Our SEND Offer
Please find below Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School SEND Offer.
May our children be protected and nurtured,
unhindered and encouraged.
May they have the chance to learn, the space to dance, the room to grow.
At Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, we believe that Inclusion is a process whereby children with Special Educational Needs will be able to participate fully with their peers within our school setting. This will be a process that will run in harmony with our already differentiated curriculum at Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School. We are also aware that each child is an individual with individual needs, therefore, in some instances separate provision may be needed to better suit the needs of that child. When this occurs, our Inclusive ethos will encompass the teaching and curriculum being taught within our school. At Our Lady of Lourdes, we seek to celebrate the success of all children and we welcome and invite all children with Special Educational Needs to attend our already thriving, inclusive environment.
GENERAL INFORMATION
How we plan and teach pupils with SEN
- When children have identified Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) before they start here, we work with the people who already know them and use the information already available to identify what their Special Educational Needs (SEN) will be in our school setting. If you tell us you think your child has SEN we will discuss this with you and investigate this – we will share with you what we find and agree with you what we will do next and what you can do to help your child.
- If we think that your child has SEN this may be because they are not making the same progress as other children; they may not be able to follow instructions or answer questions for example. We will observe them; we will assess their understanding of what we are doing in school and use tests to pinpoint what is causing the difficulty. (What is happening and why).
- All our staff are trained to make materials and activities easier or more challenging so that every child is able to learn at their level.
- Our staff have the knowledge, skills and understanding to teach all pupils including those with SEND.
- The curriculum is personalised to meet the individual needs of all our pupils.
- We recognise that all pupils are aiming for the same goal but each has unique starting and ending points.
- We use additional schemes/materials so that we have something at the right level for the child with SEN. e.g. one to one tuition, ‘Toe by Toe’
Classroom Support
- All our staff are trained in a variety of approaches which means we are able to adapt to a range of SEN: – ASD; ADHD; speech, language and communication, behavioural, social and emotional needs.
- We use a variety of approaches to teaching that support the variety of learning styles of our children
- Assessment is ongoing and checks are carried out in each lesson to check for understanding and progress
- Pupil Progress Meetings with teachers enable SMT (Senior Management Team) to check the progress of all children each term. These meetings help identify children not making expected progress and identify strategies and interventions to help
Parental Involvement
- We are committed to communicating with parents of children with SEN on a regular basis, through informal discussions and formal meetings termly (Parents Evening) and if necessary on more frequent occasions
- Where appropriate we will write and review Education Plans with children, parents and carers
- We encourage parents to support their children in homework tasks as these are often a repetition of classroom activities that are new and maybe presenting a challenge to your child
- We work closely with pupils and families to prepare SEND pupils for adulthood.
Involving Children
- All children are involved in the target setting process and hold discussions with their class teacher and TA. The child, TA and class teacher work collaboratively on their targets
Support for children and their families
- If you want advice from professionals outside school, your GP is a good first point of contact. Below are some additional agencies that can provide support:
- Parent Partnership – Parent Partnership Services (PPS) offer free, confidential advice, information and support to parents and carers about special educational needs. (Address: Lowndes St Nursery, Lowndes Street, Bolton, BL1 4PQ, Telephone number 01204 848722, www.parentpartnership.org.uk
- Pupil and Student Services offer support and advice on school admissions. Telephone number 01204 333143
- School Nurse Service offer in school support and advice for a child’s health and well-being. Telephone number 01204 462468
- Local Authority – the following website will give you information about the Local Authority provision for children and young people with SEN as well as a directory of contacts to give you additional advice and support http://www.localdirectory.bolton.gov.uk/send.aspx
Training and Resources
- All our staff are trained to differentiate materials to make work easier or more challenging
- Teachers and support staff are trained in relation to specific learning difficulties and or medical issues, e.g. ‘Dyslexia, Autism and Speech and language
- We use a range of resources to support children with Special Educational Needs these include: ‘Toe by Toe,’ visual timetables, mind maps, countdown timers, coloured overlays, writing slopes, pen/pencil grips and IT equipment and programmes
Roles and Responsibilities
- Your first point of contact should be with the person responsible (e.g. class teacher. SENCO who is also the Reception class teacher). Explain your concerns to them. They should then take action to address your concerns. If you are not satisfied that your concern has been addressed, then speak to the Head teacher Mrs Linda Chadwick either directly, or by letter and then ask for the school governor’s representative. If you do not feel the issues have been resolved, we will work together to ensure the best possible outcomes for your child. If your concern is with the Local Authority, follow the path as above. The person who will log and track your complaint is: The Head teacher or SENCO
How do I get a copy of the school SEN policy?
- The school SEN policy is available on the School website or alternatively a copy can be requested from the school office
Contact details of the SENCO
- Mrs Josie Hindle
- office@ourlady.bolton.sch.uk
- 01204 333181
Reviewing Policy
The SEN policy and School Offer will be reviewed annually. Latest review January 2026