Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Christ Church Ainsworth, we are committed to providing an inclusive, supportive and ambitious education for every child. We recognise that children learn in different ways and may require different levels or types of support at different points in their education.

We follow the principles and guidance set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice (2014).

A child or young person has special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability which means they require special educational provision.

This may apply where a child:

• has significantly greater difficulty learning than most children of the same age; or
• has a disability which makes it difficult for them to access the educational opportunities and facilities ordinarily available to children of the same age.

Speaking English as an additional language does not, in itself, mean that a child has special educational needs.

Our Approach to SEND

At Christ Church Ainsworth, inclusion is an important part of our school community. We aim to understand each child as an individual and work closely with children, families and professionals to identify needs and put the right support in place.

Our approach is focused on:

• identifying additional needs as early as possible;
• removing or reducing barriers to learning and participation;
• providing appropriate support and adaptations so that children can access the curriculum successfully;
• ensuring that teaching is responsive to individual strengths, needs and learning styles;
• working in partnership with parents and carers;
• working with external professionals and agencies where additional expertise is required;
• monitoring progress carefully and reviewing support regularly; and
• ensuring that children with SEND are fully included in the wider life of our school.

We have high expectations for all our pupils and believe that having additional needs should not prevent a child from enjoying school, developing their strengths and achieving their potential.

The Four Areas of SEND

Special educational needs are commonly considered across four broad areas:

Cognition and Learning

This includes children who may experience difficulties with aspects of learning, including specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyspraxia.

Communication and Interaction

This includes children who may require support with speech, language, communication or social interaction.

Social, Emotional and Mental Health

Some children may experience difficulties with their emotional wellbeing, relationships, behaviour, concentration or regulation which can affect their learning and participation.

Physical and Sensory

This includes children with physical difficulties or sensory needs, including hearing or visual impairments.

These areas help us to understand children's needs and plan appropriate provision. We recognise that individual children may have needs across more than one area.

Supporting Children with SEND

Wherever possible, we aim to provide support as part of everyday classroom learning. This may include adaptations to teaching, resources or activities, additional adult support, targeted small-group work or individual intervention.

Teachers and support staff work together to ensure that children can access learning and participate fully in school life. Where a specific intervention needs to take place outside the classroom, this is carefully planned to minimise disruption to the child's learning.

We also work with a range of external professionals where appropriate, seeking specialist advice and support when this will help us to meet a child's individual needs.

Working with Families

We believe that parents and carers are essential partners in supporting children with SEND. We encourage open communication and welcome conversations about a child's strengths, needs, progress and experiences in school. If you have a concern about your child's learning, development or wellbeing, we encourage you to speak with your child's class teacher in the first instance. Where appropriate, further support can then be discussed with our SENDCo.

Our SEND Information Report provides further information about the support and provision available at Christ Church Ainsworth. This forms part of the Bury Local Offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Our SENDCo:

Our SENDCo is Mrs R Canavan.

If you would like to discuss your child's needs or would like further information about SEND provision at Christ Church Ainsworth, please contact Mrs Canavan through the school office.

We are always happy to work with families to ensure that every child is understood, supported and given the opportunity to thrive.