SEND

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

“For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, because I am wonderfully made” Psalm 139:13-14

Welcome to Our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Page

The school SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) is Mrs Hayes.

Contact can be made with Mrs Hayes via the school office on 0115 9151 700 or via email at admin@smca.nottingham.sch.uk

Introductory Overview

At St Mary’s Catholic Academy, we are committed to being inclusive and ambitious for all pupils no matter their need or disability, enabling each pupil to meet their own potential.

Our aim is to ensure all children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum which supports their academic, social, emotional and spiritual development. We work closely with children, parents and outside agencies to support our children, help then become more independent and prepare them for their adulthood.

Every child is uniquely different and not all children learn at the same rate. They may need extra help in school to flourish and meet their full potential. These children are said to have special educational needs. About 1 in 5 children will need extra help at school at some time in their education.

Pupils with SEND have their own pupil profile that sets short-term targets which are evaluated every term with parents, pupils and teachers in partnership.

Special Educational Needs and provision can be considered as falling under four broad areas, as identified in the SEND Code of Practice.

SEND Code of Practise – Department of Health

Communication and Interaction

Children with speech, language and communication needs have difficulty with communicating with others. This may be because they have difficultly saying what they want to, understanding what is being said to them or they do not understand or use social rules of communication. They may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of speech, language or social communication at different times of their lives.

Cognition and Learning

Cognition refers to the thinking skills and thought processes that a child has acquired through their prior experience. Learning needs are on a continuum and can vary across subjects and situations. Children with learning needs may learn at a slower pace than their peers despite appropriate scaffolding. Learning difficulties can be general or specific and related to one or more areas of the curriculum.

Social, Emotional and Mental Health

SEMH needs are a type of special educational need where a child communicates through behaviour in response to unmet social, emotional or mental health needs.

Children with SEMH needs often have difficulties in managing their emotions or their behaviour. They can show inappropriate responses to their emotions. They can feel scared, anxious and misunderstood.

Sensory or Physical

Some children and young people require special educational provision because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided. These difficulties can be age related and may fluctuate over time. Many children and young people with vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory impairment (MSI) will require specialist support and/or equipment to access their learning.

Some children and young people with a physical disability (PD) require additional ongoing support and equipment to access all the opportunities available to their peers.

Inclusion and SEND

We are a Catholic mainstream, inclusive school that fully complies with the requirements outlined in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Wave 1 – Quality First Teaching

We recognise that inclusive, quality first teaching within the classroom has the greatest influence over children’s progress. We therefore invest in training, resources and monitoring to ensure our classrooms are an inclusive place for all children.

Wave 2 – Additional Interventions

Additional interventions at ‘Wave 2’ are planned to enable children to accelerate their progress and work at, or above the expectations for their age. These are generally taught in a small group and sometimes a 1:1 situation. They can also be strategies used with the children to help them be successful in the classroom.

Wave 3 – Additional and Highly Personalised Interventions

A child identified as having SEND also receives ‘Wave 3’ interventions. These may be provided individually or in a small group, and the support provided is personalised to enable the child to achieve his/her potential. This support is additional to or different from the everyday curriculum for that class and is detailed in an Individual Pupil Profile (IPP). This plan is prepared by the class teacher, overseen by the SENDCO and is reviewed regularly. It may also include provision/ advice from an external agency or professional, such as a Speech and Language therapist. Pupils with an Individual Pupil Profile may also be eligible for HLN (Higher Level Needs) Funding which will be bid for by the school. If a child’s needs cannot be met by the support identified in Wave 3, parents and school may decide to apply for an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP). It is school policy that children will take part in at least two termly cycles of SEND support before making an application for an EHCP.

The Wave of Intervention Model

The Local offer

The Nottingham City Local Offer contains information about the support available to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families.

Nottshelpyourself | Nottinghamshire’s SEND Local Offer

Special Education Needs & Disabilities Local Offer | Ask Lion – Nottingham City Directory

https://youtu.be/Gi-sC1IyxR8

Support Services, Groups and Resources

St. Mary’s Catholic Academy can offer support. Find out more here.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Dyslexia

Other Support Services

Parent Drop-In Sessions

SEN FACE Newsletters

Parent and Carer Workshops

Useful Books

Read our list of recommended useful books here.

St Mary’s SEND Policies and Important Documents

SEND Policy 2024-025

Our policy outlines all the aims and beliefs we hold as a school about providing a quality education for our children with SEND.

SEND Information Report to Parents 2025

This report outlines everything you need to know as a parent about how to access support, what kinds of support we offer and all things SEND related at St Mary’s Catholic Academy. It also outlines Nottingham’s Local offer in relation to SEND provision.

Enhanced Provision

The enhanced provision at St Mary’s is designed to support children with additional learning needs by offering tailored resources, highly personalised and targeted interventions, and a nurturing environment that promotes a sense of belonging, inclusion and personal growth. This provision ensures that every child has access to the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By working closely with families, specialist staff, and external professionals, we aim to create a collaborative approach that celebrates each child’s strengths and helps them reach their full potential.

Other School Policies and Documents

Accessibility Plan 2025

Intimate Care Policy 2025

Positive Handling Policy 2025

Supporting Children with Medical Conditions Policy 2025