Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) & Inclusion
Definition of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
“Children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made for them. Children have a learning difficulty or disability if they: –
Have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age; or
Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for children of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.”
Our school SEND offer
St Robert Southwell Primary school is a fully inclusive Roman Catholic primary school which ensures that all pupils achieve their potential, personally, socially, emotionally and academically in all areas of the curriculum (regardless of their gender, ethnicity, social background, sexual identity, physical ability or educational needs).
This school’s SEND Information Report (see below) is a guide to how St Robert Southwell School will address the needs of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities. It has been written to help parents/carers understand how we will support all our children, including those with SEN and disabilities, to make the best possible progress in school. The information report is updated annually. It should be read in conjunction with our SEND Policy and the local offer from Brent (which are also found below).
At St Robert Southwell we are committed to the Catholic principles of social justice and Inclusion, which recognise the entitlement of all pupils to a balanced, broad curriculum, matched to individual needs, allowing and encouraging those individuals to achieve their best. Our SEND policy reinforces the need for teaching that is fully inclusive.
What does Inclusion mean at St Robert Southwell?
- Inclusion is the uniqueness of every child.
- The power of being believed and being understood.
Why is this important?
- Being believed and understood gives children a sense of self and identity.
- It empowers children to be successful on their journey through education.
- Inclusion works because it gives children what we all want and need: a sense of belonging.
Brent’s Local Offer
The Brent Local Offer sets out the services and support available in our borough for children and young adults under the age of 25 with special educational needs and those who are disabled. It also provides information about a young person’s transition into adulthood.
The purpose of the local offer is to enable parents and young people to see more clearly what services are available in their area and how to access them. Knowing what is available and how it is accessed gives more choice and control to families and young people.
Please click the links below to find out more about Brent’s Local Offer:
Parent support
Parent Partnership Service now known as SENDIASS provides free, impartial, confidential, advice, support and options around educational issues for parent/carers who have children with special educational needs or disabilities (0-25).
SENDIASS aims to ensure that parents and carers are empowered and can play an informed role in planning provision to meet their child’s special educational needs. SENDIASS aims to build partnerships between parents and carers, the local authority and schools. The service also encourages parents and carers to be involved in the development of local SEN policy and practice.
They can be contacted on:
Tel: 0208 937 3434
Email: sendias@brent.gov.uk
Our SEND Information report, SEND policy and our Accessibility Plan are available below. If you would like further information about what we offer here at St Robert Southwell Primary School, then please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
Mrs Egan is our SENCO and Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion – legan@robsouth.brent.sch.uk