Welcome to SEND at St Gregory’s

At St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child is unique, valued and loved, and that every pupil should be given the opportunity to flourish and achieve their full potential. Rooted in our Catholic faith, we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive school community where every child feels that they belong, are understood and can succeed.

We recognise that some children may need additional or different support at different points in their school journey. Through high-quality, inclusive teaching, early identification of need and carefully planned support, we aim to remove barriers to learning and ensure that all children can access, participate in and enjoy the full life of our school. Our curriculum and learning environment are responsive and flexible, enabling us to meet the individual strengths and needs of our pupils.

Our approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is firmly rooted in our Catholic ethos and our belief in the dignity and potential of every child. We have high aspirations and expectations for pupils with SEND and focus on the difference that support makes to children’s learning, independence, confidence, wellbeing and wider development. Our aim is not simply to provide support, but to ensure that it leads to meaningful and positive outcomes for each individual child.

We know that the best outcomes are achieved when school, families and children work together. We value parents and carers as essential partners and actively seek the views of our pupils, ensuring that their voice is heard and that they are involved, wherever possible, in decisions about the support they receive.

Our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO), Mrs Gina Wright, works closely with pupils, parents and carers, teachers, support staff and external professionals to ensure that appropriate academic, pastoral and wider support is in place. Our SEND Governor, Mrs Pat Cairns, provides additional oversight and challenge to help ensure that SEND remains a priority across our school.

At St Gregory’s, SEND is everyone’s responsibility. Together, we aim to create an inclusive community in which every child is supported to grow in confidence, develop independence, recognise their strengths and achieve their very best.

Children's Family and Well-being Team:

In July we welcomed Sharon Grimshaw from the Children's Family and Well-being Team (CFW) and two of her colleagues.  Sharon gave us an introduction into the invaluable work and support that CFW provide to families.  Michael and Chloe then gave us an insight into the numerous FREE groups/classes that are available to families, including 'Stepping Stones' and 'Colourful footsteps', support and classes for families with SEND children.  Please get in touch if you require any information.  

Please check our school newsletter and dojo for future coffee mornings.

In the Summer term (2023) we welcomed Anne Conchie into our school from ‘The Autism in Schools Project’.  Anne carried out a walk around our school and provided useful feedback about how we can make our school even more Autistic Friendly.   Anne then met with some of our parents to chat about the successes and challenges faced, by families with children that have SEND.

SEND Newsletters

Our St Gregory's SEND Newsletters are designed to keep parents and carers informed, supported and connected with SEND at St Gregory’s. Each edition shares useful information, practical strategies, helpful resources, local and national support services, and updates about SEND provision within our school.

Our newsletters also provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our children and their achievements beyond the school day. With contributions from parents and carers, we love sharing photographs and stories about the activities, hobbies, clubs and special achievements our children are proud of. Celebrating these successes helps us to recognise each child’s individual strengths, interests and talents and reinforces our belief that every child should be valued for all that makes them unique.

We hope our SEND Newsletters provide families with accessible guidance, useful signposting and a positive celebration of our SEND community, while strengthening the important partnership between home and school.

Useful Internet Links:

Details of Lancashire SEND events can be found here:

SEND Partnership information events - Lancashire County Council 

Our SEND Information Report provides parents and carers with clear information about how we identify, support and make provision for pupils with SEND at St Gregory’s, including how we monitor progress and work together to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Our SEND Policy outlines how we identify, support and meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring that every child is included, valued and given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

To access the Lancashire County Council Local Offer for SEND, please follow this link:

Our SEND Information Report provides parents and carers with clear information about how we identify, support and make provision for pupils with SEND at St Gregory’s, including how we monitor progress and work together to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Our Accessibility Plan outlines how we work to ensure that our school is accessible and inclusive for all pupils, staff and visitors, by identifying and removing potential barriers to participation and learning.