Learning Support (SEND)
In this section:
Our Approach
At Guildford County, we have equity at the centre of all that we do. We have ambition for all students to excel, no matter their starting point, background or needs. High Quality Teaching happens in every classroom, and reasonable adjustments are made by staff to accommodate individuals' needs. Information is regularly shared by the Learning Support team on individual students' strengths, needs, and way of working. Our team of Progress Coaches work collaboratively with teachers to ensure that adaptations are made to learning resources and environments where needed. Progress Coaches provide targeted, bespoke interventions that are outcome driven and personalised. Our Progress Coach team also contribute to an ambitious intervention programme which enables students to make the best possible progress, whilst maintaining a broad and ambitious curriculum.
The Learning Support team is overseen by our Assistant Headteacher: Inclusion, Charlotte Barlow, and consists of:
- SENDCo – Nathan Morris
- Assistant SENDCo and Access Arrangements Co-ordinator – Anna Marshall
- Intervention Leads – Caroline Brooks and Parvathy Manohar
- SEND Support Team Leader – Alison Taylor
They are supported by a team of Progress Coaches who have training in the following:
- Supporting students who have English as an Additional Language (EAL)
- Emotional Literacy Support
- Literacy for All
- Fresh Start Phonics
- ELKLAN Speech and Language
- Access Arrangements
- Supporting students in the classroom
- Understanding Autism
- Structured teaching strategies
Should you wish to contact the Learning Support team about your child, they can be contacted on learningsupport@guildfordcounty.co.uk
Learning Support at County
We are incredibly ambitious for all students who follow a broad and balanced mainstream curriculum.
The majority of students with additional needs make progress in their lessons through High Quality Teaching strategies. For those students requiring support additional to or different from their peers, a student passport will share strategies for teachers to implement in class, and the Learning Support processes identify those who may require an intervention for a defined period of time.
We support a large number of students across the school from Years 7 to 13 with a range of additional needs including:
- Speech, Language and communication (including Autism)
- Cognition and Learning (including dyslexia, dyscalcula)
- Social Emotional and Mental Health (including ADHD)
- Physical and Sensory
Our team of Progress Coaches mainly support students with an EHCP. We do not have support allocated to individuals or classes; our Progress Coaches work across the school, providing lesson check-ins, support where necessary, delivering interventions and coaching sessions.
For children with an EHCP, applications are made via the Local Authority. It is strongly recommended to visit the school prior to applying and having a conversation with a member of the Learning Support team about our provision and school environment.
To support as smooth a transition as possible, the Learning Support team work closely with primary schools to find out about any additional needs and support that may be required. Following this, further transition support may take place, including:
- Transition meeting with families
- Visits to primary schools
- Targeted transition
Provision
Our provision map provides a comprehensive overview of the Learning Support available at County. The majority of students will receive Wave 1 and certain Wave 2 interventions with a small number of students receiving Wave 3.
Access Arrangements
Access arrangements are an entitlement for certain students; their purpose is to ‘level the playing field’ not to offer advantage. Anna Marshall is the school’s Access Arrangement Administrator.
The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has a stringent set of regulations that we must adhere to as a school. Access arrangements must be a student’s normal way of working for us to be able to apply. Unfortunately, we cannot accept privately commissioned reports for access arrangements. Please contact Anna Marshall should you have any queries.
The Loft
The Loft is a High Coin centre for those who have an EHCP with a primary diagnosis of autism or social communication difficulties and the capability to achieve at least 5 ÃÛÌÒÓ°ÏñAVs (or equivalent) and access learning within the mainstream classroom. There are 5 spaces available in Year 7 and Year 8 from September 2025, increasing year on year to be 25 spaces once full. These are allocated by Surrey SEND after consultation with the school. If you are interested in learning more about The Loft provision for your child, please contact your SEND case officer in the first instance. It is highly recommended to also visit Guildford County for a tour, too. Please contact learningsupport@guildfordcounty.co.uk to do so.
Students will access mainstream learning most of the time, with small group learning, interventions and therapy taking place within The Loft.