SEND/Enhanced Resource Section

SEND within The Pingle Academy 

All students with The Pingle Academy are exposed to robust, differentiated, quality first teaching and reasonable adjustments are made to ensure the inclusion and progress of all students. Where necessary, clearly identified strategies are shared with academy staff to address additional needs of students. The SEND team works closely with all academy staff, offering support and advice as well as monitoring progress. 

Year 6 students take part in a transition programme and where appropriate, enhanced transition visits are available to become familiar with the academy. Staff attend Annual Reviews of EHCPs at feeder primary schools and primary SENDCos/Year 6s teachers share information prior to transition visits. 

All EHCPs are reviewed annually and progress towards outcomes are monitored regularly. 

Parents/carers of students on the SEND register (without an EHCP) are invited to review their Student Support Profile annually via appointment and also at Parents Evenings. Additional reviews will be held if required.  Transition reviews are held in Year 9 and students and families are supported throughout key stage 4 to make choices for Post 16 placements, both at the Academy Sixth form and at local colleges. All students have access to career advice. 

There is close liaison between the SEND  Department, Faculties and Pastoral staff to ensure progress is monitored, and any provision adjusted when necessary. Mainstream students  can access support within two student study zones at breaks and lunch times and a homework club is available to support SEND students. 

Where appropriate The Pingle Academy works closely with a wide variety of external agencies to support students with SEND. These include Occupational Therapists, Speech and language Therapists, the Behaviour Support Service, Educational Psychologists, physiotherapists and Early Help and Social Care Teams amongst others. 

SEND Mainstream

Does The Pingle Academy have a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator?

The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCo) is Miss S Khan.  Miss Khan works with students, teachers, parents and external agencies to ensure that students’ needs are being met. Miss Khan works in the academy Monday to Friday and can be contacted via email: skhan.tpa@affinitylp.co.uk  Miss Khan will be happy to make an appointment with you to discuss any questions you may have.  

What kinds of Special Educational Needs does The Pingle Academy make provision for?

Our first response to supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is to provide high quality teaching which targets a student’s area of weakness through a personalised and differentiated curriculum. If a student still continues to make less than expected progress the SEND Team will assess whether the student has SEND.  This enables us to make sure we are taking appropriate action to support a student’s needs.  Any student identified as having a learning need will have at least one of four broad areas of need.

• Communicating and interacting

• Cognition and learning

• Social, emotional and mental health difficulties

• Sensory and/or physical needs

How does The Pingle Academy identify and assess SEND?

We endeavour to ensure each student with SEND gets the support they need. Subject teachers are responsible for the progress and development of students in their class, including the support given by Teaching Assistants or external agencies.

High quality teaching, differentiated for student’s needs, is the first way we respond to students who have SEND.  Additional intervention and support cannot make-up for a lack of good teaching.  To support this, teaching at The Pingle Academy is regularly reviewed.  We have a thorough professional development programme to ensure teachers understanding of strategies to support and identify vulnerable students and their knowledge of SEND is up-to date.

When a student is identified as having SEND we use a four-step process to ensure barriers to learning are removed and effective provision is put in place. This process is known as the

‘Graduated Approach’ and ensures that parents and students need are at the centre of all provision provided.

How does The Pingle Academy know how much progress is being made by students with SEND?

We have rigorous assessment procedures to ensure we are keeping track of students’  progress throughout their time with us.  Twice a year parents will receive a Data Report on their child’s progress.

Parents of students who are identified as having Special Educational Needs will be invited  into the academy to talk about their child’s targets and review the progress they are making  towards them.  These meetings will be based around scheduled meetings planned at the academy such as Parents’/Carers' Evenings.  At least once a year, parents of students with high needs SEND will be invited into the academy to attend their child’s annual review.

What training do the staff at The Pingle Academy have?

The SEND team will ensure that all necessary staff are aware of students’ specific special educational needs.  They will work closely together to plan staff training throughout the year.  This thorough training programme ensures teachers understanding of strategies to  

support and identify vulnerable students and their knowledge of SEND is up-to-date. This training is run by Academy staff with specialist experience as well as by external agencies.

Our Teaching Assistants have received training in Attachment Disorder, Literacy interventions, social skills, emotion coaching, Lego therapy and many more.  They work with teaching staff to ensure that students with SEND can access the curriculum.

What extra-curricular activities can a student with SEND access at The Pingle Academy?

We work hard to ensure that students with SEND engage in the activities of the academy alongside students who do not have SEND.  We will try to make sure that students with additional needs are able to take part fully in academy visits and events.  We pride ourselves on being an inclusive academy.

In addition to the academy curriculum, many subject areas run educational visits to enrich the experiences our students have.  The academy also runs an exciting enrichment programme, after the formal school day end, where all students have the opportunity to broaden their experiences outside the curriculum.  No student will be excluded from extracurricular activities based on SEND.

How does The Pingle Academy get more specialist help for students if they need it?

When a student continues to make less than expected progress, despite support and interventions that are matched to their area of need, we will consider involving specialists or external agencies.  Following a meeting or assessment with a specialist we will share what was discussed and/or agreed with the parents and teachers of the student.

If we feel a student needs more specialist help we can work with the organisations to get this.  Some examples are below:  

• Educational Psychology

• Communication Autism Team

• Hearing & Visual team  

• Impairment Advisory Teachers

• Speech & Language Therapist

• CAMHS

Local offer information

Enhanced Resource Provisions

The ERS supports those with EHCPs who need a more specialist environment. The Local Authority, Derbyshire CC, places students within our ERS and requests for a place are made at the Yr6 Annual Review.

Key features:

• Smaller classes 
• Specialist SEND teachers 
• Life skills and Vocational learning
• Alternative qualifications such as Functional Skills, BTECs and DofE offered 
• Access to mainstream lessons where appropriate
• Focus on independence and social development alongside academic progress 
• Homework within school if needed 

Head of ERS

The Head of ERS is Mrs Harling.  Email: lharling.tpa@affinitylp.co.uk

Parents/carers are welcome to contact Mrs Harling to arrange an appointment.

Is The Pingle Academy right for my child?

Regular tours of the school and the ERS take place throughout the year and your child’s primary school will be aware of when the next one is taking place. 

Parents/carers and students are also welcome to come to our yearly open evening in October in order to find out whether a student’s needs can be met. 

Please contact Mrs L Harling, Head of the Enhanced Resource SectionMrs L Harling: Head of Enhanced Resource Section (lharling.tpa@affinitylp.co.uk)

Please follow the link below to view the Trust-wide SEND policy

Trust SEND Policy