SEND Information, Policies and Accessibility

SEND Information, Policies and Accessibility

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them." 1 Corinthians 12:4

At Our Lady & St Joseph Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child is a unique and valued creation of God, deserving of love, support and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Guided by our mission statement, "With Christ at our centre we love, listen and learn," we are committed to creating an inclusive and nurturing environment where all children feel safe, valued and empowered to achieve their God-given potential.

Our approach to inclusion is rooted in our Catholic faith and our belief that every child deserves dignity, belonging and the opportunity to achieve. We recognise that every child brings unique strengths, talents and gifts to our school community, and we are committed to ensuring that all pupils can flourish academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually through high-quality teaching, strong partnerships with families and a graduated approach to support.

This page provides access to key SEND documents, policies and information about accessibility and inclusion across our school.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring that pupils, parents, carers and visitors with disabilities can access all aspects of school life.

Through reasonable adjustments, specialist support and close partnership with families, we strive to remove barriers to learning and participation so that every member of our school community feels welcomed, respected and included.

Our school currently provides:

• Step-free access and ramped entrances where required
• Accessible toilet facilities on each level
• Lift access to all floors
• Designated disabled parking spaces
• Adaptations to learning environments and resources where appropriate
• Access arrangements for school events, meetings and activities

We continually review our provision through our Accessibility Plan to ensure that our environment remains inclusive and accessible for all.

Reasonable Adjustments

Under the Equality Act 2010, schools have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared with their peers.

At Our Lady & St Joseph Catholic Primary School, we are committed to identifying and removing barriers to learning, participation and inclusion. We work closely with pupils, families and external professionals to ensure that appropriate adjustments are made to meet individual needs.

Reasonable adjustments may include:

• Adaptations to teaching approaches and classroom practice
• Modified learning resources and materials
• Assistive technology and specialist equipment
• Adjustments to the physical environment
• Additional adult support where appropriate
• Flexible arrangements for assessments and examinations
• Adaptations to routines, transitions and school activities
• Access arrangements for educational visits, clubs and extracurricular activities

All reasonable adjustments are considered on an individual basis and are reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the child and support their full participation in school life.

Support for Pupils with Additional Needs

We recognise that every child is different and that some pupils may require additional support to access learning and participate fully in school life.

Where appropriate, support may include:

• Targeted interventions
• Specialist teaching approaches
• Assistive technology and specialist equipment
• Individual support plans
• Support from external agencies and specialist professionals
• Adaptations to learning environments
• Personalised strategies to support communication, learning, wellbeing and independence

We work closely with families and external professionals to ensure support is tailored to each child's individual strengths and needs.

Travel Assistance and School Transport

Some children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) may be eligible for travel assistance provided by Tower Hamlets Council.

Eligibility is determined by the Local Authority and may be considered where a child is unable to travel safely to and from school because of their age, disability, special educational needs or mobility difficulties.

Further information about travel assistance, eligibility criteria and application procedures can be found through:

Tower Hamlets SEND Local Offer

Information about SEND services, support available in the local area and travel assistance for children and young people with SEND.

https://www.localoffertowerhamlets.co.uk

Home to School Travel Assistance

Information about eligibility, applications and support available for children and young people who may require travel assistance.

https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/education_and_learning/special_educational_needs/Travel_assistance.aspx

If you would like advice regarding travel assistance, please contact the Inclusion Team who will be happy to provide guidance and signpost you to the appropriate service. They can be contacted via the office or by emailing [email protected]