SEND at the Folkestone School for Girls
Welcome to the SEND team at the Folkestone School for Girls...
We are led by Mrs Dahroug, SENDCO, who is assisted by Mrs Kuckei our deputy SENDCO. Our SEND team supports their work, and together with our parents and carers we aim to give every student the best possible experience at FSG. We are based in our dedicated space, "The Loft", but we are a visible presence throughout the school.
Mrs Charlotte Dahroug
SENDCO
I have been a teacher for twenty years, beginning my career as Head of Drama in a range of schools across the UK. In 2020, I became the SENDCO at The Folkestone School for Girls, and I completed the National Award for Special Educational Needs and Co-ordination in 2022. I also hold practitioner status in Trauma and Mental Health Informed Schools — an area I am deeply passionate about and actively embedding across the school community.
To contact Mrs Dahroug please use the following contact email address:
Mrs Dahroug SENDCO - [email protected]
Mrs Gesine Kuckei
Deputy SENDCO
I retrained as a teacher 20 years ago and worked subsequently in primary education as a class teacher, phase & curriculum leader and SENDCO. I took a break from inner-city teaching and set-up a hugely successful multipurpose tuition centre whose main focus was to support students who could not access or were excluded from mainstream education. Following my move to Folkestone, I joined FSG's newly created SEN team, and I completed the National Award for Special Educational Needs and Co-ordination (NASENCO) in 2024.
Our Deputy SENDCO is Mrs Kuckei. To contact Mrs Kuckei please use the following contact email address:
Mrs Kuckei Deputy SENDCO - [email protected]
Mrs Gabby Jackson
ELSA Lead and SEND Keyworker
I started my career in the legal sector, completing my masters in Criminal and Medical Law. I trasferred into education after Covid starting as a 1:1 TA in a local primary school. Since starting FSG in March 2023, I have become a qualified ELSA practitioner aswell as running weekly interventions with our students.
Mrs Gemma Nicholls
Dyslexia Lead and SEND Keyworker
As a member of the SEN team and student Key Worker, my role is to support and champion students with SEN within our school community. I provide consistent one-to-one provision to identified students, helping pupils feel safe, understood, and confident in their learning environment. I run intervention group sessions in anxiety management and dyslexia support. l have qualifications in Speech and Language Therapy and Dyslexia so I am able to offer these skills and my experience to help your child thrive at FSG. It is a privilege to work with the students. I get so much joy from seeing them progress and helping them build resilience. As a trusted point of contact for families, teachers aund external professionals I am able to ensure each student’s individual needs, strengths, and goals are fully understood and met. I look forward to helping your child grow in confidence, develop new skills and enjoy their time at FSG.
Policies and Guides
These can be downloaded on the links below.
The Loft
What is The Loft?
The Loft is the SEND support area at The Folkestone School for Girls. It provides a calm, structured environment where pupils can:
- Regulate and reset
- Seek advice from their SEND key worker
- Take part in targeted interventions
- Work independently (with prior agreement from Mrs Dahroug and Mrs Chan)
A member of the SEND or Pastoral Team is available in The Loft throughout the school day.
How do pupils access The Loft?
- Reset Cards
Some pupils are issued with a Re-set Card, which allows them to leave a lesson if they are feeling overwhelmed or dysregulated. If a pupil remains dysregulated after using their Re-set Card and other calming strategies, they can access The Loft as a safe space where they can seek additional support. - Intervention Sessions
Some pupils are invited to attend specific intervention sessions run by the SEND team. Pupils and parents/carers will be informed of these sessions in advance and will know the scheduled day and time.
Is Loft use monitored?
Yes.
Monitoring helps us identify any emerging concerns, such as difficulties with a particular subject or a need for additional support in accessing lessons. This information enables us to provide timely and appropriate assistance.
Is The Loft an alternative provision?
No.
The Loft is not an alternative provision. The Folkestone School for Girls is a mainstream school, and pupils are expected to attend all timetabled lessons on a full-time basis. Our priority is always to support pupils in returning to their lessons so they can learn from subject specialists.
For further information about our SEND offer, please refer to our SEND Policy and Whole School Provision Map which are linked on this page.
The Five Rules
The 5 Reset Rules
1. Take a Break
If your lesson feels too big or your brain needs a rest, you can use Reset to have a quiet brain or movement break.
2. Let an Adult Know
Place your Reset card on your desk or tell your teacher or another trusted adult that you need a Reset.
3. Walk Out Quietly
Leave the classroom calmly and quietly so everyone else can keep learning.
4. Stay Nearby
Wait just outside the classroom door in the corridor where an adult knows where you are.
5. Feel Calm and Come Back
Use your favourite calming strategies until you feel ready to return to class. If you're still finding things tricky, let the adult nearby know so they can help you.
The 5 Rules for Using the Loft
The Loft is a calm, safe, and caring space. It is used by the SEN team for 1:1 and group sessions, and it is also a place where pupils can come to feel calm, ready to learn, and get the support they need.
1. Use The Loft when you really need it
Please use The Loft only after you have tried the other calming and regulation strategies in your classroom. We trust you to make a good choice.
2. Check in with an adult
When you arrive, speak to the adult in The Loft. Tell them why you have come and how they can help you.
3. Mobile phone policy
No mobile phones in the Loft as per the whole school policy.
4. Stay in your allocated space
The adult will show you where to sit. Please stay in that space while you calm down or complete your work.
5. Complete work set
If you are in the Loft to work, ensure you remain and task.
The 5 Doodle Book Rules
Doodling can help you stay focused and listen during lessons. Remember, your doodle book is a tool to help you learn, not a big art project.
1. Use the right book
Please use a doodle book that is A5 size or smaller. Keep your doodles in your doodle book only—not in your exercise books, on worksheets, desks, or on yourself.
2. Choose the right time
It's okay to doodle when you are listening quietly. If your teacher is showing you how to do something or giving important instructions, put your pencil down and watch carefully.
3. Keep it kind and appropriate
Your doodles should be suitable for school. Remember, teachers may look through your doodle book at any time.
4. Use your doodle book in the right lessons
Doodle books are for lessons where you are sitting and listening for longer periods, and only when your teacher says it's okay.
5. Use it well Your doodle book is there to help you concentrate.
If it starts to distract you from your learning or stops you from listening, your teacher may ask you to put it away for a while.
The 5 Fidget Rules
Fidgets are tools to help us learn, not toys to play with.
1. One at a time
Choose one fidget and keep using that one until you're finished.
2. Keep it quiet
Your fidget should be silent so everyone can learn.
3. Eyes on learning
Keep your eyes on the speaker or your work. Your hands can fidget while your brain stays focused.
4. Use it to help you
A fidget should help you stay calm, focused, and ready to learn—not distract or entertain you.
5. Make good choices
If your fidget starts to distract you or someone else, it will need to take a break until another time.
The 5 Ear Defender Rules
We know that busy, noisy environments can sometimes feel overwhelming. If you find loud noises difficult, you may benefit from using ear plugs, ear loops or ear defenders.
You can use ear plugs or ear loops without asking for permission.
If you would like to use over-the-head ear defenders, please follow these five rules:
1. Get permission
You need permission from your SEND Key Worker or SDL before using over-the-head ear defenders in school.
2. No headphones
Ear defenders are designed to reduce noise — they are not headphones.
Your ear defenders must not connect to a phone, tablet or any other device, either wirelessly or through Bluetooth.
3. Use them at the right times
Use your ear defenders during predictably loud or noisy times, such as:
- In the canteen
- Moving between lessons
- During a fire alarm
- When your teacher is speaking to you or giving you an instruction, take your ear defenders off so you can hear them.
4. Keep them comfortable and clean
Make sure the ear defenders fit comfortably and that the cushions create a gentle seal around your ears.
Please keep them clean by wiping the ear pads regularly with warm, soapy water.
5. Headphones will be confiscated
Mobile phones are banned in school.
If you are wearing headphones rather than approved ear defenders, they will be confiscated in line with the school’s mobile phone policy.
Remember: Ear defenders are there to help you manage noise and feel comfortable in school. Use them responsibly and follow these five rules.
Information and Advice
Links to local and online services that parents and carers will find useful can be found below.
SEND Local Offer
Please click HERE for information.
Information Advice and Support Kent (IASK)
They provide special educational needs and disabilities information, advice and support service for parents/carers of a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability, and children or young people up to the age of 25 with special educational needs or disability.
Their website is HERE.
Mainstream Core Standards
These can be found HERE.
Kent Family Hub
This can be found HERE.
Kent Resilience Hub
Parentkind
Parent support to tackle a wide range of topics with webinars designed to share insight on how you can support your child with a wide range of learning and life experiences, strengthen your understanding of education and school life, and foster solid parent-child relationships along the way.
FACE
FACE gives practical, accessible and affordable support to parents (as well as schools and organisations). Parents can access relevant advice, up to date information and easy to apply interventions, delivered via online and in-person talks, group sessions, videos and one-to-one support on a wide range of topics, including SEND.
Please click HERE for their website.