Ridgeway Academy SEND

Working together to help you achieve.

Welcome to the Ridgeway Academy SEND Department. It is our aim to embrace the needs of all students and we adopt a whole-school approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We provide effective opportunities for all students by responding to students’ diverse and often complex learning needs, setting suitable learning challenges and overcoming barriers to learning.

Ridgeway Academy is an inclusive school that believes strongly that all students, regardless of ability, background or ethnicity, have the right to participate in and enjoy all aspects of school life, and have the opportunity to meet their full potential.

Ridgeway Academy recognises the definition of SEND as described in the SEND Code of Practice 0-25, 2015. More details of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25

The SEND team are the at the heart of Ridgeway Academy’s provision.

Their work includes:

Screening all students for reading comprehension or spelling difficulties in Year 7 and testing students spelling and reading ages every year through to Year 10
Monitoring, assessment and observation of student’s teachers are concerned about, and providing expertise around individual students needs and strategies for supporting them.
Partnership work with our partner schools in the multi academy trust and with our primary feeder schools, working closely to ensure a smooth transition for those who will be coming to Ridgeway Academy.
Preparing SEND reports, care plans and contributing to pastoral support plans
Managing any SEND referrals to outside agencies or specialists where we want expert input to analyse difficulties and make recommendations and working in multi-disciplinary teams supporting any SEND students with complex needs or who are vulnerable.
Managing SEND budgets, based not only on standard funding but on successful bids for additional funding for exceptional needs.

Ridgeway Academy always values teamwork. We believe that effective working with students, parents and carers is at the heart of our SEND provision and we look forward to working together.

In addition to Parent Consultation Evenings, where you can make an appointment to meet our SENDCO, we also run SEND Parent Consultation days. You will be invited to meet with a member of the SEND team to review your child’s progress, discuss barriers to learning and strategies to support them. Alternatively, we run SEND ‘Drop Ins’ every Wednesday morning from 8.30am to 8.50am with Mrs Kitchener. No appointment necessary, just come to main reception where you will be directed to relevant meeting room.

If you require additional information, we would encourage you to visit the school on our annual open evening or morning tours. Our SENCO Jill Kitchener, can be contacted here: jill.kitchener@ridgeway.herts.sch.uk

A useful link is to the Local Authority’s Local Offer that outlines support and services for SEND available within Hertfordshire: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

We look forward to working with you in the future.