SEND
At St Bernadette Catholic Primary School we offer excellence and enjoyment in learning and teaching, a school where every child matters and makes a positive contribution in the service of others. We promote an inclusive curriculum, delivered by a caring, highly skilled, and professional staff.
We encourage the full potential of every person by providing a unique and sacred learning environment witnessing to the person of Christ at the centre of every aspect of school life. We seek to build positive relationships with parents and others we work with, to provide a service to society preparing children as good citizens.
We aim to foster a love of learning in our children and to allow every child to work to the best of their ability. We strive for excellence in all we do. We are a school and church community, a family, promoting core Gospel values of compassion, respect for self and others, responsibility and honesty. We share a vision for each child to be cherished and have the best opportunities for an excellent education through a creative inspiring and inclusive curriculum.Special Educational Needs and Disability, as with all areas at St. Bernadette School, is taught in line with our mission statement
Learning to Grow in Knowledge, Faith and Love through Friendship with Jesus and Mary.
In keeping with the latest changes to Special Educational Needs, each school is required to publish its SEN Information Report (i.e. the variety of systems and interventions that the school has in place), so as to provide a first quality education for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
For any SEND enquiries, please contact Mrs. Alger (Sendco) at admin@stbernadette.herts.sch.uk
Hertfordshire Local Offer
There are a number of organisations in Hertfordshire which support parents of children with additional needs. In the Local Offer, Hertfordshire County Council sets out information of the services available in the local area for parents, children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
● Hertfordshire's Local Offer
● DSPL7 - DSPL is a Hertfordshire-wide partnership approach where parents, carers, staff in early years settings and schools, further education colleges, local authority officers and representatives from other agencies, work together as part of an Area Group, to ensure that there is a range of provision and support services available in their local community.
● DSPL7 Facebook page - Join the DSPL7 facebook page to find out about parenting courses and support groups in this area.
Support Groups and Charities
ADD-vance
ADD-vance was founded in Hertfordshire in 1996. They provide specialist information, training and advice for professionals as well as support for children, adult and families on issues relating to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism. Their service is confidential, supportive, non-judgemental and tailored to individual needs. It is a family centred service which empowers the parent to take control, help the child reach full potential and enable the family to thrive.
Here at ADD-vance we are passionate about supporting families. This is because we all live in a family with members affected by ADHD, Autism or a related condition. In our opinion, nobody understands living with additional needs more than the parents who have walked the walk, not just talked the talk. Which is why all our trainers, coaches and most of our admin staff are parents or carers of children or young people with ADHD, Autism or a related condition. We know that sometimes we all just need a helping hand, whether that be a simple chat to another parent in the same position or something a bit more structured, like a few sessions with a professional and understanding coach. We offer a range of services throughout Hertfordshire aimed at helping parents and carers to understand and support these complex conditions.
St Albans Plus Local Partnership
Useful SEND information for parents/carers
- DSPL7 - Support for families and professionals for services and support in the St Albans area.
- Autism Education Trust - toolkits for supporting pupils with autism and standards.
- National Autistic Society - supporting autism friendly schools.
- ADD-vance - support for autism / ADHD
- I CAN - to support speech and language needs
- Partners in Education - for resources and SpLD accredited courses.
- Makaton - For Makaton signs. See also Cbeebies Something Special and Mr Tumble
- ERIC - Children’s bowel and bladder charity.
- Dyspraxia Foundation - Dyspraxia support.
- Links Academy - for behaviour support.
- The Collett School - The Collett Special school for advice
Specific Learning Difficulties
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone's experience of dyslexia. It can range from mild to severe, and it can co-occur with other learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition.
It is important to remember that there are positives to thinking differently. Many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning and in visual and creative fields.
Please see the link below for further information regarding Dyslexia from the British Dyslexia Association.
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia
Dyslexia can usually be managed in school by using reasonable adjustments for individual needs. If you have concerns that your child may be dyslexic then please speak to your child's teacher in the first instance. A diagnosis cannot currently be completed through Hertfordshire council, some families may opt for a private service. A diagnosis of Dyslexia is not usually given until the age of 7/8.
http://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/4/resources/1/parents/overview/#
Autism
What is autistic spectrum disorder or autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
More information can be found here:
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism
It is important to note that each autistic child is unique and will need a specific support plan to help them thrive at school.
For local information and resources, please see the link below.
https://www.dspl7.org.uk/autism-1/
Sensory Processing
What is sensory processing?
Our bodies and brains use specialized systems to register all the different sensory information in our environment and piece it together to build a complete picture of: what is going on around us, with our bodies, within our bodies, where we are, and what time of day it is. Sensory processing shapes our experiences in the world and impacts our feelings.
Touch, sight, sound, movement, body position, smell, taste, internal sensation. Each of these senses comes together to build your conscious reality.
This brain-body process is taking place every second of every day and through the attention, it pays to external and internal information we form our perception of the world, our lived conscious experienced.
More information can be found below:
What are the differences with sensory processing disorder and how can we help at school?
Children usually present with three types of responses to sensations: under-reaction, sensory seeking and over-reaction.
- Children who appear to under-react may appear withdrawn or be difficult to engage in an activity, be slow to respond, with poor inner drive; apathetic.
- Sensory seekers need to activate their senses any way possible. This may be by fidgeting, craving sensations but finding them unsatisfactory and wanting more.
- Children who over-react may appear to be excessively emotional in response to events and avoidant of change.
To help a child manage their sensory processing disorder both at home and at St. Bernadette School it is important to look at the activity, the environment and to consider the following questions:
- Would this activity result in the child under-reacting, seeking out sensations or over reacting? If so, can it be changed? Sometimes 10 minutes on a trampoline can calm one child but over-excite another.
- Is the environment set up to help that child? If a child becomes scared by too much noise, is it possible to create a den or quiet reading corner? Perhaps a child who under-reacts may benefit from sitting on a wobble cushion to reawaken their senses.
- Sensory diets
Sensory diets can be a powerful behavioural tool in helping our pupils to respond appropriately to their senses. A sensory diet is a personalised activity plan, designed to provide the sensory input a person needs to stay focused and organised throughout the day. Done well, it should help with attention, concentration, sensory reactions and self-regulation. If you have any questions regarding your child's sensory needs then please contact the school Sendco.
What are the different senses?
Most people are surprised to find out that we actually have eight sensory systems rather than five. Each of the eight sensory systems contributes to our sense of safety, to mastery of our own body, and the resultant sensory-affective combination.
- Visual
- Auditory
- Tactile
- Olfactory
- Gustatory
- Vestibular
- Proprioception
- Interoception
If you have any issues please regarding SEND, please contact Mrs Fitzgerald & Miss Webb in the office to arrange an appointment with SEND Co-ordinator, Mrs. Alger at admin@stbernadette.herts.sch.uk
SEND Policy
Hertfordshire Quality SEND Offer