At Great Heath Academy, we are committed to providing excellence for all of our pupils. We seek to ensure that all our learners receive a high-quality education from expert staff and aspire to achieve the best they possibly can, no matter their background or ability. We promote a fundamental belief in equality of opportunity in the classroom and throughout.
Our learners have safe, supportive learning environments in which they develop, grow, and challenge themselves. We are determined that our learners will receive the very best opportunities to help them reach their full potential and ensure they are prepared for the future, wherever it might take them. Our support for all children within our care extends to those children with additional needs that require assistance to help them fulfil their potential.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Under the Children & Families Act (2014), a child/young person will have SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.
A child or young person has a learning difficulty or disability if they have:
• Significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or
• A disability that prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities that are generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools in England.
Special Educational Provision is education or training that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for other children/young people of the same age by mainstream schools.
The Four broad areas of SEN are
Cognition and Learning
This includes children with Specific Learning Difficulties, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.
Communication and Interaction
This area of need includes children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and those with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
This includes any pupils who have an emotional, social or mental health need that is impacting on their ability to learn.
Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties
This area includes children with hearing impairment, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment and physical difficulties.
The academy ensures it uses the SEND Code of Practice (2014) when identifying and supporting all children with special educational needs. The SEND Code of Practice can be found by clicking here. In addition to this, a guide explaining how the system that supports children and young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND) works can be found here.
Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) is Miss Lynsey Ramsell.
The SENCO can be contacted on 01638 713430 or through email: GRE-officeadmin@attrust.org.uk
The SENCO is supported by the SENCO Assistant Mrs Parsons and two SEN Lead teachers; Mrs Ashford and Mrs Cox.
Click here to download Trust SEND Policy
Great Heath SEND Information Report 24-25
Great Heath Accessibility Plan 24-25
Suffolk’s Local Offer page has information, advice and services for children and young people with SEND in Suffolk and can be found here.