SEN and Disability

No Child Left Behind

At Arrow Vale Academy we are passionate about an inclusive education for all. The highly qualified and committed Learning Support team strives to identify and provide the best and most appropriate curriculum and emotional support to meet the individual needs of every student.

Teaching staff are highly qualified in meeting the needs of individual students within differentiated lessons and are supported by a committed and experienced team of an Inclusion Lead & SENCo, HLTAs and Achievement Assistants. Additionally, the Learning Support department offers a range of support via their “Key Worker role with some SEN students, supporting achievement, social and emotional needs. Some additional intervention is provided for students who have English as an additional language in liaison with the English Department.

There is also provisioned to aid students with more structured support, providing extensive opportunities for our students to learn and work beyond the classroom with our Discover Plus programme in year 9. There are break and lunchtime clubs (Learning Resource Centre ’LRC’) which provide a safe environment and opportunities to further develop students’ skills for life. The LRC is also available after school daily for a homework support club 3pm to 3.45pm (3.30pm on a Friday). The LRC has a dedicated range of ‘Dyslexia Friendly’ books which are engaging texts which are presented in a way that benefits those with dyslexia, EAL students and those that find reading challenging.

Meet the Team

The Learning Support Department, the Hub and the Library offer a nurturing and caring environment for learning. Students of all ages with various needs and barriers to their learning will always consider the needs and personal circumstance of others. They learn to become more tolerant of others’ experiences and become a supportive family within the school environment.

Claire Round Inclusion Lead & SENCo	Sam Lune HLTA SEND & EHCP’s	Hannah Alabaster HLTA SLCN & Literacy (LRC/English Strategic Link)

Angela Timothy Achievement Assistant -Transitions & Maths Specialist	Naomi Beckford Achievement Assistant – ASD, PD & Creative Arts Specialist	Gareth Ravenhill Achievement Assistant – Maths & Exams Specialist	Rachael Sazio Achievement Assistant – ICT, Support Timetabling & Literacy/Phonics Specialist

Jana Harvey Achievement Assistant – Exams Access SEND Specialist & EAL	Jo Bishop Achievement Assistant – ASD & Creative Arts Specialist	Jez Thomas Achievement Assistant – Discover Plus & Handwriting Specialist	Ellina Lawless Achievement Assistant – Literacy/Phonics Specialist Trainee

Everyone at some point needs additional support and guidance, particularly during teenage years. We have an Emotional Well-Being and Intervention / Mental Health Co-ordinator who delivers 6-week programmes to groups of students when a need has been identified. Referrals to show support already in place for that student is required, alongside permission from home. Some of the programmes we offer include:

• Monday and Wednesday Lunchtime drop-ins
• Anger management / Behaviour Refocus
• Social skills
• Raising self-esteem and confidence
• Staying safe
• Anxiety
• Exam Stress
• Self Harm
• Links for Parental Support click HERE
• CAMHS SPA for those students who are struggling with very low mood, suicidal thoughts, chronic self-harm, chronic eating disorders or severe phobias/OCD.
• Mental Health Support Teams in Schools For those students who do not quite reach the threshold to be accepted by CAMHS but who have mild to moderate issues with anger, behaviour, low mood, anxiety, sleep issues, obsessive compulsive disorder or phobias
• Clued Up Coaching For students who need support with changing their negative mindset or setting future goals
• Touchstones  Bereavement services (we can only refer, at the earliest, 12 weeks after the bereavement
• Reach For Wellbeing For those students who have received support in school already for issues such as low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem. Episodes of self-harm bur who do not reach the threshold for CAMHS
• Head Gym For students who need support with changing their negative mindset or setting future goals and supporting with low mood and low self esteem
• Mentor Link For students who need support with improving confidence and overcoming issues such as low self esteem

• CRUSH For those students who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse. The purpose of CRUSH is to provide an awareness of what constitutes a healthy and unhealthy relationship

• YMCA For students who need support with improving confidence and overcoming issues such as low self esteem

• School Nurse For students who need support with healthy eating, weight loss, emotional wellbeing and emotional resilience

The Learning Support department works collaboratively with safeguarding, attendance and the pastoral student support team, alongside a range of outside agencies / external professionals to assess, identify and support students with additional needs. These include:

• SEND Supported – SEND Training & Support – Warwickshire SEND Supported works with schools across the West Midlands to promote improved outcomes for learners with SEND.
• SENDIASS are the SEND information, Advice and Support Service covering Herefordshire and Worcestershire.  They have a dedicated team of advisors offering legally-based and easily accessible information and advice about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Medical Education Team – Worcestershire Children First Education Services The Medical Education Team discharges the duty of the Local Authority in ensuring that arrangements are in place for pupils who are unable to attend school because of their medical needs, to have appropriate and ongoing access to education.
• Chadsgrove Outreach Support School (Physical Disabilities) / Occupational Therapy Team / Dyslexia Pathway
• CAMHS, CAMHS Cast and CAMHS Spa / Peartree Centre; Stratford CAMHs CAMHS is a multi-disciplinary team made up of Psychiatrists, Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologist with all specialist training of working in mental health with children and young people.
• Umbrella Pathway (ASD) The Umbrella pathway is an assessment and diagnostic pathway which assess children and young people for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Autism is the name for a range of conditions that affect a person’s social interaction, communication and imagination.
• Community Paediatrics (Medical e.g. ADHSD/Well-being) Community Paediatricians work closely with children young people and families and also teams and professionals from education settings and social care to ensure that a child is looked after in a joined up way in every environment they experience.
• Touchstones – Bereavement Support Touchstones is a Child Bereavement Support.  Its a small, local charity with one very simple aim – to be there for any bereaved child and young person.
• Cranstoun delivers the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) service for 16+ year olds, which works with those at high risk of harm from intimate partners, ex-partners or family members to secure their safety and the safety of their children.
• Speech and Language Therapy Team
• Hearing and Visual Impairment Team work with schools and settings to promote inclusive practice and positive outcomes for children and young people with visual hearing and multisensory impairments.
• Resolve Psychology are made up with a number of highly specialised clinical psychologists, nurse specialists and CBT Therapists who work together to ensure that as a service they offer timely, effective and non-judgemental support.  They are a passionate team who ensure that they treat everyone in a friendly, compassionate and supportive manner.
• Social Care Support – The Family Front Door, Initial Contact and Referral Team is the central point for all referrals for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years and living in Worcestershire where there is safeguarding or child protection concerns for them.
• National Autistic Society provide support, guidance and advice.
• Dyslexia Action provides confidential information and advice about dyslexia and the challenges it can pose.
• ADHD The UK ADHD Partnership supports clinicians and allied professionals to identify and meet the needs of children and young people affected by this disorder.  ADHD is now a recognised as a condition that may cross the lifespan and there are multi-modal interventions for ADHD that can be delivered at any age.

Students who are identified for additional literacy and numeracy support, are guided towards a Progress Option at the start of Year 10. The pathway taught by English and Maths Staff offers students opportunities to gain confidence in both subject areas through pre-teaching in small groups. The aim of these sessions is to promote a love of learning, to enhance confidence and self-esteem and learn important cross-curricular skills that are required within regular mainstream lessons. The option will enable the students to be entered for accredited qualifications: Functional Skills English – level 1 and 2; Entry Level Maths and Entry Level Science

With a growing number of students arriving at Arrow Vale, from a diverse number of birth cultures, there is a growing need to provide further language support. An EAL Achievement Assistant will support students who arrive at school with English as an additional language. Students where possible, will have the opportunity to study for a GCSE in their native tongue, for example: Polish, Spanish or Russian.

The support and intervention will also assist students further in all academic areas, which will enable them to become more confident and sociable individuals within society.

Links to the following Forms will be provided soon…

• EHCP: Annual Review Feedback Form
• Parental Feedback Form
• Student Feedback Form