Our values

The vision at the heart of the academy is that ‘every teacher is a teacher of SEN’ which drives inclusivity for all students. The SENCO and SEN team work in conjunction with class teachers, Heads of Department, Heads of Year, parents/carers and with students themselves to ensure all students are able to make progress academically. There are different ‘waves’ of support offered to students in the academy. Pupils may move between ‘waves’ in response to their needs.

Please read more about our statutory SEND provision here.

Wave 1 Support – Adaptive teaching for all students

Wave 1 support includes ensuring that our ambitious curriculum is accessible for all students through the differentiation and reasonable adjustments made by expert class teachers using information provided to them by the SEN team. This is supported through regular CPD opportunities for all teaching staff and is quality assured through learning walks. We expect every teacher to 'pre-adapt' their lessons and make in the moment adaptions based on the student's needs and progress.

Wave 2 Interventions

Where an SEND student is not making progress, despite Wave 1 support they may be referred to the SEN team who will gather information and, if appropriate, offer a Wave 2 intervention. Wave 2 interventions run for 6 week blocks and are measured for impact. They could include speech and language, literacy, fine motor skills or social skills. This level of intervention may mean a student is placed on the SEN register.

Wave 3 Interventions

If a student has received Wave 1 support and a Wave 2 intervention and are still not making at least expected progress, they may be put on a more personalised programme of support and intervention that will usually include an additional needs plan or referral to external agencies for support.

SEN classes

The SEND classes at TEA are smaller, TA supported lessons from Year 7 to Year 11. They have no more than 20 students in each class and students are taught by a specialist SEN teacher for Maths and English.

The students stay in these classes for those core lessons but mix with the rest of the year group for their creative lessons. In these lessons some are supported by a TA based on the individual needs of the student. 

There may also be additional therapeutic opportunities in these lessons based on the needs of the cohort from year to year. Students can move in and out of the SEN classes where appropriate. Whilst some students may be best suited to these smaller groups throughout their time in the academy, other students may make progress at a rate which means a move to one of the mainstream classes is more appropriate. Students will be supported and given a gradual transition which will be monitored throughout for impact.

Our named SENCO is Chelsea Elsbury.

Email: chelsea.elsbury@swale.at

Phone: 01323 514900