Welcome to St Bonaventure’s SEND page. On this page you will find information on the support we provide for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We hope you will find this information useful and that it will give you further insight into how we support students with SEND throughout their learning journey at St Bonaventure’s and into further education or employment.

At St Bonaventure’s  we believe that all students should be provided with a safe environment in which they enjoy learning and make outstanding progress. If any problems arise, they will be dealt with promptly and in partnership with the students and their parents/carers.

Our Special Educational Needs Coordinator is Mrs F Parker. She can be contacted by email: f.parker@stbons.org or telephone 020 8472 3844.

Details about activities for SEND children in Newham can be found in the Student and Parent Advice Hub.

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At St Bonaventure’s, we want every student to feel valued and included. We work with students, families and staff to support learning, build confidence and develop independence.

Support is available across Years 7–13, including the sixth form.

What are Special Educational Needs and Disabilities?

A student has special educational needs (SEN) when they need extra or different support to learn.

Students may need support with:

• Speech, language and communication.
• Reading, writing, maths or other learning skills.
• Social, emotional and mental health needs.
• Hearing, vision, physical or sensory needs.

Some students have needs in more than one area. Their needs may also change over time.

A student with a disability may not have SEN but may still need changes to help them access school life. These are called reasonable adjustments.

What are our aims?

We aim to help students:

• Access a broad range of subjects.
• Make progress with their learning.
• Build confidence and independence.
• Develop communication and life skills.
• Take part in school life.
• Share their views about their support.
• Prepare for further study, training and work.

Our Catholic ethos guides our work. We value each student’s strengths and their place in our school community.

What guides our SEND support?

Our work follows national SEND guidance and the law, including the SEND Code of Practice and the Equality Act.

Our SEND Policy, SEN Information Report and Accessibility Plan explain our approach in more detail.

Who supports students with SEND?

All teachers are responsible for the learning and progress of students in their classes.

Ms Fiona Parker, SENDCo, leads the Learning Support Department. The team includes the Deputy SENDCo, Learning Support Teachers, Higher Level Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants.

They work with teachers, pastoral staff, families and services outside school.

How do we know if a student needs extra help?

Students, parents, carers and staff can raise concerns. We also use information from previous schools and other professionals.

We consider:

• Progress in lessons and assessments.
• The student’s views and experiences.
• Information from parents and carers.
• Difficulties with learning, communication or school life.
• Whether current support is helping.

Students can have SEND even when they achieve strong results. They do not need a formal diagnosis before we can provide support.

Speaking English as an additional language does not, on its own, mean that a student has SEND.

How do we support students?

Support starts with high-quality teaching. Teachers adapt lessons and resources to meet students’ needs.

Where extra support is needed, we use Assess, Plan, Do, Review:

• Assess: Identify the student’s strengths and needs.
• Plan: Agree goals and support with the student and family.
• Do: Put the support in place.
• Review: Check progress and decide what should happen next.

Support may include work in a small group, help in lessons, specialist resources or advice from other services.

What is a Student Passport?

A Student Passport helps staff understand how best to support a student. It includes:

• Their strengths and interests.
• Their learning needs.
• Their views about what helps.
• Strategies for staff to use in lessons.

Passports are shared with staff and parents or carers. They are reviewed each term with the student and updated when needed.

How are lessons adapted?

Teachers may use:

• Clear instructions in smaller steps.
• Examples and visual resources.
• Extra time to think and respond.
• Tasks and resources suited to the student’s needs.
• Regular checks of understanding.

Learning Support Assistants help students take part in lessons and develop independence. The support they give depends on each student’s needs.

Some students attend extra sessions for literacy, maths, communication or emotional skills. These may include Lexia, Maths for Life and learning based on AQA Step Up to English.

If these sessions take place during another subject, we discuss this with the student and family. We review the benefits and the effect on their wider learning.

Which courses and qualifications can students follow?

We have high expectations for all students. Course choices reflect their strengths, progress, needs and future plans.

Depending on the courses available, students may study:

• GCSEs.
• Functional Skills qualifications.
• Entry Level qualifications.
• Units within the AQA Unit Award Scheme.

Students may follow different routes in different subjects. Having SEND does not, on its own, decide which courses a student will take.

The AQA Unit Award Scheme records success in specific areas of learning. Its certificates are not qualifications in their own right.

How are parents and carers involved?

Parents and carers play an important role in planning support. We welcome their knowledge, views and concerns.

For students receiving SEN Support, we discuss progress and next steps with families at least three times each school year. These discussions may take place by phone or in meetings.

Parents’ evenings, school reports and contact with staff provide further updates. SEND coffee mornings also give families a chance to meet the team and discuss support.

Students take part in decisions about their learning. In the sixth form, we respect their wishes and rights when involving family members.

What if a student needs an Education, Health and Care plan?

An Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) sets out a student’s needs and the support they require.

If a student may need a plan, the SENDCo will discuss an EHC needs assessment with the student and family. The local authority carries out this assessment and decides whether to issue a plan.

The school can provide information about the student’s needs, progress and support. Parents, and young people who are over compulsory school age, can also ask the local authority for an assessment directly.

Students do not have to complete a set number of support reviews before an assessment can be requested. School support continues while the request is considered.

EHCPs are reviewed each year with the student, family and relevant professionals.

How do we support wellbeing?

Learning Support and pastoral staff work together to support students’ wellbeing.

Support may include:

• Regular contact with a trusted member of staff.
• Structured activities at break and lunchtime.
• Help with communication and social skills.
• Support to understand and manage emotions.
• Mentoring, chaplaincy or counselling.
• Help from services outside school.

When a student has difficulties with behaviour or taking part, we consider the needs that may be behind them.

We also plan support so students can join trips, clubs and school events.

Which services do we work with?

We work with a range of services, based on each student’s needs. These may include:

• Educational psychologists.
• Speech and language therapists.
• Occupational therapists.
• Specialists in hearing and vision.
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
• Autism assessment and support services.
• Health and social care teams.
• Careers services.
• Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society.

We involve students and families when seeking advice or making referrals.

How are medical needs supported?

Parents and carers should tell the school about medical conditions and any changes to their child’s needs.

Staff work with families and health professionals to agree support. This may include an individual healthcare plan.

Relevant information is shared with staff who need it to support the student safely.

How accessible is the school?

Some parts of our buildings have limited access.

The main building has a chair lift to the first floor. Its second floor is not accessible to wheelchair users. The St Francis block has lifts to all floors and accessible toilets.

We discuss access needs with students and families. Support may include:

• Moving lessons to a suitable room.
• Extra time to move between lessons.
• Adapted resources and equipment.
• Suitable seating and workspaces.
• Technology to support learning.

Our Accessibility Plan explains how we aim to improve access to school buildings, learning and information.

What training do staff receive?

Staff receive training to help them meet students’ needs.

Training covers areas such as adapting lessons, communication, literacy, emotional needs and independence.

New staff receive guidance on Student Passports, classroom support and how to raise concerns.

How do we support students when they move between schools or stages?

We work with primary schools and families to prepare students for Year 7. Extra visits and meetings are arranged where needed.

Students who join during the school year also receive support to settle in.

From Year 9, we place more focus on future study, work, independence and adult life.

The SEND team works with careers staff and other education providers. Support may include help with course choices, applications, interviews and visits.

What support is available in the sixth form?

SEND support continues in Years 12 and 13, based on each student’s needs.

Support may include help with:

• Planning and organisation.
• Independent study.
• Reading and writing.
• Communication.
• Sensory needs.
• Emotional wellbeing.

Students help to plan and review their support. Student Passports and EHCP reviews continue where needed.

We also help students prepare for further study, training or work after sixth form.

What support is available for exams?

Some students need changes to help them access exams. These are called examination access arrangements.

The SENDCo considers each student’s needs and the evidence required under exam rules.

Students and families should raise any concerns with the SEND team as early as possible.

How do we decide what support to provide?

Support is based on each student’s needs and agreed goals.

It may include extra teaching, adult support, equipment, technology or advice from specialists.

We review its impact with students, families and staff. For students with an EHCP, support is planned around what is set out in their plan.

Who should I contact?

If you have concerns about your child’s learning or progress, please contact their form tutor, Head of Year or the SENDCo through the school office.

If a concern about SEND support remains unresolved, you can follow the school’s Complaints Procedure.

Newham SENDIASS offers free, impartial information and advice to families.

The Newham Local Offer provides information about local SEND services and support.