Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

SENDCo: Miss C Rootsey

We are proud of our diverse community at Holy Trinity and we are advocates for all of our children; being fully inclusive to a variety of additional needs and supporting children to flourish.

If you have any concerns about your child, the best place to start is by talking to their class teacher who will know your child well. If your concerns persist, we can arrange a convenient time to meet and discuss areas of concern. Miss Rootsey works Monday to Friday in school and is often at the gate in the morning. If you would like to arrange an appointment, please email: sendco@holytrinity-gravesend.kent.sch.uk or ask at the office.

We are proud to share that OFSTED stated in our most recent inspection that,

“The needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are carefully considered. Specific support is routinely given in lessons to ensure that pupils with SEND can learn with their peers. The school is skilled in securing external support to help pupils with more complex SEND. Efficient review processes ensure that all support is well-considered and effective.”

As stated by the Act, a child of full-time compulsory school age (5 to 16) or a young person aged 16 to 25 has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:

• ‘has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
• has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions.’

Section 21 of the Act defines special educational provision for a child aged 2 or more, or a young person, as ‘educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age’ in mainstream educational institutions. In the case of children under 2, special educational provision means educational provision of any kind.

At Holy Trinity, we are fully inclusive and with the support of the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service, our staff are committed to ensuring that all pupils learn alongside their peers in the mainstream classroom. This means that all pupils flourish as they are invited to attend school worship, school trips and extra-curricular activities regardless of any additional needs.

Children are encouraged to use resources such as:

• PECS books and different communication systems
• Visual timetables
• Now/next boards
• Coloured overlays
• Mobility aids (such as wheelchairs)
• Pencil grips
• Writing slopes
• Wobble cushions

We also host a variety of different interventions such as:

• Lego therapy
• Attention autism
• Clever finger
• ELSA
• Little Wandle (SEND / rapid catch-up / keep up)
• Speech and language
• Social skills
• Drawing and talking
• Counselling

Reggie, our Miniature Maltese, has proved invaluable to the children of Holy Trinity educationally, developmentally, emotionally, and socially.

Our dog mentor helps children to flourish by teaching and engaging those with educational needs to work on areas such as self-esteem, behaviour, peer relationships, and better engagement skills.

Mrs Watts supports children’s spiritual and emotional development through ELSA sessions supported by Reggie.

We are currently undergoing the Nurturing Schools Programme which will give us a National Nurturing School Award as we are proud of the work we do to support children to flourish in their wellbeing and mental health.