Our SEND Information Report – which is part of Durham County Council’s Local Offer – provides details about how we support children and young people with Special Educational Needs in our school.

The Children and Families Bill was enacted in September 2014. From this date Local Authorities (LA) and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) aged 0-25. The LA refer to this as the ‘Local Offer’. The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice and transparency for families. It will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area.

SEND Information Report

Our SEND Information Report was reviewed and updated in September 2026.

At Ribbon Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every child is valued, supported and enabled to achieve their full potential. We believe that all children should have access to a broad, balanced and inclusive education that meets their individual needs and prepares them for future success.

If you would like to discuss our SEND provision, the support available for your child, or any aspect of our SEND Information Report, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment with our SENDCo, Mrs Kim Flower.

Key SEND Contacts: –

• Mrs Ashleigh Sheridan – Headteacher
• Mrs Kim Flower – Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion (SENDCo)
• Mrs Elaine Chandler – SEND Link Trustee
• Mrs Jo Lowes – Teaching & Learning Lead for Inclusion

What is SEND?

At Ribbon Academy, we recognise and celebrate the unique strengths, interests and talents of every child. We are committed to promoting children’s rights in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Article 28 states that every child has the right to an education, while Article 23 highlights the rights of children with disabilities to enjoy a full and fulfilling life with dignity, independence and active participation in their community. These principles underpin our inclusive approach and our commitment to helping every child thrive.

A child or young person has Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for them.

According to the SEND Code of Practice (2015), a child or young person has SEND if they:

• Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or
• Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools.

A disability is defined by the Equality Act 2010 as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The support provided for children and young people with SEND varies according to their individual needs. Support may involve adaptations within the classroom, targeted interventions, specialist resources, or involvement from external professionals across education, health and social care services. We work closely with children, parents, carers and partner agencies to ensure that support is carefully planned, regularly reviewed and centred on achieving the best possible outcomes for every child.

At Ribbon Academy, we are passionate about creating an inclusive environment where all children feel safe, valued, respected and supported to succeed.

The Four Broad Areas of SEND

The SEND Code of Practice identifies four broad areas of special educational need and disability. At Ribbon Academy, we recognise that every child is unique and that needs may overlap across more than one area. We work closely with children, families and external professionals to ensure that support is personalised, effective and focused on positive outcomes.

Communication and Interaction

Some children and young people experience difficulties with speech, language and communication. These needs can affect how they understand information, express themselves, interact with others and develop social relationships.

Children with communication and interaction needs may require support with:

• Understanding and processing spoken language
• Expressing ideas, thoughts and feelings
• Developing vocabulary and language skills
• Social communication and interaction
• Building and maintaining relationships with peers and adults

This area includes children who are autistic and those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). We recognise the strengths and individual differences of autistic pupils and provide an inclusive environment that supports communication, independence, wellbeing and successful participation in school life.

Cognition and Learning

Some children and young people may require additional support to access learning and make progress. Learning needs can present in different ways and at varying levels of complexity.

This area of SEND includes:

• Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD)
• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
• Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia

Children may benefit from targeted teaching approaches, adapted resources, additional interventions or specialist support to help them achieve their potential and become confident learners.

Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

Some children and young people may experience social, emotional or mental health needs that affect their wellbeing, behaviour, relationships or ability to engage with learning.

These needs may present in a variety of ways, including:

• Anxiety or worries
• Low confidence or self-esteem
• Difficulties managing emotions
• Challenges forming and maintaining relationships
• Periods of withdrawal or isolation
• Difficulties with attention, concentration or self-regulation
• Behaviour that communicates an underlying need or difficulty
• Mental health challenges that may impact learning and daily life

At Ribbon Academy, we take a nurturing and relational approach, working in partnership with children, families and external agencies where appropriate. We recognise the importance of promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing for all pupils.

Sensory and/or Physical Needs

Some children and young people have a physical disability, sensory impairment or medical condition that requires additional support to access learning and school life.

This may include:

• Visual impairment (VI)
• Hearing impairment (HI)
• Multi-sensory impairment (MSI)
• Physical disabilities
• Medical conditions that impact learning or attendance

Some pupils may require specialist equipment, adaptations to the environment, reasonable adjustments, or support from specialist services. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils can participate fully in the life of the school and access a broad and balanced curriculum.

Our staff are trained to recognise and support the four broad areas of SEND, and we work closely with a range of external agencies and professionals whenever specialist advice or support is required.

Pupils with Medical Needs

Ribbon Academy is committed to ensuring that pupils with medical conditions are fully supported to access education safely and successfully.

Where a pupil has a medical need, whether temporary or long term, an Individual Healthcare Plan or Care Plan will be developed in partnership with parents/carers, healthcare professionals and, where appropriate, the pupil themselves. These plans are regularly reviewed and shared with relevant staff.

The school:

• Maintains up-to-date healthcare and care plans for pupils with medical needs.
• Records medical incidents, treatments and communications with families using Medical Tracker.
• Contacts parents/carers following medical incidents or treatment administered in school.
• Has a number of qualified first aiders on site at all times.
• Provides regular training for staff in areas such as asthma management, anaphylaxis, epilepsy, diabetes and the administration of emergency medication.
• Maintains emergency medication in line with statutory guidance.
• Holds emergency adrenaline auto-injectors through our Kitt Medical provision for use in emergencies involving both children and adults, with appropriately trained staff available to respond.
• Is proud to be a BEAT Asthma Accredited School, demonstrating our commitment to supporting pupils with asthma safely and effectively.

Through strong communication with families and healthcare professionals, we strive to ensure that pupils with medical needs feel safe, included and able to participate fully in all aspects of school life.