Fingers, Squiggle While you Wiggle, Write Dance and MOVe it Occupational Therapy Service
Barnardo’s Disability Support
Outreach Service
EHTV Service
Community school nursing team
Social, Emotion and Mental HealthBuddy System, Family Link Worker to engage families and SEAL interventions, Friendship groups, Happy to be me, Emotional management, LEGO clubCAMHs
Fortis Play Therapy Service
Community school nursing team
Atlas ClassSmall groups/1:1 English, small group RAPID maths, small group/1:1 phonics, Lexia/Nessy, PLP target time, 1:1 readers 

At Ormiston South Parade Academy, we recognise that pupils learn at different rates and that there are many factors affecting achievement, including a pupil’s emotional, social and/ or mental health.  The ethos within the academy aims to encourage the emotional and social development for all pupils, including those with SEND. We work hard to create a culture within the academy that values all pupils, allows them to feel a sense of community, self-belief and makes it possible to talk about problems in a non-stigmatising way. We believe in and foster a ‘Growth Mindset’. We have policies on behaviour and bullying that set out the responsibilities of everyone in the academy. We have clear systems and processes so that staff can identify and respond to mental health difficulties.

For children with more complex problems, additional in-academy interventions may include:

  • Advice and support to the pupil’s teacher – to help them manage the pupil’s behaviour within the classroom, taking into account the needs of the whole class.
  • Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) interventions and emotional management sessions – to promote positive behaviour, social development and self-esteem
  • Personalised behaviour plans – to support pupils during lessons, transition times and break times.
  • Targeted support from our Inclusion Team within the classroom, groups and 1:1 sessions to focus on a key area for development.
  • Support for the parents and family from the Family Link Worker, this may include a referral to the Family Hub
  • Therapeutic work with the pupil, delivered by Fortis Play Therapists.  A referral to CAMHs may be required.

For further information please see our behaviour management policy.

Our Inclusion Team:

  • Kate Steward: Principal, Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Craig Marchant: Designated LAC teacher
  • Emma Fitzsimmons: SENCo
  • Shannon Young: SENCo
  • Jackie Allington: Pastoral and Welfare Lead
  • Kerri Atha: Inclusion teacher

At Ormiston South Parade Academy the first point of contact is the class teacher who will in turn signpost to other members of staff where necessary.  If you would like to contact the SENCo or inclusion team please email Mrs Fitzsimmons, SENCo [email protected] and Miss Young, SENCo [email protected] alternatively telephone 01472 231659.

We are committed to developing the ongoing expertise of our staff. We have several professionals within our academy and wider academy team who have a high level of expertise and training in SEND. We have the current expertise in our academy:

Staff MemberArea of ExpertiseLevel
Jane Nolan
OAT Director of Inclusion
• Masters in Special Educational
Needs
Masters
 • Advanced Teacher Specialist
(ATS) in Dyslexia
ATS
 • Certificate of Educational
Studies in SENCO
Management
Cert Ed
 • Advanced certificate in
Speech, Language &
Communication Needs
Cert Advanced (Advanced)
 • Certificate in Counselling SkillsLevel 3
 • Previously Lead Local
Authority SENCO in Liverpool
Education Authority
 
 • Inclusion Leader/SENCO in two
academies
 
 • Autism Friendly Academies
Practitioner award
 
Emma Fitzsimmons
SENCo
• SENCo Award 
Shannon Young
SENCo
• Masters in education 
• SENCo Award
• Access Arrangements (exam support for SEN)
• CCET (The Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing)
• QTLS & PGCE (Teaching qualification)
• Trauma informed
• ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) 
• CCE (Child Criminal Exploitation) 
• CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation) 
• Young Minds Matter (YMM stress, anxiety & depression) 
• Level 3 Safeguarding 
Kerri Atha
Inclusion teacher
• Supporting children with ASD qualificationLevel 3

As previously stated, for all children quality first teaching, including pre and post teaching, is the initial and most powerful tool to accelerate progress. We believe in bespoke provision for children with SEND and therefore create an education that is right for each individual based on their identified barriers to learning. Alongside intervention programmes, we use a range of resources to support children with SEND. We believe technology is an effective tool that we can use to remove barriers to learning and so it is used in a variety of ways. The use of technology has been celebrated and shared as good practice across the Local Authority. We have Laptops in every classroom for children with SEND to access the following programmes and software:

  • Clicker 7
  • Nessy
  • Lexia
  • Dragon naturally speaking – voice activated software
  • Reading eggs

As well as technology, we offer the following resources on a needs basis throughout the academy:

  • Writing frames
  • Pencil grips and other specialist handwriting equipment
  • ‘Wobble Cushion’
  • Specialist furniture
  • Therapy tent
  • Equipment to support the development of fine motor skills
  • Large text keyboards
  • Voice recorders to aid writing and memory
  • Cameras
  • iPads
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Sand timers
  • Visual timetables
  • Numicon

Ormiston South Parade Academy believes that a close working relationship with parents is vital in order to ensure:

  1. Early and accurate identification and assessment of SEND leading to appropriate intervention and provision
  2. Continuing social and academic progress of children with SEND
  3. Personal and academic targets are set and met effectively.

In cases where more frequent contact with parents is necessary, this will be arranged based on the individual pupil’s needs. The SENCo may also signpost parents of pupils with SEND to the local authority Parent Partnership service (SENDIASS – Tel: on 01472 355365) when impartial advice, guidance and support may be required. If an assessment or referral indicates that a pupil has additional learning needs the parents and the pupil will always be consulted with regards to future provision. Parents are invited to attend meetings with external agencies regarding their child, and are kept up to date and consulted on any points of action drawn up in regards to the provision for their child.

Engaging all pupils as active participants in their own education and in making a positive contribution to their academy and local community is a priority for the academy. All children are consulted about their learning and how they feel about a range of topics annually. Where pupils have SEND, we will take extra care to involve them and make sure their voice is heard.

Their involvement will be tailored to each child and take into account their preferred methods of communication. This may include:

  • Providing them with relevant information in accessible formats
  • Using clear ordinary language and images rather than professional jargon
  • Giving them time to prepare for discussions and meetings
  • Dedicating time in discussions and meetings to hear their views
  • Involving the pupil in all or part of the discussion itself, or gathering their views as part of the preparation
  • Supporting their access to an adult who can help them express their views where necessary (this could be a family member or a professional)
  • Ensuring staff are skilled in working with children, parents and young people to help them make informed decisions and have access to training so they can do this effectively

The views of the individual child and young person sit at the heart of the SEND assessment and planning process. We will make sure that assessments include the wishes and feelings of the child, their aspirations, the outcomes they wish to seek and the support they need to achieve them. Whenever possible we include pupils with SEND in planning how best to support them, and in reviewing their progress. This may include the use of questionnaires, story boards or their attendance at a person centred review.

If a parent or carer has any concerns or complaints regarding the care or welfare of their child, an appointment can be made by them to speak to the  Principal or SENCO, who will be able to advise on formal procedures for complaint. A copy of the academy complaints procedure can be found at Complaints Procedure.

Every transition at the academy is planned carefully. F1 staff undertake home visits before a child begins at the academy. The EYFS Leader organises and plans for the transition between each phase of the EYFS to ensure the child makes a smooth transition.  The EYFS Leader also plans the transition of Reception pupils to Year 1 in order to ensure every child is prepared to access the National Curriculum. Across the academy transition meetings take place to share information for every child each year.

Opportunities are given throughout Key Stage Two for pupils to develop good relationships with the feeder secondary academies. The transition from Year six to Year seven is carefully planned and meetings are held between Ormiston South Parade and all feeder secondary academies to ensure information is shared so that children get the very best start to their secondary education. For children who need additional support during transition, additional visits, meetings with parents and observations in the child’s current setting are organised.

Mid-year admissions from Foundation 1 to Year 6 begin with parents and children being invited into academy to meet staff and familiarise themselves with the setting, at this point a welcome pack is given. Academy staff will then contact the previous setting to obtain all pupil records. For children with SEND, the SENCO will contact previous setting by telephone and may visit to receive additional information about how best to meet the needs of the child. On the child’s first day they are given a buddy from within the class.

Further information about North East Lincolnshire’s Local Offer can be found using the link below:

Local Offer

There are also links to other SEN websites below:

If you would like any independent support or advice as a parent of a children with a SEND please contact SENDIASS on 01472 355365