SEND
St Philip’s Catholic Primary School Offer for SEND (Special Education
Needs and Disabilities).
St. Philips Catholic Primary School is an inclusive school which strives to meet the individual needs of all our children. We work together with children, parents and other agencies to provide the best possible outcome for all our children, including those with a range of additional and complex needs. The schools SEND policy and procedures ensure that high expectations, early intervention and appropriate support for all our children to meet their full potential.
What does SEND mean?
SEND means special educational needs and disabilities. Children have a special need if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made. This will be if the child:
- Has significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age. or
- Has a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of school age within Local Authority area.
The area of special needs will be identified as either:
- Cognition and Learning (general of specific learning difficulties)
- Communication and Interaction (speech and language difficulties, autistic spectrum disorders)
- Behaviour, Emotional and Social
- Physical, Sensory and Medical (hearing, visual impairments, physical and medical difficulties.
Who Oversees Special Needs Provision at St Philip’s Catholic Primary School?
Every member of staff has a responsibility to ensure that the needs of SEN children are being met. However, all Special Educational Needs provision is overseen and managed by the Senior Leadership team (SLT) in school and is co-ordinated by the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo). There is a dedicated governor for SEND who works carefully with the SLT and SENCo within school. The Senior Leadership Team evaluate all special needs provision on a regular basis throughout the year and report to the school Governing Body on how individual needs are being met and how special needs funding is being spent. Funding may be spent on additional services, for example extra Speech and Language Therapist sessions, additional Teaching Assistants and Learning Mentor support.
All our children are treated as individuals and the class teacher, alongside other support staff, plan an appropriate differentiated curriculum for our children with additional needs to ensure high quality teaching and learning with effective support and resource. Clear personal provision plans and care plans are put in place and reviewed regularly. A range of carefully tailored interventions are developed, reviewed and evaluated to ensure maximum progress and impact for our learners. Key assessments ensure that children are on track to meet targets and planning accurately addresses needs. Progress, targets and plans are regularly reviewed with the children and evaluated to informed next steps.
An appropriate and accessible learning environment is provided within the schools means and confines of the building and is adapted where possible. Staff in school are trained, and have worked alongside other professionals, to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise in specific areas of the SEN eg autism. Staff are able to offer a wide range of support and strategies for inclusion. The school works alongside and seeks support from other agencies where required to maximize learning opportunities and potential. These agencies include the Hearing Impairment Team, Educational Psychologist, School Nurse, Occupational Health Team and the Behaviour Emotional and Social Development Team as well as other relevant professionals when required.
The following school policies, available from school, reflect the school’s commitment to inclusion, safety and well-being of the children.
- Inclusion Policy
- Behaviour Policy
- Teaching and Learning
- Safeguarding/child protection
- Bullying
- Equalities
- Health and Safety
- Access
All these policies are reviewed and updated with staff and governors in line with the schools reviewing calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions…
What do I do if I think my child has special educational needs?
Parents are vital partners in the child’s journey through school and are invited to attend review meetings. Where the child has more complex needs parents are also invited to annual reviews which may involve other professionals. Parents may contact the class teacher to discuss initial concerns, or arrange an appointment with the SENCo, Mrs H Rees, via the school office on 01132797572.
If school is concerned about your child they will collect information from all staff involved with them and we will also ask for your views and any information that you can provide. Parents are an important source of information; we will work actively with you and keep you fully informed about what is being done to meet your child’s needs. If it is decided that your child needs further support, the class teacher will work with the SENCO to arrange this.
How will school support my child?
Your child’s class teacher will plan and deliver learning activities that meet the needs of your child. The class teacher may discuss any difficulties with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). You child may take part in additional small group activities or may receive some individual support. Your child’s teacher can provide information in detail about the specific provision and arrangements that have been put in place for your child.
The support we offer for our SEN children is monitored and evaluated by the class teacher and SLT.
How will the curriculum be matched to my child’s needs?
At St Philip’s Catholic Primary School, quality teaching enables all children to access a curriculum that is differentiated to meet the needs of all children. Your child may, where appropriate, work in a smaller group or work 1 to 1 with an adult. If your child has complex, specific or general learning needs they may have a personalised plan which detail any special arrangements. Additional specialised resources may be provided if needed.
How accessible is the school?
The school is fully accessible on one level and has appropriate access, ramps and accessible toilet. We work closely with relevant professionals to enable children with specific needs to attend school e.g. hearing impairment team, physiotherapist etc.
How will I know how well my child is doing?
There will be termly meetings where parents are invited to discuss their child’s current personalised provision and progress with the class teachers and/or SENCO. This may include parents’ evenings and annual reports. Parents are always encouraged to request a meeting with the SENCO should concerns arise.
What support will there be for my child’s overall well-being?
St Philip’s Catholic Primary School prides itself on having a caring and supportive Catholic ethos.
All our staff make sure the children have the highest levels of pastoral care possible. This support is varied but may include specific sessions designed to meet the emotional and social needs of individual children. We dedicate time to ensure that we develop supportive partnerships with Diocesan and local agencies to provide support for families who may need it. We have very close links with Local Authority services such as the Complex Needs Team, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists. We also have excellent links with Cluster services such as Family Outreach Workers and Counselling services. Working with parents’ agreement, we will seek advice or make referrals to get the best support possible, as quickly as possible. This may be as part of a CAF process (Common Assessment Framework) or an Educational Health Care Plan.
All our staff are trained in Safeguarding & Child Protection procedures. We also have a team of staff members who are fully trained to be specially designated Child Protection Officers to ensure the safeguarding of all children. These members of staff are Mrs M Fox (Learning Mentor), Mr P McQuillen Strong (Executive Headteacher) and Mrs J Nicholson (Assistant Headteacher).
How will the professionals from these services support and assess my child?
The SENCO will inform you of the services that might be involved in the support of your child in order to gain your consent and explain why they have been asked to give advice. Outside professionals mentioned above who are linked with the school will usually work with your child to gather information. This will enable them to assess your child’s needs and advise the school on new and appropriate targets for your child’s personalised provision plan. They will also be able to provide advice on the ways in which the school can help your child achieve the targets that are set. Following the receipt of advice from outside agencies a copy of the report will be sent home along with an invitation for you to come and discuss it with the class teacher or SENCO.
All staff supporting your child will have the appropriate training.
Will my child have one-to-one support in the classroom?
For a very small minority of children one-to-one provision may be appropriate for specific activities. What is important is that your child has an effective personal programme of teaching and learning. This might involve the provision of different learning materials or special equipment or the training and development of staff to enable the needs of your child are met.
What happens if my child has really complex needs?
For a few children with complex needs, an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) may be issued by the Local Authority. In this instance, it is likely that your child will receive a significant level of additional support in order to meet their needs.
How will my child be included in activities outside the classroom?
In consultation with parents the school ensures that out of school activities and visits are accessible to children with additional needs.
How will school help my child to transfer to the next phase of education?
Transition arrangements are very carefully considered working with their new class teacher or new school staff. The involvement of the child and parents in these arrangements are firmly established in the excellent practice of our school. Provision is planned to ensure that children make all moves as smoothly, confidently and happily as possible.
How are the school’s resources/funding allocated and matched to children’s needs?
The school is funded on a national formula per pupil, depending on the number of children who meet the criteria and who are on the school’s inclusion register. The school can apply to the Local Education Authority for top-up funding based on strict criteria, if it is felt that a child’s needs are above that which can be provided for. The school uses the additional funds to put appropriate support in place to meet the specific needs of a child. In most cases this will take the form of additional adult support for learning, development of independence, support for personal care etc. Spending of funding that is receives into school is closely monitored by the Senior Leadership Team, the Governors and the Local Education Authority.
How are parents and carers involved in the school?
The school has an open door policy and we welcome parental involvement. The Governing Body has parent governors who act as a link between the school and all parents. Parents are informed regularly about teaching and other events through regular newsletters, texts and the website. The school holds information session to show parents our methods of teaching e.g. phonics. Parents are invited into the school to take part in a wide variety of workshops, training, for events such as celebration assemblies and services, community evenings and also to various performances and concerts throughout the year. The views of parents are actively sought through questionnaires, parent suggestion boxes, feedback forms, discussion etc. The school council often reports to parents about relevant issues and events.
Who can I contact for further information?
- If you are considering applying for a school place contact the school office on 01132716763.
- If you wish to discuss something about your child speak to your child’s class teacher or contact the school office to make an appointment with the relevant member of staff.
- If you want information about other support services contact the school SENCO Miss E. Caulfield.
- If you want information about the Local Authority’s Local Offer please contact the SENCO or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.