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Special Needs
The college was awarded the Specialist Schools and Academies Trusts Inclusion Award at Extending Level in 2009.
This award recognized that the college provides an excellent level of educational support and opportunity for all students regardless of their particular needs or abilities from the age of 11 to 19+. Please also see the separate sections relating to support of students with Marked Aptitudes and also those with significant Communication and Learning Difficulties; The Circle Project.
Our successful provision is underpinned by a high level of communication, cooperation and trust between specialist staff, Parents/Carers and students. Parents/Carers are encouraged to support the work done in school at home where appropriate, and telephone, email and the student planner are used as a way of communicating between home and school.
The purpose of the provision is to provide the support and specialist expertise to allow students to reach their full potential. All students are encouraged to become independent learners, to aim high and develop resilience (to keep trying even when it gets tough). Staff who teach in mainstream classrooms are made aware of any barriers to learning the students may have and utilize the expertise of the SEN (Special Educational Needs) team to ensure that lessons are accessible. Students and Parents/Carers are supported at all transition points to make informed decisions about their next steps.
The type of provision provided will vary depending on staff assessment of need and will focus on the development of independence.
We do not encourage the use of constant one to one support but promote a blend of learning environments including; withdrawal into small teaching groups, use of teaching assistants to support the learning of several students in one class, some targeted one to one/two learning, small to ordinary sized teaching groups and teacher support within all mainstream lessons. Teachers and teaching assistants are made aware of the learning needs of an individual student through the Pupil Portrait. Pupil portraits also include information about a student’s strengths and useful strategies to support their learning in the classroom. These are reviewed regularly by staff, Parents/Carers and students and updated when required.
A student’s progress against their targets is regularly reviewed using Teacher/Teaching Assistant feedback and support is then tailored accordingly. As students’ progress improves they may be removed from the register (with the exception of those students who have a statement)
Our provision is tailored for students who have general or specific learning difficulties, physical disabilities or other difficulties that affect learning.
Where there is evidence that assessment by an outside agency is needed to help tailor an appropriate level of support for a student this will be arranged by the college. However, the college is happy to work with other professionals that Parents/Carers may decide to consult privately.
When students come to us with a Statutory Statement of Special Educational Need (SEN) the College staff work closely with East Sussex County Council Children’s Services Department to meet that young person’s needs. All special needs provision is in line with the National Special Educational Needs Code of Practice and Local Educational Authority guidelines.
To contact the Assistant Principal, Mrs Di Paola to discuss special needs provision in the first instance: telephone 01273 812220 ext 294 or email: tdipaola@ringmeracademy.org
Sixth Form Entry
The college sixth form can offer 100 places in year 12 with progression into year 13/14. These places are allocated as follows:-
Level 3: Courses have 73 places
Level 2: Courses 20 places
Level 1: 7 places (4 of these will be allocated to those young people from our Circle Project)
Priority for places will be given to our own students who have been on roll with us from January census of year 10.
A waiting list will be operated once these places are filled.
To enquire about SEN places in our 6th form contact Mr Burchett, Assistant Principal, pburchett@ringmeracademy.org