The Holgate Academy aims to support students with special educational needs by seeking to remove barriers to learning and participation, ensuring that all our students have access to an appropriate education that affords them the opportunity to achieve their personal potential and move on to the next steps in life.
Our SEND aims
- To ensure that all students have access to a broad and rich curriculum
- To provide an adapted curriculum appropriate to individual needs and ability
- To ensure the identification of all students requiring SEND provision as early as possible in their academy career
- To ensure that SEND students take as full a part as possible in all academy activities
- To ensure that parents of SEND students are kept fully informed of their child’s progress and attainment.
- To ensure that SEND students are involved, where practicable, in decisions affecting their future
Policies and reports
You can find our SEND policy on our dedicated policies page and a copy of our SEND report below.
We recognise that many students will have special needs at some time during their academy life. In implementing this policy, we believe students will be helped to overcome their difficulties. Whilst many factors contribute to the range of difficulties experienced by some children, we believe that much can be done to overcome them by parents, teachers and students working together.
Our SEND offer
At The Holgate Academy, we believe every student deserves to feel included, supported and able to thrive. We are a fully inclusive mainstream setting, committed to ensuring all students regardless of need or ability can access a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum.
We follow a whole‑school approach to SEND where every teacher is a teacher of SEND and where students’ academic, social and emotional needs are understood and supported through high‑quality provision.
If you have any questions about SEND, we are always here to help.
Key Contacts
- SENCO: Miss M Berry – info@holgate-ac.org.uk
- Assistant SENCO: Mrs S McLaughlin
- Assistant principal (inclusion): Mrs H Chauhan
- SEND governor: Kate Turner
- Principal: Mr H Diamond
Our SEND vision
We are committed to:
- Removing barriers to learning
- Ensuring equal access to education
- Providing high‑quality teaching and targeted support
- Working in full partnership with parents, carers and external professionals
- Ensuring SEND students feel safe, understood, valued and successful
- Preparing young people for independence and adulthood
Our provision is shaped by current legislation including:
- Children & Families Act (2014)
- SEND Code of Practice 0–25
- Equality Act (2010)
- Accessibility Regulations
What types of need do we support?
We support students with a range of needs, including:
Cognition and learning
- Slow progress or attainment significantly below age expectations
- Difficulties with memory, retention or problem‑solving
- Dyslexia, dyscalculia, or general learning needs
Communication and interaction
- Speech, language or communication needs
- Autism spectrum conditions
- Difficulties understanding verbal information or following instructions
- Preference for routine; challenges with change
Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH)
- Anxiety or school-based phobia
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Challenging behaviour
- Low self-esteem or difficulties forming friendships
Sensory, medical and physical Needs
- Physical disability or mobility needs
- Sensory processing difficulties
- Visual/hearing impairments
- Medical conditions requiring individual health care plans
How we identify and assess SEND
We use a graduated response (Assess → Plan → Do → Review) to identify and support needs.
Assessment may include:
- Classroom observations
- Teacher assessments and progress data
- Standardised reading and spelling ages
- Parent and student voice
- Behaviour, attendance and wellbeing information
- Specialist assessments (EP, Springboard, CAMHS, OT etc.)
Parents are involved at every stage.
Our Graduated Response – support at each level
We offer three tiers of support depending on need:
| Wave 1
Quality first teaching (universal offer).
Available to all students, including those with SEND.
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| Wave 2
Short‑term targeted interventions.
For students needing additional short-term help (6-8-week blocks). |
Educational interventions:
Pastoral/SEMH interventions:
Students may or may not be added to the SEND Register at this stage. |
| Wave 3
SEND Support (Code K).
For students needing long‑term, significant additional support. |
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Education, health and care plans (EHCPs)
If a student continues to have significant and complex needs despite substantial support, the academy may work with parents to request an education, health and care needs assessment.
An EHCP is a legal document outlining the student’s needs and the provision required to meet them.
We work closely with Nottinghamshire Local Authority throughout this process.
Supporting students beyond the classroom
The Hub
A small, calm environment for:
- SEMH support
- Reintegration back into lessons
- Supported academic work
- Small-group interventions
The Hub
A nurture-based academic support space for students requiring a quieter or more structured environment.
Specialist SEMH support for students who need additional emotional or behavioural intervention.
Clubs, activities and enrichment
All students with SEND are supported to take part in:
- Trips and visits
- After-school clubs
- Period 6 interventions
- Sports and arts activities
- Leadership opportunities
Reasonable adjustments are made to ensure full participation.
We work collaboratively with outside agencies ensuring specialist advice and provision support effective teaching and learning.
The academy’s climate for learning structure ensures that any student who requires additional support receives this through normal timetabled provision. In addition to this, there is a large team of experienced teaching assistants who provide individual and small group support to students.
Teaching staff all practice quality first and adaptive teaching to ensure that individual students’ needs are met and that all students achieve their academic potential.
Key contacts and meet our team
For further information about the support we provide, please contact our SENDCO and Designated Senior Person for Child Protection, Miss M Berry, and her team at: senadmin@holgate-ac.org.uk or by contacting the main office on 0115 9632104.
What is the SEND Local Offer?
In September 2014, the government made many changes to the way that children and young people aged 0 to 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are supported. This included making Local Authorities produce a ‘ SEND Local Offer’.
The SEND Local Offer aims to bring together helpful and useful information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. It is a comprehensive guide to services and support all in one place.
