Special Educational Needs or Disabilities

At St. Alban & St. Stephen Catholic Primary School & Nursery we aim to facilitate maximum learning for all children whatever their age, ability, gender, race or background. It is our aim to provide a balanced curriculum for all, by differentiation and support. We will strive to involve parents and pupils in the decision making process and draw upon the advice of external agencies to provide the best support for children with SEND.

From the 1st September 2014 the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 years came into force, subject to any transitional arrangements. This replaced the 2001 SEN Code of Practice. We have put together detailed information about our arrangements for identifying, assessing and making provision for pupils with SEND in our SEND Information report.

If you have any questions about our provision, please contact our SENDCo, Mrs Murphy.

October update from SENDCo
Wellbeing letter from SENDCo (Sept)

SEND Information Report 2020-2021
SSAS SEND Policy

SEND Code of Practice 0-25 - A guide for parents and carers

Supporting families during Covid

There are a lot of free online courses for parents of children with ADHD, ASD and behavioural and emotional issues.

Hertfordshire's SEND Local Offer

The Local Offer sets out the information, support, services and activities that are available in the local area for families, children and young people aged 0-25 with SEND.
Local Offer
Support Groups

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

For more information, please visit The National Autistic Society or the Hertfordshire's Parent Partnership.

Please click here for more information on attending problem solving sessions for parents/carers of children and young people aged 0-25 with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Simple Solutions Sally Glossop

Lego Club for children with ASD/SEND

This lego club, for children with ASD or SEND (do not need to have a diagnosis to attend) runs monthly from 12-2pm at Fleetville Community Centre.
For further information please search for 'Lego Club for children with Autism / Special Needs' on facebook or call Gaye on 07948 621978.

Down's Syndrome

For more information please visit the Down's Syndrome website, or see the documents below.

Your questions answered leaflet

Did you know...leaflet

Specific Learning Difficulties Advice Line

01442 453655 for a ‘quick queries’ advice line for schools, parents and carers
SpLD school telephone helpline

Educational Psychology Service (EPS)

Contactline poster COVID19

If you would like to discuss an issue or query about a child or young person’s development, learning or emotional wellbeing, or if you just want to find out more about the way we work, please call.
Contact your local Educational Psychology Team for further details of local EP consultations: 01442 453 904 or 01442 453 779

Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL)

DSPL is a Hertfordshire-wide partnership approach where parents, carers, staff in early years settings and schools, further education colleges, local authority officers and representatives from other agencies, work together as part of an Area Group, to ensure that there is a range of provision and support services available in their local community. dspl7.org.uk

Parent Forum on Resilience in Children 2nd April

DSPL Termly Newsletter Autumn 2019

ADD-vance

ADD-vance was set up in Hertfordshire in 1996.  They provide training, advice and support for the families of children affected by ADHD and/or Autism and the professionals involved in their care.

Add-vance

H.A.N.D.

If your child has additional needs you can register them on the Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database (HAND).  This is a free service and you will be issued with a membership card.  This card can be used in getting assistance in many situations.  You will also receive a termly newsletter.

You can join HAND online or call 01992 556984.

HAND

Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)

The Information Advice and Support Service provide a free, confidential and impartial service to parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and to children and young people (up to 25 years) with SEND.

SENDIASS

Kids Hertfordshire HUBs

The HUBs offers information and support to any parent or carer of a child aged 0-19 with any disability or additional need living in Hertfordshire.

Kids Hertfordshire HUBs Kids HUB Directory

The Family Service Directory

The Families First Portal - This offers friendly, impartial information and guidance on a full range of childcare, children's services and resources across Hertfordshire.

Space Support Group

Space is a Hertfordshire based charity supporting parent/carers of children and young people on the Autistic Spectrum, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or a related condition.

Space

To gain further information and knowledge of your child's condition and to build a toolbox of strategies to use to support family life please click on the link below

ADHD Foundation’s Parent/Carer Skills Building Programme

Keystone

Keystone is a forward-looking organisation providing a range of workshops and talks designed to give parents and carers the tools to help children reach their full potential.

Keystone

St Albans Plus Schools Partnership

St Albans Plus Schools Partnership support their children, young people and families across the district. Vista St Albans is an organisation that works with children, young people and families. They provide access to emotional wellbeing and early intervention to support families through difficult times.

St Albans Plus

Families in Focus

Families in Focus provides parenting courses that support parents, grandparents and adoptive parents in their local community to bring harmony, balance and enjoyment to family life.

Families in Focus

Courses for Parents Autumn Term 2019

SIBS Group - for siblings of children with special needs

Vista (A Vision Of Inclusion In St Albans And Hatfield)

Vista run a range of parenting courses including some for special needs.

Anxiety

Calm Jar

Calming an Anxious Child

Resources for Parents on Anxiety

Speech and Language Links

The Speech and Language team have sent out links to a website which has excellent information on communication and language.

See a range of leaflets, available in 17 languages:
www.hct.nhs.uk/children-and-families/childrens-speech-and-language-therapy/useful-leaflets

This leaflet is specifically about children with EAL:
www.hct.nhs.uk/media/2196/factsheet_english_as_an_additional_language-1.pdf

Stages of development:
www.hct.nhs.uk/media/2197/stages-of-speech-and-language-development.pdf

SALT (Speech & Language Therapy)

The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service offers a child and family centred approach to support children and young people with speech, language, communication, eating and drinking difficulties in Hertfordshire and West Essex.

Links

Links is an Alternative Provision Academy, supporting pupils from 3 - 17 yrs in partnership with schools and nurseries. Their core aim is to promote integration, inclusion and education of pupils through individually focused learning programmes. They support children to know their strengths and develop both strategies to overcome difficulties and positive relationships to equip them for the future. Links' core aim is to promote integration, inclusion and education of students/pupils through individually focused learning programmes in partnership with schools, parents/carers and other agencies.

The Autism Education Trust

The purpose the Autism Education Trust is to improve the education of children and young people with autism.

Windermere Outreach Service

Windermere Outreach Service (previously the SpLD Base) provides an outreach service to support pupils with specific learning difficulties in English and Maths, eg Dyslexia. One of ten SpLD Bases in Hertfordshire, the Windermere Base is part of HCC’s outreach provision.

The Dyscalculia Centre

The Dyscalculia Centre hase a series of books that are used by thousands of teachers, assistant teachers, parents, and friends to help people who have dyscalculia.

Directory of Parenting Courses

Hertfordshire County Council have developed a directory of parenting courses, which is available on the website at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/parentingsupport. The parenting directory lists all courses that are available to parents/carers in Hertfordshire and cover a range of topics including: • parenting a child with additional needs • healthy relationships healthy baby programme • confident fathers programme • caring dads • understanding teens. You are able to view the courses you are interested in by district, type of course and also see if there are any costs involved.

The Wellbeing Service

The Wellbeing Service is an NHS service based in Hertfordshire, offering practical support and talking therapies to adults from 16 years onwards. The service aims to support adults towards achieving better psychological health and well-being.

Family Lives

Family Lives is a charity to support families 24 hours a day, seven days a week through their free helpline. You can call about any family issue, big or small. You can also email or chat online with one of their parent support workers. They also run face-to-groups throughout England and work in schools, GP surgeries and prisons. Helpline - 0808 800 2222

“There is a variety of gifts but always the same spirit: there are all sorts of service to be done but always the same Lord”
(1 Corinthians 12 4-7)

“…. The school – like the church itself – has special responsibility for those who are most in need.”
(The Easter People Sec.136 (1980)).

“Our commitment to Christ’s ministry and to the uniqueness of each individual leaves Catholic schools ideally placed to respond with imagination and sensitivity to those needs. Essential to that task will be a proper respect for the gifts and needs of each individual.”
(Evaluating the Distinctive nature of a Catholic School).