Sophie Gottfried, Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO)

At St Francis CE Primary School we recognise that all children have a right to a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum. We aim to create a happy, educationally exciting and positive environment in which all pupils can develop to their full potential. We recognise that children are individuals, that each one has their own specific needs. We are a truly inclusive school and understand that early identification of additional needs is paramount. We are aware that SEND covers a wide range of areas including (but not limited to): learning English as an additional language; a specific medical need; a learning difficulty and a child working beyond their year group academically.

We aim to meet the needs of pupils through:

• Quality first teaching - ensuring that our curriculum is responsive to all children whatever their individual need
• Regularly updated individualised support profiles
• Encouraging parents/guardians to be involved in planning and supporting at all stages of their child’s development.
• Small groups utilising proven interventions (e.g. Mylexia, Number First, ELSA and Accelerated Reader)
• Pupil progress meetings and progress tracking
• Additional support measures in standardised tests (including during SATs)
• Collaboration with external agencies to both enhance our teachers' provision and to work individually with pupils
• A SEN-friendly classroom environment, including but not limited to visual timetables, processing time and areas of retreat
• Our fully-trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) member of staff who has close ties with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
• All staff are trained in the Zones of Regulation to support children's emotional development
• Physical resources to support in class, e.g. ear defenders and large tri-grip pencils
• Our entire school is wheelchair-accessible

We experience providing for a wide range of SEN requirements encompassing: communication and interaction needs (e.g. autism spectrum disorders); cognition and learning needs (e.g. dyslexia); sensory and physical needs (e.g. hearing impairments); and social, emotional and mental health difficulties (e.g. ADHD).

"Staff skillfully break down new learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities into smaller steps. They challenge all pupils to think deeply, and provide regular practice to recall prior knowledge".

OFSTED, December 2021

Follow the links below to read more about SEND provision at St Francis: