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Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Accessibility plan
SEND policy
SEND report

At St Peter’s School, we are committed to supporting every pupil in a way that builds confidence, nurtures self-esteem, and encourages independence in learning. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to thrive, and we work closely with pupils, families, and staff to ensure that individual needs are recognised and met.

Our Approach to SEND

We aim to identify pupils who may have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as early as possible. Once identified, we assess their needs carefully and work from each child’s strengths to provide appropriate support and address any areas of difficulty.

A child is considered to have SEND if they:

  • Have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age, or
  • Have a disability that prevents or hinders them from accessing the educational facilities typically available to their peers.

We understand that SEND is not fixed; a pupil’s needs may change over time. Every child brings a unique combination of strengths and challenges, and our goal is to help all pupils reach their full potential.

To learn more about how St Peter’s supports pupils with additional needs, please explore the links provided on this page.

If you believe your child may have SEND, please refer to our SEND Policy (available to download on this page) or contact our SENDCo, Nicola Sawyer, to arrange a meeting.

The Four Areas of Special Educational Need

We support pupils across the four recognised areas of SEND:

What St Peter’s Can Offer

All support options are agreed individually with parents/carers and reviewed regularly to ensure they remain appropriate.

Universal Offer – Available to All Students

  • High‑quality teaching with appropriate differentiation and effective SEND practice
  • Visual aids to support key vocabulary, concepts and themes
  • Dedicated, caring staff who value every student

Targeted Support

Some students may benefit from additional interventions, which can include:

  • Everyone Can Read (ECR) – a structured, synthetic phonics programme suitable for both primary and secondary learners
  • 1:1 or small‑group intervention focusing on literacy, comprehension and spelling
  • Nurture class/adapted curriculum, offering:
    • A structured reading and spelling programme
    • A smaller, supportive classroom environment with full‑time TA support
    • Personalised targets and regular feedback
    • Weekly enrichment activities to build confidence and self‑esteem
  • Dyslexia Action Group
  • Tinted backgrounds on classroom boards
  • Pastoral support at break and lunchtime within the SEND department
  • Homework support
  • Teaching Assistant support in selected lessons
  • Break and lunch support centre for vulnerable students
  • Screening for dyslexic tendencies
  • External agency involvement where appropriate (e.g., Educational Psychologist)

Specialist and Individualised Support

For students with higher levels of need, we may offer:

  • Tailored 1:1 tuition delivered by SEND staff under the direction of the SENDCo
  • Termly assessments for students with literacy difficulties
  • In‑class TA support in targeted lessons
  • Advice and involvement from external professionals
  • Exam Access Arrangements
  • Post‑16 transition support
  • Keyworkers for students with EHCPs or significant needs
  • Access to:
    • Coloured exercise books
    • Coloured overlays
    • Printed resources
    • Laptops and other assistive technology

Links To Useful Organisations

This area includes students who experience difficulties with:

  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • Gross motor coordination
  • Fine motor coordination
  • Self‑organisation for daily living

It may include conditions such as cerebral palsy, physical injury, and dyspraxia.

Please note: sensory needs linked to ASD/Asperger Syndrome are covered in the Speech, Language and Social Communication section.

What St Peter’s Can Offer

All support is agreed individually with parents/carers and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate.

Universal Offer – Available to All Students

  • High‑quality teaching with appropriate differentiation and effective SEND practice
  • Visual aids to support key vocabulary, concepts and themes
  • Amplification systems for students using hearing aids
  • A school environment that meets physical access guidelines
  • Staff who value and support all students

Targeted Support

Some students may benefit from additional interventions, such as:

  • Medical care plans
  • Handwriting, fine‑motor and keyboard‑skills training
  • Access to assistive technology, specialist software, audiobooks and RNIB Bookshare for enlarged print resources
  • Teaching Assistant support
  • Nurture class/adapted curriculum

Specialist and Individualised Support

For students with higher levels of need, we may provide:

  • Personalised support plans
  • 1:1 support from external advisory teachers
  • Individual fine‑motor, handwriting or keyboard‑skills programmes
  • Specialist equipment (e.g., low‑vision aids, enlarged or adapted materials)
  • Access to assistive technology and RNIB Bookshare
  • Targeted TA support for complex medical needs
  • Exam Access Arrangements
  • Keyworkers for students with EHCPs or significant needs
  • Access to the Learning Hub

Links To Useful Organisations

 

This area includes young people who experience short but significant periods of anxiety, stress, distress or anger that impact their learning, as well as those with longer‑term recognised mental‑health conditions.

Difficulties may relate to:

  • Forming and maintaining friendships
  • Bereavement
  • Attitudes towards learning and achievement
  • Attendance
  • Self‑esteem
  • Life outside school

What St Peter’s Can Offer

All support is agreed individually with parents/carers and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate.

Universal Offer – Available to All Students

  • High‑quality teaching with appropriate differentiation and effective SEND practice
  • Whole‑school reward system
  • Whole‑school behaviour policy with a graduated response
  • Support during key stage transitions
  • Anti‑bullying policy

Targeted Support for Small Groups

In addition to the universal offer, some students may access:

  • Social skills groups
  • Supported break and lunchtime sessions within the SEND department

Specialist and Individualised Support

For students with higher levels of need, we may provide:

  • 1:1 mentoring
  • Counselling
  • Support from external agencies (e.g., Educational Psychologist, Young Persons Worker, CAMH Services)
  • Flexible timetables
  • Personal Support Plans for students at risk of exclusion
  • Support from Social Care teams and the school nurse
  • Support for Looked After Children
  • Support for Young Carers
  • Keyworkers for students with EHCPs or significant needs
  • Access to the Learning Hub (temporarily unavailable during COVID‑19 restrictions due to year‑group mixing requirements)

Links To Useful Organisations

This area includes students who experience difficulties with:

  • Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
  • Hearing
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

These needs may affect how students understand, process, and express language, as well as how they interact socially.

What St Peter’s Can Offer

All support is agreed individually with parents/carers and reviewed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate.

Universal Offer – Available to All Students

  • High‑quality teaching with appropriate differentiation and effective SEND practice
  • Visual aids to support key vocabulary, concepts and themes
  • Staff who value and support all students

Targeted Support for Small Groups

Some students may benefit from:

  • Visual timetables
  • Assistive technology
  • Supported break and lunchtime sessions
  • Teaching Assistant support
  • Nurture class/adapted curriculum

Specialist and Individualised Support

For students with higher levels of need, we may provide:

  • Personalised support plans
  • Additional targeted interventions
  • Access to a quiet space
  • Mentoring
  • Exam Access Arrangements
  • Keyworkers for students with EHCPs or significant needs
  • Access to The Cabin for structured support

Links to Useful Organisations:

Further information can be found here –

If you have any concerns regarding Special Educational Needs Provision at St. Peters, please act either Nic Sawyer (SENDCo and Lead for Nurture) nsawyer@stpetershuntingdon.org or Julie Knibbs jknibbs@stpetershuntingdon.org (Assistant Head Teacher of Inclusion).

If you feel that you want to make a complaint, please follow the process set out in the complained policy

 

if you disagree with a decision your local authority has made about an EHC plan click here