Introduction

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School’s SEN Information Report was reviewed and updated in September 2021 and is due to be reviewed by September 2022. It will be monitored on a termly basis through the established school systems and reviewed by the school SEND CO and Senior Leadership Team and ratified by the Governing Body, after consultation with representative members of our whole school community.

Our SEN Information Report – which is part of Durham County Council’s Local Offer – provides details about how we support children and young people with Special Educational Needs in our school.

Ethos

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School we recognise that all pupils are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. We believe in positive intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and levels of achievement and working in partnership with parents, extended families and other agencies in order to provide a positive educational experience for all our pupils including those with a special educational need or disability. We strive to ensure that all pupils, regardless of their additional needs make the best possible progress.

This policy was produced after consultation with parents/ carers, children and the governing body of the school.

This SEND Information Report should be read alongside the school’s

• SEND Policy
• Equalities Policy, Information and Objectives
• Accessibility Plan.
• Admissions Arrangements
• Safeguarding Policy
• Supporting Pupils with medical conditions

And/or any other relevant school policies available on the policies section of the school website.

Key Contacts

• Head Teacher: Mrs Allison Robson
  • Telephone: 01207 232189
  • E-mail :southmoorstmary@durhamlearning.net
• SENCO : Ms Clare Stewart
  • Telephone: 01207 232189
  • E-mail:southmoorstmary@durhamlearning.net
• SEN Link Governor : Joanne Conway
  • (Please contact through the school)

SEND Admissions

For information on the admission of pupils with a disability, please visit the School Admissions section of our website and view the Accessibility Plan in our School Policies section.

If you would like to discuss your child’s SEN in more detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

The full range of local support available for children/ young people with SEND and their families within and outside of school can be found in the County Durham Local Offer.

• National Autistic Society – guidance and helpline for parents’, young people and staff: https://www.autism.org.uk/services/nas-schools/vanguard/news/2020/march/coronavirus-(covid-19)-advice.aspx                    
• Mencap - Easy Read guide to Coronavirus: https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-       03/Information%20about%20Coronavirus%20ER%20SS2.pdf                                    
• Place2Be – Guide to helping parents answer questions from their children and to support family wellbeing: https://www.place2be.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blogs/2020/march/coronavirus-information-for-children/                                             
• Young Minds - Talking to your child about Coronavirus and 10 tips from their Parents Helpline to support family wellbeing: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/talking-to-your-child-about-coronavirus/                                                                                          
• Carers UK - Guidance for carers: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/health/looking-after-your-health/coronavirus-covid-19                                      
• Covibook – an interactive resource designed to support and reassure children aged 7 and under, designed to help children explain and draw the emotions that they might be experiencing during the pandemic: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables                   
• Amaze - information pack for parents https://amazesussex.org.uk/faqs-about-the-coronavirus-for-parent-carers-of-children-with-send-brighton-hove/                         

Some tips if you're feeling anxious - text and symbol based. https://research.ncl.ac.uk/neurodisability/leafletsandmeasures/tipsformanaginganxiety/

Supporting children around uncertainty and establishing family/daily routines— https://www.autistica.org.uk/get-involved/join-an-expert-webinar