Catchgate Primary School SEND Information Report 

September 2021

What is the Local Authority Local Offer?

From September 2014 Local Authorities (LA) and schools are required to publish and keep under review information about services they expect to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) aged 0-25. This is called the 'Local Offer'.

The intention of the Local Offer is to improve choice for families and will also be an important resource for parents in understanding the range of services and provision in the local area. 

General Information

Welcome to our SEND information page. Hopefully you will find everything that you need.  We are continually adding information about SEND on our website.  If you would like to discuss SEND in more detail please contact Mrs J. McDonald or Mrs Joanne E. Shaw - Head Teacher, to arrange an appointment on 01207 234252.

At Catchgate Primary School we recognise that all pupils are entitled to a quality of provision that will enable them to achieve their potential. We believe in positive intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and levels of achievement and working in partnership with other agencies in order to provide a positive educational experience for all our pupils including those with a special educational need or disability. 

Our school recognises there are particular groups of pupils whose circumstances require additional consideration by those who work with them to support their SEN.

At Catchgate Primary School we have appointed a Designated Teacher for Looked after Children who works closely with the SENCO to ensure all teachers in school understand the implications for those children who are looked after and have SEN. 

At Catchgate Primary School we ensure that all pupils, regardless of their specific needs make the best possible progress.

There are four broad areas of SEND, these are:

• Communication and Interaction

This area of need includes children with Autism Spectrum Condition and those with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.

• Cognition and Learning

This includes children with Specific Learning Difficulties, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties

• Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties

This includes any pupils who have an emotional, social or mental health need that is impacting on their ability to learn.

• Sensory and/or Physical Difficulties

This area includes children with hearing impairment, visual impairment, multi-sensory impairment and physical difficulties.

Further information about the Local Offer can be found on https://www.durham.gov.uk/localoffer 

Special Educational Needs and Disability

The changes in the Children and Families Bill affect the way children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are supported in schools. The approach began in September 2014 and places pupils at the centre of planning.  The key principles of the new legislation are: 

• Young people and their families should be involved in discussions about the support they need, so they can share their knowledge and feed back to the school on the young person’s progress.
• Education, health and care plans (EHC) will replace statements of special educational needs.  Assessments for additional educational needs will follow the EHC guidelines from September 2014.  

Catchgate Primary School has fully adopted these changes and looks forward to working with pupils and parents/carers to ensure fully inclusive access to our education.

The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCo) are Mrs J. Shaw and Mrs J. McDonald who manage and co-ordinate all aspects of Special Educational needs and disability(SEND). 

The SENCo's works closely with parents/carers, the Head, Class teachers and Teaching Assistants. They oversee the assessment of the needs of children with SEND and plans with parents/carers and staff appropriate support and interventions to support their needs. 

They will liaise with a range of external professionals and outside agencies to ensure that the advice and planned strategies recommended by professionals are implemented and reviewed.

Should you have any complaints about the support the school provides through our SEND policy, please follow the steps listed in the complaints policy.