Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Bridstow CE Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child receives the support, care, and high-quality education they need to thrive. We believe that all children should be fully included in school life and have the opportunity to achieve their potential.

Our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) is Miss Catherine Thomas. If you have any concerns about your child's learning, development, or wellbeing, we encourage you to contact her at cthomas@bridstow.hereford.sch.uk.

We work closely with parents, carers, staff, and, where appropriate, external professionals to identify and support pupils with additional needs. This may include seeking advice from services such as Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, Learning Support, Health Services, or other specialist agencies.

Our Graduated Approach to SEND

We follow the SEND Code of Practice (2015) and use the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle to identify needs, plan support, monitor progress, and evaluate impact.

Support for children may include:

• High-quality inclusive teaching, adapted to meet the needs of all learners.
• Targeted interventions for pupils who require additional support to make progress.
• Specialist provision and personalised support for pupils with more complex or significant needs, including involvement from external professionals where appropriate.

Where a child requires SEND Support, we work in partnership with parents and pupils to create and review personalised targets and provision to ensure support remains effective and responsive to need.

In some cases, and where a higher level of support is required, the school may request an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, which could lead to an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

Supporting children's emotional wellbeing is an important part of our SEND provision. We are able to offer:

• Drawing and Talking Therapy, delivered by trained practitioners Miss Thomas and Mrs Turner.
• Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA), delivered by Mrs Turner to help children develop emotional awareness, resilience, and positive coping strategies.

SEND Information Report and Local Offer

In accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014, schools are required to publish information about their arrangements for supporting pupils with SEND.

Further information can be found in our SEND Information Report and through the Herefordshire SEND Local Offer, which provides details of services and support available to children and families across the county.

Herefordshire SEND Local Offer:
https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/local-offer/about-send/2