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Special Educational Needs

We are committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, supported and able to succeed. We believe that all pupils should have access to a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum, and we work closely with families and external professionals to ensure that children with additional needs receive the support they require.
Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is Mr Spencer Rignall, who works closely with teachers, support staff and families to ensure that pupils with SEND receive appropriate provision and support.

 

Definition of SEND

A child or young person has special educational needs or disabilities (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 has a learning difficulty or disability if they:

  • have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or

  • have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools.

The four areas of SEND

Children’s needs are generally identified within four broad areas:

Communication and interaction
Children who may have difficulty communicating with others, understanding language, or interacting socially.

Cognition and learning
Children who learn at a slower pace than their peers or who may require additional support with aspects of learning such as reading, writing or mathematics.

Social, emotional and mental health
Children who may experience difficulties with behaviour, emotional regulation, relationships or mental wellbeing.

Sensory and/or physical needs
Children who may have hearing or visual impairments, physical disabilities, or sensory processing needs that affect their learning.

How do we identify children who may need extra support?

At The Grange Academy, we identify pupils’ needs in a number of ways so that support can be put in place as early as possible. These may include:

  • Concerns raised by parents, carers, class teachers, or school staff

  • Concerns raised by external professionals such as GPs, school nurses, speech and language therapists or other specialists

  • A child making less progress than expected compared with age-related expectations

  • Changes in a pupil’s behaviour, wellbeing or engagement in learning

  • Information shared from previous settings such as nurseries, infant schools or other schools

Early identification allows us to put appropriate support in place and ensure pupils receive the help they need to thrive. All staff follow our school's SEND Strategy.

What should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?

If you have concerns about your child’s development or learning, the first person to speak to is your child’s class teacher. They know your child well and will be able to discuss your concerns and the support already in place.

If further support may be required, the class teacher will discuss the concerns with the SENCO, Mr Spencer Rignall, and further meetings may be arranged to explore next steps and agree how best to support your child.

We value strong partnerships with parents and carers and believe that working together is key to ensuring the best outcomes for children.

How will school staff support my child?

High quality teaching is the most important support for all pupils, including those with SEND. Class teachers are responsible for adapting lessons and learning activities to meet the needs of all children in their class.

Support for pupils with SEND may include:

  • Adaptations to teaching and learning within the classroom

  • Additional scaffolding, resources or visual supports

  • Targeted small group or individual support

  • Support from trained Teaching Assistants

  • Specific interventions to support areas such as reading, communication or social skills

  • Support from external specialists where appropriate

Provision may take place within the classroom or in small group settings depending on the needs of the pupil.

The SENCO monitors progress, supports staff, and liaises with external agencies where additional expertise is required. The SENCO also works closely with the Headteacher and leadership team to ensure that provision for pupils with SEND is effective and well coordinated.

Our SEND Governor also provides oversight and challenge to ensure the quality of SEND provision remains high. This is currently Mr Jon Legg.

Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL)

The Grange Academy works closely with Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL) in Hertfordshire.

DSPL is a partnership approach that brings together schools, early years settings, colleges, local authority officers and other agencies to review and develop provision for children and young people with SEND aged 0–25.

The partnership aims to:

  • Ensure support is available as close to home as possible

  • Improve outcomes for children and young people

  • Remove barriers to learning

  • Widen choices for families

  • Use resources effectively across the local area

Useful Links

  • Autism support - leading UK charity - National Autistic Society The National Autistic Society is the leading UK charity for autistic people (including those with Asperger syndrome) and their families. We provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a world that works for autistic people.
  • Parenting, Training, Coaching, DISC, Confidence Parent and Family Coaching. Natural Flair offers a wide range of award-winning coaching and training to both corporate and private clients as well as specialised coaching to groups and individuals.
  • ADD-vance ADD-vance is a Hertfordshire based charity that supports families affected by ADHD, Autism or a related condition and the professionals who support them.
  • NSPCC Let's talk PANTS! With the help of our friendly dinosaur Pantosaurus, talking PANTS is a simple way to teach your child how to stay safe from abuse 
  • Angels 2025 Programme Jan-April Angels provide individualised, professional expertise and advice for the families of autistic children and children with ADHD (and those awaiting diagnosis).
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