SEND
'Loving, Learning and Looking forward with Christ.'
With Christ at the centre of all that we do, the staff and governors at Our Lady and Saint Benedict Catholic Academy are committed to giving our children every opportunity to achieve the highest of standards by meeting the individual needs of all in an inclusive way. Our children with Special Educational Needs are fully integrated into the educational, social and cultural life of the school. We recognise the strengths and areas for development of every individual and offer a broad, balanced and adapted curriculum.
If you have any concerns about your child, please make an appointment either directly with the class teacher or with the school’s:
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (Sendco) Mrs Clowes or
The School's Assistant Special Educational Needs Co-ordiantor Mrs Roisin Wilshaw.
They can be contacted via the school office.
01782 234646
Email: office@olsbprimary.org.uk
Mrs Clowes (Headteacher), is also available to deal with any concerns you may have.
Provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Our SEND Process
If you have any concerns about your child, then the first port of call is to see your child’s teacher. In most instances they will be able to answer any questions you may have.
If you are still concerned please see our SENDCO. You are always welcome to arrange a meeting at the office.
What do I do if I think my child has a Special Educational Need?
1. Speak to your child’s class teacher. Please catch them at the beginning or end of the school day or arrange a call or meeting via the office.
2. Speak to the SENDCO who can talk your concerns through with you.
3. Speak to your GP, Health Visitor or School Nurse, which may also be advised by the SENDCO.
What is the SEND Local Offer?
Local authorities, schools and other services will set out a local offer of all services available to support children who are disabled or who have Special Educational Needs and their families. The local offer will enable families to understand what services they can access and what support they can expect from a range of local agencies, including from the local authority, health services, schools, leisure services and the voluntary sector. The offer will include provision from birth to 25, across education, health and social care.
What will it do?
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The Local Offer will provide parents/carers with information about how to access services in their area, and what they can expect from those services. With regard to Education, it will let parents/ carers and young people know how school and colleges will support them, and what they can expect across the local settings. During the last year, the Local Offer Steering Group has developed questions for schools, and trailed them with a small number of settings.
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There are 18 questions, devised in consultation with parents/carers and other agencies, which reflect their concerns and interests. These will be answered by agencies, schools and colleges to provide information to parents and carers to enable them to make decisions about how to best support their child’s needs.
Below is a list of terms which staff might use in school when talking to parents about SEN.
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ADD |
Attention Deficit Disorder |
LAC |
Looked After Child |
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ADHD |
Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder |
LA |
Local Authority |
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ASD |
Autistic Spectrum Disorder |
LM |
Learning Mentor |
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CAF |
Common Assessment Framework |
MLD |
Moderate Learning Difficulty |
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CAMHS |
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service |
MSI |
Multi-sensory impairment |
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COP |
Code of Practice |
OT |
Occupational Therapist |
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CP |
Child Protection |
PD |
Physical disability |
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DCD |
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder |
PMLD |
Profound and multiple learning difficulties |
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EAL |
English as an Additional Language |
SEN |
Special Educational Needs |
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EP |
Educational Psychologist |
SEND |
Special Educational Needs & Disability |
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FSM |
Free School Meals |
SENCo |
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator |
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FLO |
Family Liaison Officer |
SLCN |
Speech, Language, Communication Needs |
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HI |
Hearing Impairment |
SLD |
Severe learning difficulties |
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SpLD |
Specific Learning Difficulty |
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VI |
Visual Impairment |
- Please click Stoke Local Offer to view the Stoke-On-Trent Local Authority Offer.
SEND Websites
As a parent, there are ALWAYS times where you will question yourself, or not know where to find the answers - this is especially true with SEND. Below you will find a list of useful websites that have information to help with any processes or questions that you may have. As always, please ask the school too!
SOS SEN have free walk in centres around the country and give useful information about the legal and statutory rights that children with SEND have. SOSSEN
Special Needs Jungle creates easy to understand resources, articles and information for parents and carers of children with special needs, disabilities and health conditions to better enable them to navigate the special needs system.
IPSEA has a suite of free downloadable resources available to parents and carers. These guides are complemented by a free advice line and call in helpline which provide legally based information and next step advice on any educational issue that is a result of a child's SEND.IPSEA
For further support visit SENDIASS the Stoke On Trent Special Educational Needs and Disabilites Indepentendent Advisiory Service for Parents, Carers and their Families. They are an ‘Information, Advice and Support Service’ for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0 to 25, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) SENDIASS
They can be contacted on
Tel: 01782 234701
Email: iass@stoke.gov.uk
The Parent Engagement Group in Stoke (PEGiS) is a support group for parents & carers of children and young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities) and young people (up to the age of 25) with SEND to engage in informal discussion around educational issues and concerns. PEGIS
Useful Links
If you have any concerns about the SEN support provided to your child we would ask that you please raise these with the school SENDCO in the first instance so that we can work together to address your concerns. Following this If you have a complaint please follow the link to our complaints policy. Complaints Policy