SEND

Learning Support Mission Statement

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.” Isaiah 42:16

St. Bede’s Catholic Voluntary Academy is committed to enabling all learners to make progress in knowledge, understanding and skills irrespective of their starting point. We recognise that progress is not limited to academia and we champion growth in attitudes and in values, as social beings and lifelong learners. We encourage all of our learners to have high aspirations and nurture individual students as we understand some will need additional help towards meeting their goals.

We educate the full child to reach their potential; “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10.

All staff and governors actively support inclusion and the principles outlined in our SEND Policy; working hard to ensure that provision is made for those who need it and that all children are given the opportunities to be the best they can be.

We believe that by working in partnership with our children, their families and external colleagues, much can be done towards overcoming the challenges our young people face.

Aims

We aim to address the special educational need or disability of each individual student so they can:

Access a broad and balanced education
Develop a clear pathway through education to adulthood, paid employment and independent living
Experience success in learning and reach their full potential
Enjoy greater self-esteem knowing their opinions and achievements are valued
Work towards independence

Objectives

Identifying needs as early as possible. This is most effectively done by gathering information from parents, education, health and care services prior to the child’s entry into the school.
Monitoring the progress of all students in order to aid the identification of those with SEND. Continuous monitoring of those students with SEND by their teachers will help to ensure that they are able to reach their full potential
Making appropriate provision to overcome all barriers to learning and ensure students with SEND have full access to a broad and balanced curriculum. This will be coordinated by the SENDCO and will be carefully monitored and regularly reviewed in order to ensure that individual targets are being met and all students needs are catered for.
Working in collaboration with parents/carers to gain a better understanding of their child and involve them in all stages of their child’s education. This includes supporting them in terms of understanding SEND procedures and practices, providing regular reports on their child’s progress and providing information on the provisions for students within the academy as a whole and the effectiveness of the SEND policy and the support systems
Working in conjunction with external support agencies when needs cannot be met by the academy alone
Creating an environment where students feel safe to voice opinions of their own needs. This may mean providing regular one to one meetings between students and the SENDCO or members of the Learning Support team. Student participation is a priority for us, and this is reflected in decision-making but also encouraged through wider opportunities for participation in academy life.

To achieve these goals we strive to:

Embrace the Catholic Ethos of the Academy
Follow the 2014 Code of Practice
Promote a flexible and imaginative organisational structure in which learning needs can be met and personalised programmes of work can be agreed with colleagues, parents and students
Continually liaise with teaching and support staff in identifying and assessing student’s needs
Promote access to a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum
Monitor and evaluate progress for students with SEND and disabilities
Compliment the delivery of quality first teaching and differentiation.
Provide bespoke reasonable adjustments