SEND
Special Educational Needs
Mrs O'Rourke - SENDCo
I am Mrs O'Rourke, and I am the SENDCo here at Blessed Thomas Holford. I currently hold the National Award for SENDCos which is a qualification all practicing SENDCos must have.
Our vision for the young people who have a Special Educational Need and/or Disability is:
That we strive to promote a culture of high expectations and aspiration for all young people, including those with SEND, based on our fundamental belief in the dignity of all human beings. We recognise that students learn best where they feel happy and we strive to establish an environment where learners are supported, challenged, and can grow.
We want our students to flourish in safe, happy, and inspiring environments, taught and supported by adults who are skilled, motivated and committed to overcoming barriers to learning and participation. Our staff work hard to support students with a diverse range of needs; creating a fully inclusive curriculum which allows students to develop not only their academic skills, but also master the skills that they will need to be independent young adults in the future.
We want all students, including those with SEND, to leave our college community:
- With a sense of their dignity and worth as a person loved by God
- With the best academic qualifications that they are capable of
- A sense of their giftedness and that they have a unique calling/vocation in life
- A sense that they are loved by God
We want our students to thrive within the learning environment and feel well supported by reasonable adjustments to support their special educational needs and/or disability. The adjustments and provision in place for our students are done so irrespective of whether they have a diagnosis or label. Most importantly, we want our students to leave Blessed Thomas Holford happy, with excellent outcomes and the ability to contribute to the wider community.
From 1st September 2014, there were new duties with regards to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND Code of Practice 2014). Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College remains committed to being an inclusive, mainstream secondary school as part of Trafford LEA.
To ensure that we are continuously meeting the needs of our young people, we review and develop the current provision. This will be done in consultation with our students and parents/carers. It is important to ensure that there are clear lines of communication to guarantee that the school and parents are working together to ensure the best outcomes for the student.
Please contact our SEND team
The college has close links with our feeder primary schools and meets with the SENDCOs and Year 6 class teachers to discuss the needs of Year 6 students. The SENDCo, Mrs O'Rourke and the SEND Transition Lead, Mrs Walton, work collaboratively with the Heads of year 7 so that a smooth transition can be coordinated. Mrs Walton consults directly with primary schools and parents/carers throughout the transition process and is a familiar face when students begin in Year 7.
All students with SEND are fully timetabled within the college timetable, including mixed ability tutor groups, ability sets and, in the later years, the option groups for the Key Stage 4/5 curriculum.
The college receives additional funding for students with an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plan. This is assigned to meet each child’s needs according to their EHCP reviewed annually, which is produced in partnership with the local Authority. Students play a key role in this review process as it is person centred. The student’s views and opinions will help to ensure we are delivering the right provision and inform our planning for the following academic year.
We have excellent working relationships with specialists within the Authority and they regularly come into college either to advise on support, provide specific training for staff or to complete assessments with students. We value these links and recognise the importance of seeking out further support beyond our college environment to improve our knowledge and understanding of the needs of our students.
We do hope that you will attend one of our BTHCC Coffee Mornings surrounding ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia and Social, Emotional and Mental Health that we have planned over the course of the year.
For any enquires regarding SEND please email: send@bthcc.org