The school has children with a range of disabilities which include Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment and physical needs. Some pupils have medical conditions such as Epilepsy, Chronic Allergies and Sickle Cell Anaemia. When children enter school with specific disabilities, the school liaises with LA professionals & previous settings for assessments, support and guidance for the school and parents/carers.

We have a number of children who have asthma and all staff are aware of these children. Inhalers are kept in the classrooms and a record of use is noted.

Some children have allergies or food intolerances/cultural food choices. We have our own independent caterers who are able to meet the needs of children with specialist diets in an inclusive environment. Some children also use specialist cutlery.

All medical information is collated and available to the relevant staff, with a designated member of staff responsible for their monitoring.

All medication is kept in a central safe and secure place which has easy access for First Aiders and staff members. Consent forms for the administration of medicine are filled in by parents, outlining the condition and dosage of medication. All medication that is given is recorded.

When a child is making significantly slower progress than their peers or is struggling to achieve their predicted potential they could be considered to have Special Educational Needs (SEN).  Early intervention is essential for progress however it is important to avoid mislabelling a child with additional needs and to remain focussed on meeting their needs.

In partnership with the Class teacher, SENCO, SLT and parents we considered any barriers to learning. 

Barriers could include:

• Absences or lateness
• Changing schools or moving house
• Difficulties in speaking English
• A temporary illness or injury e.g. a broken arm
• Worries or concerns such as a family bereavement
• Being a young carer

We know that children who experience these types of barriers may be vulnerable students but this does not mean they should be identified as a child with SEN. 

The learning of all children at Fairchildes Primary School is regularly and rigorously assessed. 

Data meetings were held termly and progress and attainment was monitored.  Additional support was put in place to support children who had been identified through the progress meetings.

The SENCO/SLT followed up with children who had received QFT and additional support in school and had not made expected progress. 

The Educational Psychologist was able to support teachers in developing or adjusting their practice for targeted children who were identified with significant special educational needs.

Inclusion meetings were held each half term and the information collected was used to support assessments regarding whether a child had additional needs.

Senior leaders regularly reviewed children’s work through book looks, data meetings and observations within each year group and fed back to individual teachers. Through this process individual children were identified for further support.

The three schools within the Fairchildes Academy Community Trust moderated across all year groups during the Autumn and Spring Term.

Formal Assessment was also used to identify needs:

• Phonics screening in Year 1
• SALT assessments
• Talk Boost Assessments
• Fine motor skills assessment

Children were added to the SEN register if their ability was significantly below their peers and a short-term barrier could not account for their lack of progress or attainment.  Parents were involved in decision making and reviews of decisions were held regularly.

This year has seen a continued rise in referrals  to CAMHS and since September 2023, 9 referrals have been submitted. An additional 2 referrals have been submitted to the Community Paediatricians for children under 5 years.

Provision for children in school

• Speech and Language

Between Sept 23 and July 24 four NHS Speech and Language therapists have been in school. The NHS therapists, Communications Coordinator and SENCO have met to discuss individual children and new referrals.

Due to the reduced NHS SALT service, the therapists covering mainstream primary pupils were still not in a position to offer Speech and Language Therapy assessment, intervention or support to mainstream pupils, where this had not been specified via a pupil’s EHCP.

NHS therapists continued to deliver in clinic support and reviews to pupils in mainstream schools with appropriate EHCPs. Our attached therapist, Natalie Norden, provided verbal and email feedback regarding pupil reviews and target information to the Communications Coordinator and SENCO.

NHS therapists continued to come to school to deliver support and reviews to pupils in the 360 MLD ELP with appropriate EHCPs. The Communications Coordinator joined the therapists in the 360 for reviews and support sessions.

Speech and language provision specified on EHCPs issued after January 2023 have had support provided by commissioned SALT services via the Local Authority. Some of these children had a long wait to receive their assessments and support.

The waiting list for new referrals to the NHS SALT service was on average 6-8 weeks. Eleven new referrals were made. Four children were assessed in the therapist’s clinic, targets were set and then the children were discharged. The children will not come onto the NHS caseload until the service is able to provide support.

Three children have been assessed by the stammering therapist and two of these children were taken onto the caseload. One child is still on the waiting list. Three children did not attend their assessment appointments. Parents were given the opportunity by the NHS service to book an appointment that suited them. The Communications Coordinator gave parents face to face and phone reminders. Having all initial assessments in clinic impacted on the attendance rates.

The Communications Coordinator continued to deliver the ICAN Talk Boost programme to two KS1 groups and one KS2 group. Good progress was made by all the groups.

One child with an EHCP was reviewed and assessed then discharged to targeted level.

One out of borough child with an EHCP was provided with speech and language sessions by his local borough. He was assessed and targets set over a number of sessions by Lets Get Talking speech and language service. The Communications Coordinator joined the sessions and delivered ongoing support. 

The Communications Coordinator liaised with out of borough therapists for two nursery children and delivered the recommended support

Children from KS1 and KS2 who are not on caseload have joined NHS language groups for an additional boost.                                                                                                       

Throughout the year, weekly language groups have been accessed by all Reception children and those identified as requiring additional support joined daily groups before being referred to the NHS SALT service.          

Nursery children have also benefited from twice weekly support groups.

There are presently 37 children on the NHS caseload and 47 not the caseload who assessed Speech and Language group support throughout the year.

• Occupational Therapy

The NHS Occupational Therapy service was reduced this year. Susan Middleton is the OT attached to the 360 MLD ELP. She previously visited on a regular basis, working alongside our OT teaching assistant, providing advice and support. This year Susan has only been available to visit to review those children in the MLD ELP who have OT provision outlined in their EHCPs. 

OT support has been delivered in school to both individuals and small groups this year, including the Funky Fingers programme & Sensory Programmes for identified children who needed support in developing these skills. The Sensory Room is timetabled for all age groups. 

• Mentoring

Checking in sessions have continued as needed (a request can be made from a parent, child, teacher or social care).  1-1 mentoring & small group sessions have been held in the Mentors room.

Mentors have provided a significant level of family support over the last year especially due to the cost of living crisis. They have signposted families as well as providing direct support and running our Pre-Loved uniform shop.

• Counselling

15 children have received regular counselling sessions during the year.

Our adult counsellor has also supported 6 parents/carers or staff members over the last year.

• Animal Therapy Sessions – weekly sessions with Pets and Ponies were provided for children during the summer term.
• Therapy dog - weekly visits began in the Summer term with the Therapy dog Mable. She visited classes and worked with small groups and individual children with the learning mentors or Co-Head supporting the sessions.
• Parenting support - The class teachers, pastoral team and SENCO regularly contacted parents via email, WEDUC and telephone to offer parenting support as requested. For Parents’ evening there was the option of face to face or online meetings.
• Learning interventions, IEP and EHCP provision continued. 

We have an extensive staff at Fairchildes who continuously look to develop their practice and extend their expertise.  An ongoing programme of training is in place to ensure that teachers and support staff have appropriate skills and knowledge.

This year training has included:

• First Aid/Paediatric First Aid
• Safeguarding
• Inclusion plans

• Neurodiversity
• Sensory support
• Inclusion/behaviour
• Autism training

Equipment and Facilities

Fairchildes has extensive resources to meet the needs of children with SEN (see our school offer). This year we have continued our use of augmented technology to include: ipads, reading pens, laptops as well as using software such as Times Table Rockstars and Communication in Print (Widgit).

The use of outside agencies very much depends upon the individual needs. However, some are frequent visitors to school.

1. The Educational Psychologist

This year our EP has been Dr. J Lawton. She has made regular visits to school this year.

2. Speech and Language Therapy

Our liaison link therapist is Natalie Norden. The SENCO and Communications Coordinator work closely with her and parents to meet the needs of the children presently on the caseload.

Children with EHCPs in the 360 centre have had their speech and language needs met during regular visits from therapist Hannah Gallagher. The Communications Coordinator joins Hannah in therapy sessions, reviews as well as providing support for 360 children.

3. Occupational Therapy

Our liaison occupational therapist is Susan Middleton.  Susan currently visits the 360 ELP to review targeted children as well as providing advice to the staff and their parents.

4. Locality SEND Support Scheme

Fairchildes has continued to be part of the Locality SEND Locality Support Scheme this academic year.  The school has requested support for several children with SEN.  Fairchildes has also received support for SALT assessments, EP advice and Music therapy for a group of children. The locality scheme has seen schools in the area benefit from closer working practices that has supported the transition for children going to high school.

5.  CAMHS/Community Paediatrician

We refer children to CAMHS or to the community Paediatrician for concerns regarding their mental health or for a diagnostic assessment of ASD and ADHD. Referrals are also made for Emotional Well Being Support via CAMHS.

School SEN Offer: https://www.factrust.org/fairchildessenoffer

School Policies: https://www.factrust.org/fairchildesschoolpolicies

Fairchildes Inclusion Team
Miss Byers/Mr Gyford	Co-Heads of School
Mrs Lillo	SENCO
Mrs Lacy	Child Protection/Safeguarding Team
Miss Dymott	Attendance
Kamalasura, Mrs Lacy, Ms England & Miss Gifford	Mentors
Mr Bryers	SPIL Counsellor
Ms Howland/Ms Murphy	Breakfast Club
Ms Howland/Ms Newton	After School Club
Mrs Wicker	Communications Co-ordinator
Mrs Duffield	Medical Care Plans
Mrs Andrews	Dietary Needs
If you are concerned about your child and feel that he/she needs more support, please don't hesitate to speak to your child's class teacher or to any member of the Inclusion Team	You can contact any of these members of staff through the main school switchboard - 01689 842268 Contact Miss Byers & Mr Gyford directly - co-heads@fairchildes.croydon.sch.uk

• ASD Autistic Spectrum Disorder 
• ADD/ADHD Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• BSS Behaviour Support Service
• CAMHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
• EHCP Education Health Care Plan
• EP Educational Psychologist
• EWO Education Welfare Officer
• FSM Free School Meals
• G&T Gifted & Talented
• HI Hearing Impaired
• IEP Individual Education Plan
• LA Local Authority
• LD Learning Difficulties
• LSA Learning Support Assistant
• MLD Moderate Learning Difficulties
• NC National Curriculum
• NELI Nuffield Early Language Intervention
• ODD Oppositional Defiance Disorder
• OT Occupational Therapy
• PRU Pupil Referral Unit
• SALT/SLT Speech and Language Therapy
• SATs Standard Assessment Tests
• SEN Special Educational Needs
• SENCo Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
• SLD Severe Learning Difficulties
• SpLD Specific Learning Difficulties
• SPM Sensory, Physical, Medical
• SEMH Social, Emotional and Mental Health
• TA Teaching Assistant
• VI Visually Impaired