SEND

Supporting Every Learner: SEND at Sacred Heart Primary School

SENDCO - Mrs Pauline Brewin

At Sacred Heart, we firmly believe in every one of our children and their potential to succeed. Our children are at the heart of everything we do, and we work together as a whole school community to ensure that all children are safe, well cared for, well-educated, healthy, and able to enjoy and flourish in their school life.

We are committed to recognising, valuing and celebrating the diversity of our children, including their individual backgrounds, experiences, strengths, needs, skills, and knowledge. We understand that every child is unique, and we aim to respond to this diversity through high-quality, inclusive practice that meets the needs of all learners.

For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, we strive to provide a broad, balanced, and accessible curriculum that is carefully adapted to enable every child to achieve their full potential. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils are supported to thrive as confident, capable, and valued individuals.

We enrich our learning environment through strong teamwork, high levels of enthusiasm, and a consistent ‘can do’ strength-based approach. We focus on what children can do, building on their strengths and celebrating their achievements. Above all, our children remain at the very heart of all that we do, guiding our decisions, our practice, and our commitment to inclusion.

In partnership with staff, parents, carers, governors, and external agencies, we work collaboratively to identify and remove barriers to learning so that every child can thrive. We believe that strong, open communication between all stakeholders is essential in providing the most effective support for our pupils.

By working closely together, we ensure that children receive timely and appropriate interventions, tailored support, and access to specialist advice when needed. This joined-up approach enables us to respond quickly to individual needs and make well-informed decisions that support each child’s progress and wellbeing.

Our shared aim is to provide every child with the opportunities they need to achieve, succeed, and experience a rich, engaging, and inclusive education. We are committed to creating an environment where all learners are supported to develop their confidence, independence, and love of learning, enabling them to reach their full potential.

We have a wide range of highly skilled staff who are trained in a variety of specialist approaches to support the diverse needs of our pupils. These include Makaton and Braille to enhance communication and accessibility; SCERTS (Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support) to support social and emotional development; and Intensive Interaction to build early communication skills and positive relationships.

Our staff are also experienced in Precision Teaching to support targeted academic progress, and Emotional Coaching and Trusted Adult approaches to help children develop self-awareness, resilience, and effective strategies for managing their emotions. In addition, we have strong expertise in Speech, Language and Communication needs, as well as supporting pupils with Autism, ensuring that teaching strategies are adapted to meet individual learning styles.

Through this breadth of training and experience, we are able to provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every child is supported to achieve their full potential.

As a school, we work in close partnership with a range of external specialists to ensure that every child receives the highest standard of support. We have strong links with Speech and Language Therapists (both Enhanced and NHS services), who support not only individual pupils but also contribute to the development of high-quality speech, language, and communication provision across the whole school.

We collaborate with Educational Psychologists, Advisory Teachers from Inclusion Support services, Occupational Therapists, and specialist teachers for children with hearing and visual impairments. These professionals provide assessment, guidance, and tailored strategies to help meet the specific needs of our pupils.

This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that our staff are well-informed and confident in delivering appropriate, evidence-based support. It also enables ongoing professional development across the school, ensuring that teaching and support staff continue to develop their skills, share best practice, and provide a consistent, high level of care and provision for all children.

At Sacred Heart, we place great importance on mental health and wellbeing, recognising that children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and emotionally secure. Promoting positive mental health is central to our ethos, and we are committed to ensuring that every child’s wellbeing is at the heart of our curriculum and daily practice.

We are passionate about developing mental health awareness across the whole school community. Our staff are trained in approaches such as Emotional Coaching, enabling them to support children in understanding, expressing, and managing their feelings effectively. Through this, we help pupils build resilience, develop positive relationships, and grow in confidence.

We are committed to ensuring that all children are cared for, nurtured, and provided with appropriate support when needed. This is achieved through a range of inclusive practices and access to tailored support, including:

Nurture Group
Anxiety and Depression Workshops
Anger Management
Bereavement and Counselling
Drawing and Talking
Lego Therapy
Art Therapy
Managing Emotions
Self-esteem and self-confidence
Developing a sense of belonging
Resilience
Social Skills
Friendship
Mindfulness
Self-regulation
Transitions

Our strong commitment to mental health and our mission to place children’s wellbeing at the heart of school life has been recognised through the achievement of the Sandwell Charter Mark. This accreditation reflects our whole-school dedication to promoting positive mental health, early intervention, and a supportive, inclusive environment for all pupils.

We are also proud to be part of the Attachment Research Community (ARC), which underpins and strengthens our trauma-informed approach. Through this work, our staff develop a deeper understanding of how adverse experiences and attachment needs can impact children’s behaviour, relationships, and learning. This enables us to respond with empathy, consistency, and effective strategies that support emotional regulation and build strong, trusting relationships.

Together, these approaches ensure that our practice is rooted in care, understanding, and evidence-based support, allowing every child to feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.

If we feel that your child would benefit from being added to our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) register, either on a short-term or longer-term basis, this will always be discussed with you in partnership with your child’s class teacher and the SENDCo. We believe that working closely with parents and carers is essential in ensuring the best outcomes for every child.

Following this discussion, you will receive a written letter outlining the reasons for your child being placed on the SEND register, along with clear information about the additional support, adjustments, and interventions that will be put in place to meet their individual needs.

Your child will have a Pupil Passport, which is a key working document that outlines their strengths, needs, and the strategies that support their learning and wellbeing. This, along with any personalised learning or support plans and intervention targets, will be reviewed regularly and shared with you during meetings with your child’s class teacher.

Where external agencies are involved, such as Speech and Language Therapy or Sandwell Inclusion Support, their recommendations and targets will also be included within your child’s provision. These ensure a coordinated and consistent approach across all areas of support.

The Pupil Passport and associated support plans are vital documents that ensure all staff working with your child have a clear understanding of their needs and the strategies required to support them effectively. This helps to maintain consistency, promote progress, and ensure that provision is tailored appropriately to help your child achieve their full potential.

If you have any concerns regarding your child’s Special Educational Needs or would just like some advice or a chat, please don’t hesitate to contact us 0121 557 1511, or on office@sacredheartpri.com.

Please also feel free to come along to one of our SEND coffee mornings. These are a perfect opportunity to speak to other parents who have children with Special Needs and Disabilities, as well as listening and speaking to external agencies such as the school nurse, counselling services and family support services.

Sandwell's Local Offer

What is the Local Offer?

Our vision for children and young people in Sandwell with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is that they will be able to achieve their aspiration for a healthy ordinary life through meaningful employment and fulfilling relationships within the community of their choosing.

To help with achieving this vision the Local Authority has produced, as required by law, a 'Local Offer' which sets out the support they expect to be available for children and young people in Sandwell with special educational needs and disabilities.

https://fis.sandwell.gov.uk/kb5/sandwell/directory/localoffer.page