Thomas Adams
SEND Support
At Thomas Adams, we are dedicated to ensuring that every student- regardless of need or ability, receives the support required to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We embrace a fully inclusive approach that combines expert staff, evidence-based interventions, and strong multi-agency partnerships
promoting positive
Who We Support
We provide adapted and additional support for a diverse range of needs, including:
- Communication & Interaction (e.g. autism, speech and language)
- Cognition & Learning (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia)
- Social, Emotional & Mental Health (e.g. ADHD)
- Sensory & Physical (e.g. visual/hearing impairments, epilepsy)
SEND
Classroom Support
Our first line of support is high-quality, inclusive classroom teaching:
- Teachers use differentiated instructional strategies and tailored resources.
- All Pupils with identified SEN Needs have a Person Centred Plan, which is reviewed termly and is shared with all teaching staff to ensure appropriate classroom adaptations are in place
- Each class benefits from a “Class on a Page” overview, with SEND needs and accommodations clearly indicated.
- For exam classes, an enhanced Class Action Plan supports individual success.
- Each department has a Adapted Teaching Provision Map, which shows the adaptations which are in place at a Universal and Targeted Level within the classroom. Note, not sure if these are on the website yet, but they need to be linked from here – they will be going on to the curriculum offer area
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Identification & Assessment
THE THOMAS ADAMS
Progress
- On entry, we assess every student’s attainment and continuing progress through regular classroom reviews.
- Working in partnership with parents and pupils, we identify any gaps in learning, wider developmental needs, or social/emotional barriers.
- Interventions are updated regularly through our Assess – Plan – Do – Review cycle and Person-Centred Plans (PCPs).
Targeted Interventions
Specialist Support
When further intervention is needed, we offer:
- One-to-one or small-group tuition with Teaching Assistants for specific areas ( such as literacy, numeracy, social skills or phonological processing)
- Access Arrangements assessed and managed with our specialist support manager
- External specialist involvement: Educational Psychology, Sensory Inclusion, BeeU referrals, Speech & Language Therapy, and occupational therapy
Emotional
Social Wellbeing
Supporting pupils’ mental health and emotional development is central to our work:
- Delivered via PSHE curriculum and specialist groups (e.g. anxiety/anger management)
- Support includes ELSA-led interventions, Heads Up programme, Bee‑U MHST, Social Prescribing, pastoral care, and chaplaincy services
- All SEND pupils have a Key Worker and Person Centred Plans that include pupil voice, parent voice and goals
Inclusive
Environment
- All clubs, trips, residentials, and extracurricular activities are fully inclusive—no pupil is excluded due to SEND
- In 2025, our new Pupil Support Centre will provide dedicated environments and resources for targeted one-to-one and group work
SEND
Parent Partnership
- Termly PCP updates, Annual EHCP review meetings, and ongoing communication through key workers, form tutors and the SENDCo
- Parents are encouraged to reach out with queries or ideas—via SENDCo Rowena Turner (rowena.turner@tas.318education.co.uk / 01939 237000).
- Further guidance on a variety of SEND matters, such as Applying for EHCPs, transitions, preparing for adulthood, holiday provisions or navigating SEND tribunals is provided through accessing Shropshire’s Local Offer The SEND local offer | Shropshire Council
Transition
Preparing For The Future
We actively support students through key transitions:
- Year 6 → 7: The SENDCo will go out to all primary schools and meet with colleagues about every individual pupil, from this information, the first Person Centred Plans are formed, which advise on adaptive classroom practices to support all SEND pupils from lesson one at Thomas Adams. During this phase, we also offer a SEND support morning session for new students to come and meet key members of staff and ask any questions ahead of the main moving up days. We are also happy to offer additional transition visits or meetings as required ahead of transition. These can be arranged either by contacting the SENDCo directly, or by emailing SEN@tas.318education.co.uk
- KS4 → Sixth Form or Post-16: Coordinated handover, EHCP transition planning, involvement from external providers such as a careers guidance officer who will work with schools and individuals to produce a Moving On Plan to support their post 16.
- Sixth Form → Higher Education and Post 18: Coordinated handover, EHCP transition planning, liaison with external providers such as Universities or Internship Coordinators, Support for students moving on to University to access individual disability support departments for any specific requirements, preparing for adulthood interventions looking at using public transport, money management and independent living.
- Our Information, Advice & Guidance aligns with the DfE’s Careers Guidance & Inspiration statutory requirements
Thomas Adams
Meet The Team
- SENDCo: Rowena Turner
- SEND Support Manager: Hayley Haslam – responsible for exam arrangements and interventions
- SEND Support Officer: Elaine Brown – Oversees the running of the Learning Support Department and the allocation of Teaching Assistants
- SEND Support Officer (Sixth Form): Linden Sherriff – Oversees SEND Provision in the Sixth form and the running of the SEND Sixth Form Department
- A Team of Teaching Assistants and Pastoral Support Staff who are training in running interventions such as emotional literacy, reading, spelling, handwriting, social skills, touch typing and precision teaching.
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Policies & Resources
Guidance
Support
Downloadable documents: (these can be found in our Policies section)
- SEND Information Report 2024–25
- Full SEND Policy
Internet Safety
These resources provide topics and suggestions for starting and having discussions with neurodiverse young people about their online experiences – Safer Internet (SEND)
What to do if you have a concern
We aim to resolve SEND concerns quickly:
- First point: Form teacher, subject teacher, or Head of Year
- Next step: The SENDCo or Headteacher
- Governing oversight: Contact Mr D Watts, SEND Governor, via main reception
- Formal complaints follow the school’s regular complaints process; independent support is available from IASS and SEND tribunals
Contact
The Thomas Adams School
Lowe Hill
Wem
Shropshire
SY4 5UB
Tel: +44 1939 237000