Special Educational Needs (SEN) & Disability Information – St Matthew's Catholic Primary School

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School is a mainstream Primary School, we are not a special school, however, we are proud to hold the IQM Award for Inclusive Practice and are committed to celebrating the individuality of every child. We recognise that each pupil has unique strengths and needs, and that these may vary over time. Many children experience additional needs at some point in their school journey, which may relate to health, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, or learning, and this does not necessarily mean they will be working below age-related expectations. Through our inclusive approach, we aim to identify and address these needs promptly and effectively. We treat every child as an individual, regularly review their progress and provision, and strive to ensure that every pupil reaches their full potential, regardless of their starting point or any barriers to learning.

Key Contacts

The Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is Mrs Gaskell, Assistant SENCO is Miss Roberts.

They can be contacted via the school office: 0151 226-1871 or through email: senco@stmatthewscps.co.uk

The SEND Link Governor is Mrs C Sergeant.

Email address: senco@stmatthewscps.co.uk

If you would like to book an SEND appointment for your child please follow this link:

Book an appointment here

Our Intent, Implementation and Impact

Our Intent

At St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School, pupils with identified Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) are fully included in all aspects of school life and are provided with appropriate support to access the curriculum, reach their full potential, and succeed in life. Our provision is guided by the National Curriculum in England (Key Stages 1 and 2, 2013), the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations (2014), and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0–25 years (2015).

We recognise that children may experience additional needs at some point during their time at school. A wide range of strategies and interventions are therefore used to support pupils as needs are identified. We work closely in partnership with parents and carers, offering guidance and support to help create a positive learning environment both at school and at home.

If you have any concerns about your child’s progress or wellbeing, or require support with their needs, please contact the SENCO or Assistant SENCO to arrange a meeting.

The SENCO ensures that all staff follow the SEND Code of Practice and implement appropriate provision to meet pupils’ needs. Support may include adapted and scaffolded work, small group or one-to-one adult support, additional phonics programmes such as Fresh Start, targeted interventions, and individual teaching time with class teachers or learning support assistants. Where appropriate, we also work with external agencies and specialist services to provide further support.

Implementation

At Our School, high-quality teaching is central to our SEND provision. Class teachers are responsible for the progress of all pupils and adapt their teaching to meet individual needs through differentiation, scaffolding, and personalised support.

Pupils’ needs are identified as early as possible through regular assessment, classroom observation, and discussions with parents, carers, and outside professionals. We follow the graduated approach of Assess, Plan, Do, Review to ensure support is carefully planned, put in place, and reviewed regularly.

Support may include small group or one-to-one interventions, adapted resources, additional phonics programmes, emotional and social support, and reasonable adjustments within the classroom. Individual support plans are reviewed to make sure provision continues to meet each child’s needs.

Staff receive ongoing training to develop their understanding of SEND and inclusive practice. The SENCO works closely with teachers, support staff, parents, and external agencies to ensure support is consistent and effective.

We encourage pupils to take an active role in their learning and to develop confidence and independence. Parents and carers are kept informed and involved throughout the process.

Impact

Our SEND provision helps pupils to make good progress from their individual starting points and to develop the skills they need for the future.

As a result of our approach, pupils with SEND are able to:

Access the curriculum alongside their peers
Develop confidence and self-esteem
Improve academic, social, and emotional skills
Build positive relationships
Prepare well for the next stage of their education

Progress is monitored regularly through assessment, reviews, and discussions with pupils, parents, and professionals. This allows us to adapt support when needed and respond to changing needs.

We regularly review our provision to ensure it remains effective and meets the needs of all learners. By working closely with families and external services, we aim to remove barriers to learning and help every child reach their potential.

Working with other agencies

At St Matthew’s Catholic Primary School we liaise closely and in partnership with a range of outside agencies such as:

Educational Psychologist Services (EP)
Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)
SENISS ( Special Educational Needs Inclusion Support Service)
Health and Social Services
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Educational Welfare Officer (EWO)
SEND Consortia
OSSME
Specialist Outreach from Specialist schools

The Education and Families Bill requires Liverpool schools to publish information about services that are available for children and young people with special educational needs. This is known as the Local Offer.

We are proud to hold the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) Award, which recognises schools for their commitment to inclusive practice and supporting the needs of all learners. The award reflects our whole-school approach to inclusion, ensuring that every child feels valued, supported, and able to succeed. We are especially pleased that this award has been renewed, as it highlights our ongoing commitment to reviewing and improving our provision for pupils with additional needs.

Download: St Matthew’s Catholic Primary IQM School Report – November 2024 [PDF]