Why are students on the SEN register at Ashwell Academy?

The Children and Families Act 2014 section 20 (C & F Act 2014 s.20) defines when a child or young person has special educational needs (SEN), this is when they have either a learning difficulty or a disability and they need special educational provision (SEP) to be made for them. SEP is defined as any education or training provision which is additional to or different from that generally made for others of the same age in mainstream schools or post-16 institutions in England, as an Alternative Provision Academy we are providing SEP for all students.

We take into account and carefully look at students KS2 results when they are provided. We look at the baseline assessments done by teachers in the first two weeks of students being with us at the Ashwell Academy. We also look at and take into account data from previous schools.

We understand and are fully aware that the government has made changes to the way students will be assessed and that National Curriculum levels no longer in use but as yet we have no clear alternatives to prior data. We take into account that students could be at that particular level because of a SEN or due to gaps in their learning.

Students are all given a reading test upon entry to Ashwell Academy and this gives us a reading age which we compare to their chronological age but it also provides a standardised score to allow us to see which centile the student falls into and therefore determines if they have moderate or specific learning difficulties. Further assessments be identified after the initial assessment has taken place.

For students at Ashwell Academy who do not have cognitive and learning ability issues to deem them as having moderate or specific learning difficulties, we take into account and look at their social, emotional and mental health needs. Students who are attending Ashwell Academy are receiving special educational provision (SEP) and as such are placed on the SEN register if they display some or all of the local SEN Bandings for the SEMH category;

  • Social isolation
  • Difficulty in forming relationships with peers
  • Immature social/emotional skills
  • Lack of self-awareness: e.g. inability to recognise/identify one’s own difficulties.
  • Indications of anxiety, depression and/or stress
  • Over reaction to peers; easily upset. Hyper-vigilance.
  • Displays mannerisms indicating anxiety – flinches; avoids contact; overly alert/aware.
  • Over-reactive to e.g.criticism; tendency to ‘harbour grudges’; moods impact on social or learning skills.
  • Unduly worries about situations; false perceptions.