Supporting Every Child to Achieve Their Best

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child is known, valued and supported to achieve their full potential. We recognise that every child is unique, and we work closely with pupils, parents and carers and professionals to ensure that children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) receive the right support at the right time.

Our approach is rooted in our Catholic mission and our belief in the dignity and uniqueness of every individual. We are committed to inclusion, equality, respect and ensuring that every child is able to flourish as part of our school community.

Our Approach to SEND

We:

• Follow the SEND Code of Practice and all current statutory guidance and legislation.
• Follow Thurrock Local Authority guidance and procedures for SEND identification, assessment and support.
• Use our SEND and Inclusion Policy, SEND Information Report and Local Offer to guide our provision.
• Recognise that every teacher is a teacher of SEND and that high-quality teaching is the first step in meeting the needs of pupils with SEND.
• Provide regular SEND training and updates for all staff.
• Ensure staff have access to relevant information about individual pupils, including their strengths, needs, strategies and recommended provision.
• Work closely with parents and carers as partners in supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing.
• Work with external professionals and specialist services where additional advice or support is required.
• Review provision regularly to ensure that it is appropriate, effective and responsive to pupils' individual needs.

Keeping Up to Date with SEND Reform

At St Joseph's, we continue to meet our responsibilities under current SEND legislation, statutory guidance and the SEND Code of Practice. Alongside this, we are keeping up to date with the proposed SEND reform programme and national developments.

We are working closely with the Christus Catholic Trust and Thurrock Local Authority to understand emerging changes and consider how these may affect our SEND provision. As reforms develop, we will continue to review and strengthen our practice, ensuring that any changes are implemented in accordance with statutory requirements and that the needs, rights and best interests of our children and families remain at the centre of our approach.

High-Quality Teaching

The SEND Code of Practice states:

“High quality teaching, differentiated for individual pupils, is the first step in responding to pupils who have or may have SEN.”

At St Joseph's, this means that every teacher is a teacher of SEND. Teachers adapt their teaching, resources, classroom environment and approaches to ensure that pupils can access learning and participate fully.

Support for Pupils Receiving SEN Support

In addition to high-quality classroom teaching, pupils receiving SEN Support may benefit from a range of targeted strategies and interventions. These are carefully considered according to each child's individual needs.

Support may include:

• Individualised support plans and targets using the Assess, Plan, Do, Review approach.
• Regular monitoring of progress and review of provision.
• Close communication with parents and carers.
• Advice and support from external professionals and specialist services.
• Visual timetables, visual prompts and other communication supports.
• Reinforcement of verbal instructions and opportunities to check understanding.
• Flexible grouping and adapted teaching approaches.
• Additional processing time where appropriate.
• Multi-sensory and practical approaches to learning.
• Access to technology and appropriate assistive resources.
• Focused learning environments and reduced-distraction spaces.
• Access to a quiet area or regulation space when needed.
• Consistent routines, expectations and positive behaviour approaches.
• Support to develop friendships, communication, independence and social skills.
• Opportunities to recognise and celebrate individual strengths and differences.
• Support that encourages independence and enables pupils to become increasingly confident learners.

We recognise that children's needs can change over time. Our provision is therefore reviewed regularly and adapted as pupils develop.

Support for Pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan

For pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), we provide support in accordance with the provision specified in their plan.

This may include:

• Everything available through SEN Support, where appropriate.
• Individual, small-group and whole-class support.
• Specific interventions and specialist provision.
• Close partnership working with parents and carers.
• Multi-agency working with relevant professionals.
• Implementation of recommendations from speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, medical professionals and other specialists.
• Regular monitoring and review of progress.
• Annual EHCP reviews alongside ongoing assessment and review of provision.
• Ensuring that staff working with the child understand their individual needs, strengths and recommended strategies.

Our aim is to ensure that pupils with EHCPs are fully included in the life of our school and are supported to develop academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Working Together

We believe that the best outcomes for children are achieved when school, home and professionals work together.

Parents and carers are encouraged to talk to us if they have concerns about their child's learning, development, communication, wellbeing or progress. We will listen, work collaboratively and consider what support may be appropriate.

If you have any questions about SEND provision at St Joseph's, please contact:

SENCO: Mrs Stephens
SEND Governor: Mrs Georgina Clarke

Please note: Meetings with the SENCO are via appointment only.

Working with Thurrock Local Authority

We work in partnership with Thurrock Local Authority and relevant specialist services to ensure that children and families can access appropriate advice and support.

We also work with external professionals and agencies where this is appropriate to meet an individual child's needs.

Useful SEND Information

Parents and carers can find further information through:

• Our SEND Policy
• Our SEND Information Report
• Thurrock Local Authority SEND services
• Thurrock SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

Our Commitment

At St Joseph's, we believe that every child is made in the image and likeness of God. Through partnership, inclusion and high expectations, we strive to ensure that every child is supported to flourish, participate fully and achieve their best.