SEND
Empowering Every Child to Thrive
We are deeply committed to ensuring that every child feels included and supported, regardless of their individual needs.
Our dedicated team works tirelessly to provide tailored SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision, fostering an environment where all students can thrive and reach their full potential.
We have a sensory room that is used by a range of children to support their sensory needs and a learning mentor who works with a range of children supporting their social and emotional mental health needs.
Mr M Waddington is the SENCo and can be contacted through the office email: office@stmaryshorsforth.org
Mr R Webster is the governor with responsibility for SEND. He can also be contacted through the office email.
The school’s support for pupils with SEND is exceptional.
OFSTED 2024
SEND information report for 2023-2024 can be found here.
Key Information and Policies
Admissions policy - Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health & Care Plan.
The admission of pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health & Care Plan is dealt with by a completely separate procedure. Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health & Care Plan that names the school must be admitted. Where this takes place before the allocation of places under these arrangements this will reduce the number of places available to other children
Leeds Local Offer
The Leeds Local Offer has two key purposes;
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To provide clear, comprehensive, accessible and up to date information about available provision and how to access it.
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To make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations directly involving children and young people with SEND, their parents and carers and service providers in its development and review
click here to download the Leeds Local Offer information booklet
If you would like a hard copy of the booklet please email LLO@leeds.gov.uk
SEND Information Report
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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - Universal Offer
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Leeds Local Offer - The Leeds Local Offer website is under continuous review, and if young people, parents / carers of professionals have any suggestions for improvements they are able to feedback via online form on the website. All feedback will be shared and responded to via the Leeds Local Offer annual report which is published every September, this is a legal obligation under the SEND Code of Practice.
Leeds Local Offer Website: www.leedslocaloffer.org.uk
Facebook Group: @LeedsLocalOffer
Email: LLO@leeds.gov.uk
If families do not have access to the internet they are able to access the information on the Leeds Local Offer website by using the computers at their local library or community hub or speak to the school SENCO.
Stakeholder Feedback
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SEND pupil survey July 2023 - Actions: Target children with SEND in English and maths with ways to increase enjoyment of lessons through assistive technology and other differentiation as children identified too much writing or too hard. Ensure children understand how PCEPs help them to improve.
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SEND parents survey December 2022 - Actions: Explicitly evidence progress to parents in review meetings through levels, B squared and specific progress in interventions. Explicitly share with parents support child is given in class and in intervention.
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Parent survey - SEND December 2021 - Actions: Explicitly evidence progress of levels in review meetings from beginning of the year and last term.
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Pupil survey - SEND January 2022 - Actions - Increase of use of creative ways to record work in RE and use of assistive technology in English and RE.
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Parent survey - SEND December 2020 - Actions - Increase information shared in review meetings particularly information about intervention.
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Pupil survey - SEND December 2020 - Actions - Look for ways of supporting children in maths through concrete materials and differentiation.
Assistive Technology
An area to develop in our school is the use of assistive technology. Please see below for some information on assistive technology we are using in school.
Microsoft - Help students read more effectively video
Microsoft - Provide inclusive maths tools video
Microsoft - Improve student and parent communication video
Useful Documents and Websites
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SEND guide for parents and carers - The DfE has produced a guide for parents.
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Independent Parental Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) is a registered charity which offers free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of SEN and disabilities. IPSEA has free resources available at https://www.ipsea.org.uk/ to help families.
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Leeds & Bradford Dyslexia Association – This is the local area group affiliated to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) offering a wide range of support.
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One minute guides - Children’s Services is a broad, varied and complex area of work and it can be difficult to make sense of the support available and know who does what. Leeds have developed a library of ‘one minute guides’ that aim to provide straight-forward information about the different work we do and who is involved. The guides are for everyone to use and they’re regularly adding to them with new topics and information. Please see below for ones relevant to SEND.
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SHORT BREAKS - https://www.leeds.gov.uk/schools-and-education/support-for-pupils-with-send/short-breaks-for-disabled-children click on the ‘Local Offer’ TAB
Geek Room (Leeds LS12) - https://www.geeksroom.org.uk/our-mission
MENCAP- https://www.leedsmencap.org.uk/how-we-can-help/children-and-young-people/playschemes-4-18/
NEURODIVERSITY - Neurodiversity Hub flyer
STARS Information
Details of this service can be found on the STARs website www.startsteasm.org including training, workshops, & resources. Our website is populated with information and resources that you might find useful.
Information and resources can also be found on the Leeds for Learning STARS Offer page and on the STARS website ‘Our Services’ and ‘referrals’ tabs. In addition, STARS bite-sized eLearning videos for parents and carers are available, links via the STARS website, with new videos added to the collection regularly.
SCOPE
- https://www.scope.org.uk/family-services/parents-connect/ - You will be able to find current and up to date information including information about:
• Parents connect training (currently being offered online)
• before and after diagnosis
• emotional support for parents and carers
• Education, Health and Care Plans