SEND Information

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

At Archbishop Sumner CoE Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child is understood, encouraged, inspired and equipped to achieve their full potential. We value each child as an individual and work in close partnership with families and professionals to provide inclusive, high-quality provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Below is a synopsis of commonly asked questions and answers related to SEND. These aim to help parents and visitors understand the support available, our approach to SEND, and how to access it.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

Our Vision for SEND

Inspired by our Christian values, our approach to SEND is rooted in our school values:

  • Understand – We recognise that every child is unique. Through early identification, careful assessment and strong relationships, we ensure that pupils with SEND receive the support, understanding, and care they need to thrive.
  • Encourage – We provide tailored support and encouragement, helping pupils with SEND achieve their potential academically, socially, and emotionally.
  • Inspire – Our inclusive teaching approaches and adaptive resources make learning accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for all pupils, sparking curiosity and a love of learning.
  • Equip – Through fostering independence, resilience, and self-belief, we prepare pupils with SEND to succeed now and in the future, ensuring they feel confident to take on challenges and opportunities.

We believe that early identification, strong relationships, and high-quality teaching are key ingredients to successful outcomes for pupils with SEND. By embedding our values into every aspect of SEND provision, we aim to create a school community where every child is supported, celebrated, and empowered to thrive.

How We Support Pupils with SEND

Wave 1:

All pupils benefit from high-quality, inclusive teaching in the classroom. Lessons are carefully adapted to meet individual needs through:

  • Differentiated and/or adapted tasks and resources
  • Visual supports and scaffolding
  • Pre-teaching and over-learning
  • Flexible grouping and targeted adult support

The school has devised an overview of high-quality inclusive and adaptive teaching. This outlines how we adapt lessons, resources, and support to meet the needs of all learners within lesson. You can view this overview here:

Inclusive and Adaptive Practices

Wave 2:

When additional support is needed, we follow a graduated approach in line with an Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle:

  1. Assess - identifying strengths and areas of need
  2. Plan - agreeing outcomes and support with parents, and where appropriate, with pupils
  3. Do - putting support and interventions in place
  4. Review - evaluating impact and planning next steps

During the Assess, Plan, Do and Review cycle, ongoing monitoring and adjustments will be made to ensure outcomes are as successful as possible.

Wave 3:

Where needed, support can include targeted interventions, small-group work, individualised programmes, or involvement from external specialists, with specialist input sought only with signed parental consent. We work with a range of agencies to provide support for pupils with SEND:

  • Lambeth Autism Advisory Service
  • Sensory Service for children with visual or hearing needs
  • Speech and Language Therapy 
  • Educational Psychology 
  • Play Therapist
  • Lambeth Mental Health Support Team (MHST)
  • Information, Advice and Support Service (IAS Service) to support families through the SEND processes and procedures
  • NHS Referrals for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
  • School Nurse Understand Encourage
  • Mary Sheridan Centre,  Autism and Related Disorders Service (ARDS)
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) 

Some pupils on the SEND register have an Individual Education Plan, which can also be called a SEND support plan, these set out:

  • Short-term SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound) target
  • Strategies, resources, support and provision
  • Review dates and outcomes

IEPs are reviewed termly with parents and pupils.

For a small minority of pupils who need more support than can be provided through the school’s school-based SEND provision, they may be entitled to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. An EHC plan is a legal document that describes the child’s special educational, health, and care needs, sets out the provision and support that will be put in place, and specifies the outcomes the pupil is expected to achieve. EHC plans are issued only when a child’s needs meet specific legal criteria and there is clear, robust evidence that these needs cannot be fully met through the school’s own SEND provision.

Concerns About SEND

If you have concerns about your child’s learning, development, or well-being related to SEND, there are several ways to seek support:

First Point of contact: Speak to your child’s teacher                                                                                                                              Your child’s class teacher is usually the first point of contact. They can provide insight into your child’s learning and discuss any support currently in place.

Second point of contact: Speak to the SEND Coordinator (SENDCo)                                                                                       Our dedicated SENDCo, Mr Belardini, oversees SEND provision at ABS. He can discuss your concerns, carry out informal assessments, and recommend appropriate support strategies and signposting. Mr Belardini can be contacted by telephone or email: 020 7735 2781 or sendco@absprimary.school 

Third point of contact: Speak with the Headteacher                                                                                                                              If concerns persist after consulting with the teacher and SENDCo, the Headteacher, Mrs Evans, can be contacted to discuss further steps. She can be reached by telephone at 020 7735 2781 or by email at info@absprimary.school

Fourth point of contact: Speak with the SEND Link Governors                                                                                                  The SEND link governors provide oversight and support for SEND provision at the school. Their contact details are:

We value open communication. If you notice any changes in your child’s learning, behaviour, or well-being, please contact us promptly so that we can work together to provide the best possible support.

SEND Policies and Related Documents

The information above provides a brief overview taken from the school’s SEND Policy and SEND Information Report, which can be accessed here.

The Lambeth Local Offer also provides a wide range of information about services and support available for children and young people aged 0–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the local area. The homepage can be found here.

 

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32