Forelands Field School in Ramsgate has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status.
Committed to Meeting Needs
Foreland Fields is a Special School situated in a socially deprived area of Kent, 44% of pupils are eligible for Free School Meals. The majority of pupils are transported to school by the Local Authority. A large proportion of these live outside the local catchment area.
There are 231 pupils on roll from Year R to 14 (April 2022). 54% of pupils on roll have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as their primary need, 0.5% have Hearing Impairment (HI), 3% Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), 3% Physical Difficulty (PD), 14% Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), 7% Speech Learning and Communication Needs (SLCN), 18% Severe Learning Difficulties and 0.5% Specific Learning Difficulty.
Many pupils, particularly those with PMLD, have a range of medical conditions that require staff intervention – much of it from within the school. 21 children (9%) are classed as complex/unstable medical needs, 25 (11%) with moderate medical needs and 47 pupils/students (20%) have additional medical needs. The School and staffing are committed to meeting these needs and have designated additional capacity to do so.
Deaf/Hearing Impairment Provision
The School has Deaf/Hearing Impairment provision, containing a mixture of pupils with and without Hearing Impairment, but all of whom have shared communication needs. Both classes operate out of specialist classrooms (which all benefit from soundproofing and installed Soundfield Systems) with its own hub from which the Teachers of the Deaf (ToD) can take on some of the roles of the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service (STLS).
The original Deaf/HI provision opened in February 2016 as a result of the sudden closure of the nearby Royal School for Deaf Children. Foreland Fields School responded to local need seeing its role as a community responsibility by looking to accommodate children with Hearing Impairment as well as complex needs. As well as the Teachers of the Deaf, the school also has a number of staff trained to British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 and 2.
7% of the school population are Children in Care (CiC). The School has a further 1% of children who are adopted from care. 10% of pupils do not identify English as their first language (EAL). 46% of pupils in the School are currently in receipt of Pupil Premium Funding.
The School has an Observation and Assessment Nursery provision for Years R-1 (First Leap Nursery). Most of these pupils also attend mainstream placements.
The current Headteacher took up post in September 2015 and is supported by two Deputy Headteachers, one in post since January 2016 and the other since January 2019.
The School changed site, and changed name, in February 2017.
Inclusion Class
The School initially ran an offsite Inclusion Class, approximately five miles away, in a local primary school. These pupils attended the school full time, supported by staff from Foreland Fields School and following the school curriculum. As of September 2022, there are 4 further inclusion classes offsite at different schools, including a Year R/Key Stage 1 class, a Key Stage 3 Class at Hartsdown Academy, and a KS4 and a KS5 class at East Kent College. 
This satellite provision had a dual function in supporting demand for specialist provision in the area and impacting on mainstream practice and experiences.
Foreland Fields School joined other Kent Special Schools in a shared charitable co-operative trust named KSENT (Kent Special Educational Needs Trust) in August 2016.
During their our Assessor was provided with open access to any areas of the School with staff being welcoming, open and transparent. They observed School arrival time noting the excellent relationships between staff, pupils and parents where key information was shared and reassurances were made.
Harvest Assembly
The School Harvest Assembly was a model example of inclusion in practice. Students from the satellite attended and participated in the actual assembly in the hall utilising the range of communication skills pupils in the School have.
The inclusive Signing Choir provided related input and others took part in acting out a story which was clearly enjoyed by peers. Others with differing needs were accessing via a link in their classrooms with appropriate support. The whole event was fluid, responsive to individuals and without pressure. Pupils were comfortable responding in any way suited to them and were able to participate at appropriate levels. It was a joy to be a part of.
The afternoon outdoor session was equally well planned with pupils clearly feeling free to engage in a personalised way to them. Staff knowledge about individual needs and preferences was apparent. All outdoor spaces observed were being used creatively with very individualised targeted options being available to pupils.
Foreland Fields is a school consistently expanding its inclusive practice.
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
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