SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Every Child Matters

At St Joseph’s RC Primary School, we believe that every child is unique, valued and capable of achieving their potential.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, caring and supportive environment where every child feels safe, happy and confident and is given the opportunity to flourish.

We work in partnership with children, parents and carers to ensure that children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) receive the support they need to access learning, make progress and develop their independence.

Our SEND Provision

We support children with a wide range of special educational needs, including:

Communication and interaction
Cognition and learning
Social, emotional and mental health
Physical and sensory needs

Our curriculum is adapted and differentiated to meet individual needs. We ensure that children are appropriately challenged and supported so that they can access learning at their own level and develop confidence and independence.

Identifying and Supporting SEND

We aim to identify children’s needs as early as possible and work closely with families throughout this process.

Children’s needs may be identified through:

Teacher assessment and observations
Progress and attainment reviews
Discussions with parents and carers
Concerns raised by children themselves
Information from previous schools or settings
Advice and assessment from external professionals

We follow the Assess, Plan, Do, Review graduated approach recommended in the SEND Code of Practice. Support is carefully planned, regularly reviewed and adapted to meet each child’s individual needs.

Class teachers remain responsible for the education of children with SEND and work closely with our SENDCo, teaching assistants, parents, children and specialist professionals where appropriate.

Working in Partnership with Families

We believe that strong partnerships between home and school make a real difference to children’s progress and wellbeing.

Parents and carers are encouraged to share their views, ask questions and take an active role in planning and reviewing their child’s support.

We also value the voice of the child. Children are encouraged to express their views, share their experiences and take part in decisions about their learning and support.

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing

We recognise that children’s emotional and social wellbeing is an important part of their learning and development.

Our support includes:

Daily emotional check-ins
Nurture groups
Individual nurture support
Pastoral care
Mindfulness activities
Christian meditation
Opportunities for children to share worries and concerns
Support from external agencies where appropriate

We have robust safeguarding, behaviour and anti-bullying procedures to ensure that all children feel safe, valued, respected and included.

Inclusion and Accessibility

We want every child to be able to participate fully in school life.

Children with SEND are encouraged and supported to take part in:

Classroom learning
School trips and visits
After-school clubs
Extra-curricular activities
School events
The wider life of our school

Where necessary, individual arrangements and reasonable adaptations are made to ensure that children can participate safely and successfully.

Our school has an Accessibility Plan, wheelchair access, an accessible toilet and adaptations to support children with physical and sensory needs.

Working with Specialist Services

We work closely with a range of external professionals and services where this is appropriate and beneficial for a child.

These may include:

Educational Psychologists
Speech and Language Therapists
Occupational Therapists
School Nurses
Behaviour Support
Early Help
Pastoral and family support services
Other specialist agencies

We work with families and professionals to ensure that support is coordinated and focused on the individual needs of each child.

Listening to Our Children

Children’s views are an important part of our SEND provision.

We encourage children to talk about their learning, friendships, feelings and experiences and to share what helps them to learn and feel successful.

Children are involved in reviewing their support wherever appropriate, and their views are considered when planning next steps.

Supporting Transitions

We understand that changes and transitions can sometimes be difficult for children with SEND.

We carefully plan transitions:

Into school from home or pre-school
Between classes and year groups
From one key stage to another
When moving to a new school or phase of education

We work closely with children, families, staff and external agencies to share information and ensure that the right support is in place.

How Can We Help?

If you have concerns about your child’s learning, development, emotional wellbeing or additional needs, please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact our SENDCo.

We welcome conversations with parents and carers and believe that working together is the best way to understand and support every child.

Contact Our SENDCo

Mrs Gurney – SENDCo

📧 Email: igurney@st-josephs.hereford.sch.uk

📞 School Office: 01989 564655

Alternatively, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment.

Useful SEND Information

📘 SEND Information Report

Find out more about how St Joseph’s identifies, supports and reviews the needs of children with SEND.

📄 SEND Policy

Our SEND Policy provides further information about our approach to identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

View our SEND Policy

🌐 Herefordshire SEND Local Offer

The Herefordshire SEND Local Offer provides information about education, health and social care services, activities and support available for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Visit the Herefordshire SEND Local Offer

📖 SEND Code of Practice

The SEND Code of Practice provides statutory guidance on the SEND system for children and young people aged 0–25.

Read the SEND Code of Practice

Our Commitment

At St Joseph’s RC Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, included, safe and supported.

We believe that every child has something special to offer. By working together with children, families, staff and specialist services, we aim to provide the right support to help every child learn, grow and flourish.

Every child. Every opportunity. Every chance to flourish.