Holy Trinity and St John's Church of England Primary School
Inclusion and Special Educational Needs
Our Inclusion Lead and SENDCo, Mrs McGuirk coordinates provision and support for pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). Mrs McGuirk works closely with our class teachers who are responsible for the progress, attainment and inclusion of all pupils in their class, including those with SEND.
We have passionate members of our Inclusion and SRP Team who support our children. They deliver different interventions including speech and language, occupational therapy programmes, targeted English and maths, phonics, Thrive and pastoral programmes.
We are proud to be a Thrive school, placing positive relationships, emotional wellbeing and social development at the heart of our approach to learning. Please click on our Thrive button to find out more!
As a Church of England Primary school we are keen to promote the church’s vision that all our school community will live ‘life in all its fullness’ John 10v10.
Our Christian Vision
We follow Jesus’ example, being brave, having a voice and believing in ourselves.
We welcome everyone into our nurturing school family, treating everyone as an individual.
We walk alongside you to empower you to fulfil your potential and make a positive difference in the world.
Our School Values
Courage
Compassion
Community
At Holy Trinity and St John’s CE Primary School all children are valued, respected and welcomed to our school. We will support their learning and endeavour to fully include them in all aspects of school life.
Our teachers:
1. Deliver High Quality Teaching in the classroom to all children
2. Set individualised targets that are appropriately challenging and achievable.
3. Assess, analyse and reflect on day-to-day practice, supporting all children whatever their needs at the time.
4. Identify concerns about individual children which are followed by efficient and effective processes where communication is key between staff, parents and carers, external agencies (such as the Speech and Language therapists, school nurse, Educational Psychology service, Specialist Teachers, Orchard House and paediatricians) and pupils.
5. Support well-developed and effective intervention programmes that will enable any child to make accelerated progress in their learning
Please read our SEND Information Report to read more about our provision -
Mrs McGuirk is available by phone or email - senadmin@htsj.school if you have any questions or need support with your child's special educational needs or disabilities.
What are Special Educational Needs?
A child has SEND if they have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for them to learn than most other children of about the same age. Many children will have special educational needs of some kind during their education. Our school can help most children overcome barriers to learning through appropriate support and intervention. Some children may need additional support for part or all their time at school.
Understanding SEND: Different Areas of Need
Communication and Interaction – difficulties understanding or using language, expressing ideas, communicating with others or understanding social communication.
Cognition and Learning – difficulties developing skills such as reading, writing and mathematics, memory and/or processing information.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs – difficulties with relationships, managing emotions, behaviour or coping with school.
Sensory or Physical Needs – difficulties related to hearing, vision, physical development or coordination that may affect learning or access to school.
Children’s needs do not always fit neatly into one area of SEND, and difficulties can overlap across different areas. For example, a child with communication difficulties may also experience challenges with learning, social and emotional development or sensory processing.
Children make progress at different rates and have different ways of learning. Teachers take account of this when planning and delivering lessons.
Children who are making slower progress or experiencing difficulties in a particular area may receive additional support, different activities or targeted teaching to help them succeed. However, receiving additional support or making slower progress does not necessarily mean that a child has special educational needs (SEND) or is recorded on our SEND register.
About a quarter of our children at Holy Trinity and St John’s CE Primary School are at the early stages of acquiring the English language (English as an Additional Language – these are described as our EAL pupils). Having EAL is not a special educational need in itself and their needs are met through high quality teaching, small group intervention and support from Mrs Farrall, our EAL FLO. We also recognise that some children may have EAL and have special educational needs.
Pupil progress is monitored regularly at Holy Trinity and St John’s CE Primary School and data is formally shared with parents and carers at Parents' Evenings. Mrs McGuirk or the class teacher may contact you if we have a concern about any aspect of your child's development. If you have any concerns, the school has an open-door policy and staff will always meet with you to discuss any worries you have - no matter how small.
The Kent Local Offer
The Kent Local Offer (also known as the SEND Information Hub) gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families information about what support services are available in their area. The other websites give useful information about organisations and support for parents of children with SEND.
Kent Local Offer – Click here
Mainstream Core Standards
The Mainstream Core Standards provide a framework to all schools in Kent to help them identify additional needs and give guidance on how schools can be inclusive of these needs, using their best endeavours. Usually, a child with SEND will not need all of the support shown in the document; however, every child is different and the support they receive may vary.
Link - Click here
Useful Websites to explore:
Kent PACT https://kentpactnew2022.co.uk/
IPSEA https://www.ipsea.org.uk/
We are Beams https://wearebeams.org.uk/
The SNAAP Project https://www.snaap.org.uk/
For us Too https://www.forustoo.org/
Communication and Interaction
Speech and Language UK supports families of children with speech and language difficulties. It also provides a progress checker which you can complete with your child.
Words for Life provides activities, games and books for each age group
Action for Stammering Children
The Hanen Centre provides tips for children who communicate without words, have just started talking and children who talk in sentences.
Stories with Symbols provides story videos with symbols to promote interest in reading and support comprehension and learning new words.
National Autistic Society supports families and children to develop a greater understanding of their needs.
Ambitious about Autism provides a practical toolkit for families with useful tips and downloads.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
ADHD UK a useful website with lots of information, tips and resources to explore.
Kent Emotional Wellbeing Team The NHS team who support children, young people and adults with a wide range of mental health needs.
Cognition and Learning
BBC Bitesize a dedicated website with expert advice, practical tips, and fun activities, alongside learning materials and games for children.
Sensory and/or Physical
NHS – The Pod A useful website with advice for both fine/gross motor and sensory needs.