St. Vincent’s Catholic Primary School values the abilities and achievements of all its pupils who are unique and made in God’s image. We recognise that all children are individuals, each with their own strengths and difficulties. We aim to teach children in the way that best supports their learning and this means that all children, from the most able to those with additional difficulties and needs, can achieve their full potential in our school.
When children do experience difficulties in their learning, staff work closely with our Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) and parents, as well as appropriate external agencies, to meet children’s needs.
Mrs Duffy is the school SENDCO and is happy to meet with parents to discuss concerns. Please make an appointment through the school office.
What are Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?
A child has special educational needs (SEND) if he or she has learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for him or her to learn than most other children of about the same age.
Schools can help most children and young people overcome barriers to their learning by making simple adaptations to an activity or additional providing resources to assist them with their learning. Some children will need extra help for some or all of their time at school, in one or more areas of their learning. This could include but is not limited to:
- Communication and Interaction Needs – in expressing themselves or understanding and processing what others are saying
- Cognition and Learning Needs – difficulties in acquiring basic skills in their learning or specific learning difficulties with reading, writing, maths or understanding and processing information
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs – this could involve difficulties making friends/ relating to adults / regulating their emotions or behaviour, difficulties with their mental health
- Sensory and/or Physical Needs – such as a hearing impairment/visual impairment, physical difficulties which might affect them accessing their learning, or a sensory overload in one or more area
- Medical or health conditions – which may slow down a child’s or young person’s progress and/or involves treatment that affects his or her education.
For further information please refer to our SEN Information Report, SEN Policy and Inclusion Policy below.
Information on the local authority’s local offer can be found here.
Further Resources for pupils with SEND
Below are a list of recommended resources to further support remote learning for pupils with SEND. Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Duffy if you have any further questions.
Health resources
- Caring for complex children: https://www.wellchild.org.uk/ten-ways-to-keep-my-child-with-complex-health-needs-safe/
- Diet and eating resources: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/the-eatwell-guide/
- Hand Washing Tips for People With Sensory Difficulties https://sensoryintegration.org.uk/News/8821506
Wellbeing resources
1. Calm Jars: https://lemonlimeadventures.com/lego-calm-down-jar/
3. Young Minds blog and other services: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/
4. Headspace, mindfulness: https://www.headspace.com/
Assistive Technology resources
1. Technology to support SEND pupils with reading and writing: https://www.techability.org.uk/resources/
2. App to support grammar (suitable for pupils in KS2): https://www.grammarly.com/p
The Westminster All For Youth Newsletter offers the opportunity for young people in Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea with special educational needs and/or disabilities to get involved with fun activities and to share ideas with other young people. More information can be found on the Young People’s Participation Pages on the Local Offer. Click here
