SEND

The Four Areas of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Children who are identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may experience barriers to learning that fall within one or more of the four broad areas of need identified in the SEND Code of Practice. Identifying a child's primary area of need helps us to understand the support they may require and enables us to provide effective provision tailored to their individual strengths and needs.

At Fairfield Primary School, we are committed to Quality First Teaching, ensuring that high-quality classroom practice is the foundation of support for all learners. Our provision is further strengthened through the use of Ordinarily Available Provision, enabling teachers to make appropriate adaptations and reasonable adjustments to meet individual needs. Where additional support is required, we work closely with parents and carers through the graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do, Review, ensuring that provision remains purposeful, effective and responsive to each child's progress.

Communication and Interaction

Some children may experience difficulties with communication, language and interaction. These needs can affect how a child understands information, expresses themselves or engages with others.

Examples include:

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)

Cognition and Learning

Children with cognition and learning needs may require additional support to acquire knowledge and develop skills across the curriculum. The level and type of support required will vary according to individual needs.

Examples include:

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

Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

Some children may experience difficulties that impact their emotional wellbeing, social development or mental health. These challenges can affect their ability to engage successfully with learning and school life.

Examples may include:

• Anxiety and worries
• Difficulties with emotional regulation
• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Low mood or depression
• Challenging behaviour linked to underlying needs
• Trauma or attachment-related difficulties

At Fairfield, we place great importance on nurturing positive mental health and emotional wellbeing, ensuring that children feel safe, supported and ready to learn. We are fortunate to have a dedicated Pastoral Care team. 

Sensory and/or Physical Needs

Some children require additional support due to a physical disability or sensory impairment that affects their access to learning and the school environment.

Examples include:

• Visual Impairment (VI)
• Hearing Impairment (HI)
• Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
• Physical Disability (PD)

We work closely with specialist services and families to ensure that appropriate adaptations, resources and support are in place so that all pupils can access the Curriculum and fully participate in school life.

At Fairfield Primary School, we recognise that every child is unique. Our aim is to identify needs early, work collaboratively with families and external professionals, and provide the right support at the right time so that every pupil can thrive, achieve and reach their full potential.

SEND Policies

Cumberland SEND Information Hub

Cumberland SEND Local Offer

The Cumberland SEND Local Offer provides information about education, health and care services available for children and young people with SEND across the local area.

https://cumberlandsend.co.uk/cumberland-send

Local Support Services

Cumberland Neurodiversity and Emotional Wellbeing Team
Provides advice, guidance and support for children and young people with neurodiverse needs and emotional wellbeing concerns.

https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/neurodiversity-and-emotional-wellbeing

Cumberland Family Hub
A valuable source of information, support, services and community opportunities for children, young people and families.

https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/homepage

Barnardo's Mental Health Support Team
Provides support, advice and resources to promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing for children and young people.

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services/north-cumbria-mental-health-support-team

National Organisations

National Autistic Society
Offers information, guidance and support for autistic children, young people and their families.

www.autism.org.uk/

Speech and Language UK
Provides expert advice and resources for children with speech, language and communication needs.

https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/

RADLD (Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder)
A charity dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).

https://radld.org/

Local Charities and Community Organisations

These organisations provide valuable support, advice, advocacy and opportunities for children and families across Cumbria and beyond.

Bee Unique
Supporting autistic children, young people and their families through advice, events and community support.

https://beeuniquecharity.co.uk/

Owl Blue
Providing specialist support and services for children, young people and adults with autism and related needs.

https://www.owlblue.org/

West House
Offering a range of support services that promote independence, inclusion and wellbeing.

https://westhouse.org.uk

ASAAC
Supporting individuals with autism and associated conditions through specialist advice and services.

https://www.asaac.org/

SEND Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC)
Providing information, guidance and advocacy for families of children and young people with SEND.

https://www.sendac.org

Understanding Our Interventions and Support

At Fairfield Primary School, we use a range of targeted interventions to support pupils' academic, social, emotional and communication needs. The support offered is always carefully matched to a child's individual needs and forms part of our graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do, Review. Below is an overview of some of the interventions and support available in school.

Dyslexia Support and Screening

We use a range of dyslexia-friendly strategies and targeted interventions to support pupils who may be experiencing difficulties with reading, spelling, memory, processing or writing. These interventions focus on developing phonological awareness, reading fluency, spelling patterns and confidence as learners.

Where appropriate, we may use a dyslexia screener to help identify whether a child is displaying indicators commonly associated with dyslexia. It is important to note that a dyslexia screener does not provide a diagnosis of dyslexia. Instead, it helps school staff identify areas of need and determine the most appropriate support and interventions for the child. Mrs. Barrientos is trained in completing the screeners.

• West Cumbria Dyslexia Association
• My Neurons | About Sarah

Further information regarding Coloured Overlay Assessments for Visual Stress can be found in the documents below.

Targeted Classroom Intervention and Pre-Teaching

Many pupils benefit from additional support within the classroom. This may include small-group work, targeted teaching, scaffolded resources or pre-teaching, where key vocabulary and concepts are introduced before a lesson. This approach helps pupils feel more confident and prepared when accessing whole-class learning.

Little Wandle Phonics Interventions

These structured interventions support children who require additional help with early reading skills. Sessions focus on phonics knowledge, decoding strategies, blending sounds and reading fluency, enabling pupils to develop confidence and make accelerated progress in reading.

Little Wandle Rapid Catch-Up Programme

For pupils who need further support beyond their phonics lessons, additional catch-up programmes are delivered to address gaps in learning (Year 2 onwards) These sessions provide regular opportunities to revisit and secure essential phonics knowledge and skills.

Little Wandle SEND Programme

At Fairfield Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident and successful reader. For pupils with more complex special educational needs and disabilities, we utilise the Little Wandle SEND Programme, a specialist phonics pathway specifically designed to meet the needs of children who require a more personalised and carefully sequenced approach to reading development.

The Little Wandle SEND Programme follows the same evidence-based principles as the main Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme but has been thoughtfully adapted to support pupils with a wide range of communication, cognition, learning, sensory and physical needs. Learning is broken down into small, manageable steps, allowing children to work at a pace that is appropriate for their individual stage of development and ensuring that success is celebrated at every stage of the learning journey.

Reciprocal Reading

Reciprocal Reading is a structured approach to developing reading comprehension. Pupils are taught strategies such as predicting, questioning, clarifying and summarising, helping them to become more confident and independent readers who can understand and discuss texts in greater depth.

WellComm

WellComm is a language assessment and intervention programme used to identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs. Activities focus on developing vocabulary, understanding, listening skills and spoken language, helping children to communicate more effectively and access learning successfully.

Speech and Language Therapy Programmes

Where pupils have identified speech and language needs, school staff may deliver programmes designed by Speech and Language Therapists. These interventions target specific areas such as speech sounds, vocabulary development, language understanding, sentence structure and social communication skills.

Attention Autism

Attention Autism is an engaging intervention designed to develop attention, communication and interaction skills. Through highly motivating activities, pupils are encouraged to focus, participate and communicate in a supportive and structured environment. Miss. E. Little is full trained and delivers the programme.

ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)

ELSA sessions support children who may be experiencing emotional difficulties or who need help developing social and emotional skills. Areas covered may include managing emotions, building self-esteem, friendship skills, resilience, coping with change, bereavement and anxiety.

Pastoral, Nurture and Counselling Support

Our pastoral team provides additional emotional and wellbeing support for pupils who may be facing challenges in school or at home. Through nurture-based approaches, CBT, Draw & Talk Therapy, Lego Therapy and wider counselling support, we help children develop confidence, emotional regulation and positive relationships.

We also have good links with the BEWO (Behaviour, Emotional, Well-being Officer) at the Local Authority. 

Sensory Circuits

Sensory Circuits are a series of carefully designed physical activities that help children regulate their sensory systems and prepare for learning. Sessions may include alerting, organising and calming activities and are particularly beneficial for pupils with sensory processing difficulties or those who find it challenging to maintain focus and attention. These sessions take place daily, in the mornings and are led by Mrs. J. Platt. 

Sensory Audits and Sensory Support

Some pupils experience sensory differences that can affect their learning and wellbeing. Sensory audits help staff identify individual sensory needs and develop appropriate strategies, adjustments and resources to support children throughout the school day.

Sensory Spaces and Sensory Room

Our sensory spaces provide a calm, supportive environment where children can regulate their emotions, manage sensory overload and develop self-regulation strategies. These areas are carefully designed to meet a range of sensory needs and support pupils in feeling ready to learn.

Thanks to the generosity and support of Fairfield parents, alongside our dedicated Friends of Fairfield Team, we have been fortunate to raise funds to create a purpose-built Sensory Room within school.

This valuable space provides pupils with a calm, nurturing environment where they can regulate their emotions, manage sensory needs and develop strategies to support their wellbeing. Equipped with a range of sensory resources, the room offers opportunities for children to engage in activities that promote relaxation, focus and self-regulation, enabling them to return to learning feeling settled and ready to succeed.

Engagement Model Support

For a small number of pupils who are not yet accessing the mainstream curriculum, we may use the Engagement Model to assess and support progress. This approach focuses on areas such as exploration, persistence, initiation, anticipation and attention, celebrating small but significant steps in learning and development.

Bespoke Interventions

Every child is different, and some pupils require highly personalised support. We therefore design bespoke intervention programmes tailored to specific needs, drawing on specialist advice, assessment information and close collaboration with families and external professionals.

At Fairfield Primary School, our aim is always to provide the right support, at the right time, in the right way, ensuring that every child is able to thrive, feel successful and reach their full potential.

Transition

At Fairfield Primary School, we understand that moving to secondary school/ specialist provision is a significant milestone in a child's life. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils feel confident, prepared and supported as they take this important next step in their educational journey.

We have strong, well-established relationships with our local secondary schools and work closely with staff to ensure that transition arrangements are carefully planned and tailored to meet the needs of individual pupils. Throughout Year 6, children are given opportunities to become familiar with their new school, staff and routines, helping to build confidence and reduce any anxieties about the move.

For pupils with SEND, additional transition support may be arranged where appropriate. This may include enhanced transition visits, personalised transition resources, meetings between primary and secondary staff, pupil profiles and opportunities for children to become familiar with key members of staff and learning environments before they start. Our aim is to ensure that every child experiences a smooth and successful transition and feels ready to embrace the opportunities ahead.

Where a pupil is transitioning to a specialist provision, planning is coordinated through the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) review process. We work closely with families, secondary settings, the Local Authority and external professionals to ensure that appropriate support and provision are in place before the transition takes place.

We recognise that parents and carers play a vital role in this process and are committed to working in partnership throughout. If you would like to discuss transition arrangements for your child, please contact Mrs. S. Little who will be happy to provide further information and support.

Further Support Services

At Fairfield Primary School, we believe that effective support for children with SEND is built on strong partnerships between school, families and specialist services. We work closely with a range of professionals to ensure that pupils receive the advice, assessment and support they need to thrive both in school and beyond.

Our SEND team has established strong relationships with specialist teachers, advisory services and our local Educational Psychologist, who work alongside school staff to provide guidance, recommendations and training. We also liaise regularly with a wide range of NHS and external services, including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Community Paediatricians, Mental Health Services and Neurodevelopmental Teams. These partnerships help us to provide the most effective support for our pupils and ensure that families can access the services and expertise they may need.

If you have concerns regarding your child's communication and language development, learning, emotional wellbeing, neurodiversity, physical needs or medical needs, please contact Mrs. S. Little, who will be happy to offer advice and discuss the support available.

The following organisations and services may also be helpful for parents and carers seeking further information and support:

Cumberland SEND Local Offer

The Cumberland SEND Local Offer provides information about education, health and care services available for children and young people with SEND across the local area.

https://cumberlandsend.co.uk/cumberland-send

SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

SENDIASS offers free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support for children, young people and their families.

https://sendiass.cumberland.gov.uk/cumberland-send-information-advice-and-support-service-send-iass

SEND Alliance Cumbria (SENDAC)

SENDAC provides support, guidance and advocacy for families of children and young people with SEND.

https://www.sendac.org/

Children's Learning Disability and Autism Teams

Specialist support for children and young people with learning disabilities and autism, including advice for families and professionals.

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/learning-disability-and-autism-services/childrens-learning-disability-and-autism-teams-in-the-trust/

Community Paediatrics

Assessment and support for children with developmental, medical and neurodevelopmental needs.

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/services/community-paediatrics

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Specialist mental health services supporting children and young people experiencing emotional or mental health difficulties.

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-service-west/

Speech and Language Therapy

Information and support relating to speech, language and communication needs.

https://cumberlandsend.co.uk/who-provides-health-services-cumbria/speech-and-language

ADHD Services

Information about assessment pathways and support for children and young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/services/north-cumbria-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-cyps-east-cntw270/

Occupational Therapy

Advice and support for children experiencing difficulties with fine motor skills, sensory processing, independence and everyday activities.

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/services/childrens-occupational-therapy

Through these partnerships and services, we are committed to ensuring that every child and family receives the support, guidance and opportunities they need to flourish.

Early Intervention Programme

The Early Intervention Programme has been designed to make links between Special Schools and Mainstream Schools. It has been designed to support primary students across Cumbria, who experience comparable barriers to learning. It involves a mainstream team, who require additional support or strategies to enable a student to make progress to refer to the relevant Special School. Our catchment school is Mayfield School, Whitehaven. 

PIVATS

For some pupils with complex learning needs, Fairfield Primary School uses PIVATS (Performance Indicators for Value Added Target Setting) to assess, monitor and celebrate progress. PIVATS enables staff to identify and measure the small steps of learning that may not be captured through age-related curriculum expectations, providing a clear picture of a child's individual development over time.

The information gathered through PIVATS helps teachers to set personalised targets, plan appropriate next steps and ensure that provision remains closely matched to a pupil's needs. Progress is reviewed regularly and shared with parents through school reports, review meetings and ongoing communication.

Further information is explained in the video below.