Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At St Bernard's RC Primary School, we believe that every child has unique gifts, talents and potential.

Some children simply need a different pathway to discover them.

Our SEND provision is built upon one unshakable belief: every child is created in the image and likeness of God. Every child deserves to belong, to be understood and to experience success.

We recognise that children with additional needs often face barriers that others do not. Our responsibility is not to lower expectations, but to remove those barriers so that every child can flourish academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

SEND is not the responsibility of one person or one team.

It is the responsibility of every adult in our school.

Intent

Our intention is to ensure that every child, regardless of need or starting point, receives an education that enables them to achieve their God-given potential.

We are ambitious for every learner. We believe that children with SEND deserve the very best teaching, the richest experiences and the highest aspirations. We refuse to define children by labels or diagnoses. Instead, we seek to understand each child's individual strengths, interests, barriers and hopes for the future.

Our approach is rooted in relationships. Before we plan support, we get to know the child. We believe that understanding a child's story is the key to helping them succeed.

Our SEND provision reflects our wider vision of becoming the school God wants us to be, where inclusion is lived every day and every child experiences genuine belonging.

We are committed to ensuring that children with SEND participate fully in every aspect of school life, learning alongside their peers, contributing to our community and developing the confidence to become independent, resilient young people.

Implementation

High-quality teaching is the foundation of our SEND provision.

Every classroom is built upon inclusive practice, where learning is carefully adapted through responsive teaching, effective scaffolding, purposeful modelling, visual supports, structured routines and clear communication so that every child can access ambitious learning.

Our whole-school approach of Hearts, Bodies, Voices, Minds Ready recognises that successful learning begins long before a lesson starts. Emotional regulation, communication, physical wellbeing and readiness to learn are developed deliberately throughout each day, creating the conditions in which all children can flourish.

Communication lies at the heart of our practice. Drawing upon our Elklan training, staff use supportive communication strategies including visual resources, simplified language, vocabulary development, modelling, processing time and structured interactions. These approaches benefit all children while making learning particularly accessible for those with speech, language and communication needs.

Children requiring additional support receive carefully planned interventions that are matched to their individual needs while maintaining their connection to the classroom and wider school community. Provision is continually reviewed through the graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do, Review, ensuring support evolves alongside each child's development.

Where specialist support is required, we work closely with families and a wide range of professionals, including Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, CAMHS, specialist outreach services, health professionals and the Local Authority. Families are valued as equal partners, recognising that they know their children best.

Our relational approach to behaviour is particularly important for many of our children with SEND. We understand that behaviour often communicates unmet needs, anxiety or barriers to learning. Adults seek to understand before responding, combining compassion with consistency and helping children develop emotional regulation, independence and self-belief.

Inclusion extends well beyond the classroom. We work hard to ensure that children with SEND participate fully in worship, educational visits, sport, pupil leadership, performances, enrichment opportunities and every aspect of school life. We believe every child deserves to experience success, develop friendships and discover their own unique contribution to our community.

Our staff continually develop their expertise through professional learning, collaboration and reflection because we recognise that inclusive practice is never complete. As our children grow and their needs change, so too must our practice.

Impact

The impact of our SEND provision is measured not simply by outcomes, but by lives transformed.

Children with SEND know that they belong.

They are confident that adults understand them, believe in them and will support them to overcome barriers. They develop increasing independence, resilience and confidence because they experience success every day.

Our classrooms are inclusive places where children learn together, differences are celebrated and every child is encouraged to contribute. Children understand that everyone learns differently and recognise that diversity strengthens our school community.

Families experience genuine partnership. They know that they are listened to, involved in decision-making and supported throughout their child's journey. Trusting relationships between home and school enable children to receive consistent support and encouragement.

Children with SEND access a broad, ambitious curriculum and participate fully in the wider life of the school. They develop communication skills, emotional resilience, friendships, independence and self-esteem alongside academic knowledge and understanding.

Perhaps most importantly, our children come to believe in themselves.

They leave St Bernard's knowing that they are valued not because of what they find easy, but because of who they are.

They leave with hope.

They leave with confidence.

They leave knowing that their differences are not barriers to success but part of the unique person God created them to be.

That is what SEND means at St Bernard's.

It is not about what children cannot do.

It is about discovering everything they can become.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2