“When we work together on my targets, I feel great – I have learnt how to do something successfully.”
Dear Parents, Carers and the wider community,
At The Farnley Academy, we believe that all young people, regardless of ability or need, can prosper in excellent schools. We refuse to place limitations on any student’s performance and, as a consequence, students become increasingly ambitious and self-propelled as learners. We are extremely proud of our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision and the team work tirelessly to ensure that all our students have to support to reach their full potential.
As SENDCo, I coordinate the provision for students with SEND at the Academy. We have a fantastic team of professionals who work hard to ensure that all students make excellent progress. This team includes a SEND Manager, Learning Support Centre Leader, a SEND Administrative Assistant and a number of Teaching Assistants who specialise in a specific curriculum area. The Teaching Assistants work with key members of staff to support students with SEND and ensure that high quality intervention is delivered to meet the individual needs of our students. These interventions are planned to run alongside the high quality teaching and learning that all students benefit from here at the Academy. A carefully planned transition process, including close co-operation with our partner-primary schools, ensures that appropriate provision is in place when students start at The Farnley Academy.
The hub of our SEND provision is the Learning Support Centre (LSC). It is here that students attend individual and small group interventions. The LSC is led by Karen Lawson (SEND Manager), and our Learning Support Centre Leaders who have extensive experience of working with SEND students. This is also a supervised area which SEND students can use at break, lunch and after school where they can access support in completing homework.
Mr Trembath
Director of SEND
SENDCo
Joanna Booth
Assistant Principal – SEND
Alex Trembath
Director of SEND
Karen Lawson
SEND Manager
Rachel Shaw
Assistant SENDCO
Parental Engagement
Our SEND Engage Evenings provide a valuable opportunity for parents and carers to meet with a member of the SEND team and review the support and provision in place for their child.
We are also delighted to invite you to our SEND Coffee Mornings. These informal sessions offer a chance to visit the Academy, meet members of the SEND team and chat over a coffee and cake in a relaxed and welcoming environment. We would love for you to join us and share your thoughts, questions, and experiences.
Please see below for the dates of these important events.
If you have any questions, please contact us via our information email address: [email protected]
We look forward to meeting you.
Coffee Mornings
SEND Engage Evenings
| Date | Year Group |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 13 October 2026 | Year 7 |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | Year 11 |
| Tuesday 2 February 2027 | Year 9 |
| Tuesday 3 March 2027 | Year 8 |
| Tuesday 15 June 2027 | Year 10 |
| Wednesday 7 July 2027 | Year 6 |
| Date | Year Group |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 15 September 2026 | Year 7 |
| Tuesday 6 October 2026 | Year 11 |
| Tuesday 19 January 2027 | Year 9 |
| Tuesday 27 April 2027 | Year 10 |
| Tuesday 22 June 2027 | Year 8 |
For further information, please read our Frequently Asked Questions below
How are children and young people included in the planning for their support and provision?[email protected]2025-09-05T08:31:14+01:00
- At The Farnley Academy, excellent relationships are fostered between students and members of staff to ensure all young people feel comfortable and confident when having conversations about their education.
- When a student requires additional provision, this will be explained to that young person as appropriate.
- Every week, students receive an opportunity to speak one-to-one with their form tutor and voice any concerns or troubles they may be experiencing. The form tutor will then deal with this by any appropriate means.
- When reviewing provision, students will meet as appropriate with the SENDCo, Head of Year, Student Performance & Well Being Manager, Inclusion & Safeguarding Officer or form tutor to resolve any worries they may have and promote understanding.
How are parents involved in the academy? How can I be involved?[email protected]2025-09-05T08:30:40+01:00
- The academy holds parents and carers consultation evening’s, where they can discuss a student with class teachers and the SENDCo.
- In addition to parents and carers consultation evening’s, curriculum subjects and some support departments hold an ENGAGE Evening, when parents are invited to experience a lesson and gain valuable advice on how to engage students at home.
- If a decision is being made about a particular student, or group of students, the parents and carers of those students will be contacted.
- All parents/carers are invited to join the governing body and in so doing to play a key role in the decision making process.
- If a parent/carer has any queries, then they are invited to contact the academy through the Student Planner, email or telephone.
- Parents of students with SEND are welcome to contact the SENDCo if they have any other enquiries.
How are the school’s resources allocated and matched to children’s/young people’s special educational needs?[email protected]2025-09-05T08:31:20+01:00
- If a student has an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the school will ensure the student has access to the provision described in that document. The provision will be reviewed in partnership with parents along with the student to ensure it is suitable in enabling him/her to make good progress whilst at the same time taking responsibility for their own learning and development.
- Students are assessed for potential SEND on a highly personalised basis. The SEND Team may be alerted to a particular student through referrals from a class teacher, form tutor, Head of Year, Student Performance & Well Being Manager or Inclusion & Safeguarding Officer, as well as information provided by parents/carers and external agencies.
- If the SENDCo wishes the student to be placed on the SEND Register, the student’s parents/carer will be invited into the academy to discuss the reasons for this and the potential impact being on the Register will have.
- The impact will be measured through the student’s progress in lessons, as well as Assessment Progress data and intervention outcomes.
- The SENDCo will oversee and assure the quality of this process, with input from a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
How will the school prepare and support my child/young person to join the academy, transfer to a new academy or the next stage of education and life?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:41:13+01:00
- For all prospective students, the SEND Team will liaise with the current school to ascertain the student’s needs to ensure that appropriate support is in place and a smooth transition is completed.
- If students have any additional needs, or are on the SEND Register, they may be selected by their primary school to attend additional transition days which will support the transition process and allow us to further identify any additional support a child may need.
- For students with existing SEND, we invite parents to contact us if they wish to meet regarding the transition of their child.
- Wherever possible, the SENDCo will attend the annual review of all Year 6 students with existing statements of SEND. This will allow a dialogue between the academy and primary school.
- In Year 6, all prospective students and their parents will be given the opportunity to attend an intake evening, where the policies and procedures for the academy will be given.
- All students are invited to attend a new intake day, when they will be introduced to elements of a ‘normal’ school day.
How will my child/young person be included in activities outside the classroom including academy trips?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:43:50+01:00
- The academy will always strive to ensure your child can play a full part in activities outside the classroom. If assistance is required for your child to fully participate, then the academy will, within the best of its ability, give such assistance.
- This may include access to the Supporting Achievement Fund, which can help subsidise a trip. It may also include consideration of different resources or an alternative activity to ensure that a student gets the most from a trip.
- Prior to a trip taking place, a letter will be sent home for the parent/carer to return giving consent.
- If a student has a specific need which may affect their participation on an academy trip, then the trip leader would consider this in the planning of the trip. All students are welcome to attend all extra-curricular activities which are available.
- Again, if extra support is required for a student to participate in an extra-curricular activity, then it will be considered in the planning and running of the activity.
- For students with SEND, extra-curricular clubs that may be of benefit include Early Morning Homework Club and After School Homework Club in the Learning Support Centre.
- The academy has strong ties with specialist services within the area. These include, but are not limited to:
- Educational Psychologists
- Speech and Language Therapist Team
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
- Visually Impaired Team
- Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team
- Leeds City Council Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Team
- This list is not exhaustive and The Farnley Academy is committed to communicating and working with any professionals involved with a child or family.
What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the academy?[email protected]2017-06-07T09:59:15+01:00
- The academy has strong ties with specialist services within the area. These include, but are not limited to:
- Educational Psychologists
- Speech and Language Therapist Team
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
- Visually Impaired Team
- This list is not exhaustive and The Farnley Academy is committed to communicating and working with professionals involved with a child or family.
What support will there be for my child’s/young person’s overall well being?[email protected]2025-09-05T08:27:49+01:00
- Each student attending the academy has access to:
- Form Tutor
- Head of Year
- Student Performance & Well Being Manager
- Inclusion & Safeguarding Officer
- Attendance Officer
- Throughout the academy, students will be part of the Positive Discipline system and be given regular and specific praise in lessons in the form of subject stamps. This system provides a consistent approach to behaviour.
- If the child is on the SEND Register, they will have a Key Worker, who will be their main point of contact for SEND related concerns.
- When a student needs medicines, these are administered through the School Nurse once consent from the parent or carer has been given.
- PSHCEE is delivered termly to all students. The programme will target key issues that support key emotional issues, which are not addressed in the usual curriculum.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s/young person’s needs?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:45:44+01:00
- At The Farnley Academy, teachers expertly personalise teaching and learning to promote engagement and progress.
- In English and mathematics, students are set by ability in order to maximise progress for all. The sets are regularly reviewed to ensure that no student is being restricted in their learning.
- Although all students will receive quality first teaching, other interventions may be necessary, such as small group work or specific 1:1 intervention.
- In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), students’ curriculum pathways are personalised and reviewed annually to accommodate students’ needs.
- The SEND Team ensure that students on the SEND Register have the necessary support to achieve whilst experiencing the freedom to become an independent, resilient learner via access to the Learning Support Centre, group interventions and 1:1 intervention, based on individual needs.
How will academy staff support my child/young person?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:46:10+01:00
- All teachers at the academy are teachers of students with SEND and will support students in their classes by personalising their lessons in response to a student’s needs.
- The SENDCo oversees the education programme on a day to day basis for students with SEND.
- The Link-Governor for SEND (Karen Lawson) is ultimately responsible for holding the academy accountable for the provision for students with SEND.
- Each child is assigned a form tutor who is the main point of contact for any concerns or advice about a student’s education.
- The SEND Team analyses data at each Assessment Point and tracks students to ensure that provision and support is in place to accelerate that student’s progress if necessary and appropriate.
How does the academy know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?[email protected]2023-07-18T14:50:21+01:00
- We speak with primary schools about each new student joining The Farnley Academy in Year 6 in order to gather as much information as possible.
- Most students who require any additional support will be identified at this stage.
- The SENDCo attends regular Year Group meetings where discussions around specific student concerns are held. Following this, students who are flagged as potentially having SEND are referred to the SEND Team to assess.
- The SENDCo enjoys strong relationships with outside agencies should a child need to be assessed for SEND. These agencies will provide examples of good practice for the academy to follow.
- Students are assessed on an individual basis to identify any extra help they may need.
- Assessments take place for individual subjects regularly across the academy. Information from these assessments is used to identify students who are not making expected progress and who may require additional support. However, slow progress and low attainment do not necessarily mean that a student has SEND.
- If parents are worried that their child may have SEND, the SENDCo is the first point of contact.
How accessible is the academy environment?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:47:51+01:00
- Some of the buildings are wheelchair accessible with our new building, the Tomlinson building, being fully wheelchair accessible. In addition to this, the Tomlinson building has a disabled toilet on each floor.
- Unfortunately, the upper floors of two of the buildings are not wheelchair accessible.
- Wherever possible we endeavour to provide translators for parents whose first language is not English at Parents’ Evenings and calendared academy meetings. If you think you may require a translator, the first point of contact is the EAL (English as an Additional Language) coordinator.
- All provision for students is highly personalised and we have experience working with the visually impaired and hearing impaired teams. If we have a child with an auditory or visual impairment, we would work with the relevant team/s to make reasonable adjustments to the academy environment to support these students.
How will we assess how your child/young person is doing and how will we help you to support my child’s/young person’s learning?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:48:39+01:00
- Every student in the academy is assessed formally on a termly basis and data is reported to parents along with information about whether or not your child is on track to achieve their target grade.
- At each Assessment Point the SENDCo, along with the Senior Leadership Team, analyses the data of students with SEND to ensure they are making progress in line with their peers. If students are not making, or are not on track to make expected progress, appropriate interventions will be put in place.
- The Student Planner provides the opportunity for regular home-academy contact. Parents are able to see rewards received for good behaviour, comments about negative behaviour and homework. Parents are encouraged to use the Planner to request a phone call home from their child’s form tutor.
- Where appropriate, e-mail contact is used to communicate more frequently with parents.
- Parent and Carer Consultation Evenings are held at least once per academic year with an additional evening for Year 7 students to review the transition from primary school.
- Throughout the year, there are opportunities for parents to attend ENGAGE evenings. At these times, parents are invited to come and experience lessons alongside their son or daughter and receive advice on further supporting their learning at home.
What kinds of Special Educational Needs does The Farnley Academy cater for?[email protected]2019-07-11T11:50:45+01:00
- The Farnley Academy endeavours to meet the needs of individual students with SEND. However, we may not be able to support students who have more complex needs.
- We are a mainstream secondary academy and welcome students with SEND in the following areas:
- Communication and Interaction (For example: Speech and Language, or Autism Spectrum Condition).
- Social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH)
- Sensory and/or physical needs.
- Medical needs.
How can I contact the SENDCo?[email protected]2022-05-20T08:58:59+01:00
- The SENDCo is a qualified teacher, who works closely with the Principal to ensure that all students with SEND make excellent progress.
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SENDCo: Alex Trembath
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Telephone Number: 0113 2630 741
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Email: [email protected]
