Supporting students with additional needs

We pride ourselves by ensuring that children with additional needs are at the centre of our schools’ ethos.  We are an inclusive school where the focus is on the well-being and progress of every child and where all members of our community are of equal worth. 

We believe that all children, including those identified as having special educational needs and or disabilities, have a common entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum, which is easily accessible to them, and for each child to be fully included in all aspects of school life. 

We believe that the Equality Act provides a framework to support our commitment to valuing diversity, tackling discrimination, promoting equality, and fostering good relationships between people. It also ensures that we continue to tackle issues of disadvantage and underachievement of different groups. 

We aim to provide a stimulating learning environment across the whole curriculum which maximises individual potential and ensures that pupils of all ability levels are well-equipped to meet the challenges of education, work, and life. 

A child with special educational needs and or a disability can be affected throughout their school life and beyond. Whilst disabilities can affect a child long term, not all SEN difficulties should be seen as long term. The list of SEN needs is extensive and unique to each individual child.  

At Maria Fidelis we ensure that in addition to high quality teaching a child specific plan is put in place to ensure our students are achieving as well as they can.  

All students take part in the core curriculum and individual decisions are made regarding which subject they are entered for at GCSE and / or entry level. We work with parents to ensure that our curriculum choices are always ambitious for our pupils. For example please see our Case Studies below.  

Maria Fidelis has several key policies that impact on the provision for all children with SEND, this is to ensure that we fully comply with the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations (2014).  Each of the following policies are located on the school’s website under Key Policies.   

• Inclusion Policy  
• Admissions Policy  
• Anti-Bullying Policy  
• SEND Policy 2024-26
• Equalities Policy