Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – SEND

Welcome to SEND at Merton Bank

At Merton Bank Primary School, we believe that every child has the right to feel safe, included, understood and successful.

Our school values of Respect, Empathy, Courage, Caring and Resilience are at the heart of our approach to inclusion. We recognise that every child is unique and that some children may require additional or different support at different points during their time at school.

We are committed to providing an ambitious, inclusive and accessible curriculum for all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. We work closely with children, parents, carers and external professionals to identify needs early, remove barriers and provide the right support at the right time.

Key SEND contact

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator – SENDCo:
Mr Nick Bullough

Telephone: 01744 22104
Email: mertonbank@sthelens.org.uk

Parents and carers should usually speak to their child’s class teacher in the first instance. The class teacher will listen to your concerns, discuss the support already in place and work with the SENDCo to agree appropriate next steps.

You may also contact the school office to arrange a confidential discussion with the SENDCo.

 

Special Educational Needs – Graduated Approach and Intervention Programmes

At Merton Bank we follow the Graduated Approach adopted by most Local Authorities, to support our pupil’s with SEN/Additional Needs and this approach follows four stages per cycle: Assess, Plan, Do, Review.

What is the graduated approach?

Merton Bank follows the graduated approach of:

Assess

We gather information about the child’s strengths, needs, progress and barriers to learning. This includes the views of the child, their parents or carers, school staff and, where appropriate, external professionals.

Plan

We agree the outcomes we want the child to work towards and identify the teaching approaches, adjustments, interventions and resources that will support them.

Do

The agreed support is put into place. The class teacher remains responsible for the child’s learning and works closely with teaching assistants, the SENDCo and other professionals.

Review

We review the child’s progress and consider the impact of the support. We then decide whether the provision should continue, change, increase or gradually reduce.

This is a continuous cycle. Support is adapted as we develop a clearer understanding of the child and how they learn best.

Useful SEND links and documents

The following documents should be available to download from this page:

  • SEND Information Report
  • SEND Policy
  • Accessibility Plan
  • Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy
  • Behaviour and Relationships Policy
  • Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
  • Complaints Procedure
  • Admissions Policy
  • Equality Information and Objectives

St Helens SEND Information Hub and Local Offer

The St Helens SEND Information Hub provides information about education, health, social care, community services and support for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Website button: Visit the St Helens SEND Information Hub

St Helens Information, Advice and Support Service – IASS

St Helens IASS provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support for children and young people with SEND and their parents or carers.

The service can support families with:

  • understanding SEND Support;
  • Education, Health and Care needs assessments;
  • EHCPs and annual reviews;
  • preparing for meetings;
  • completing forms;
  • resolving disagreements;
  • mediation and tribunal processes;
  • accessing local support services.

Telephone: 01744 673428

Website button: Visit St Helens IASS