SEND

Graduated Approach

We have a graduated approach to meeting the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at Holy Family Catholic High School. Our bespoke, inclusive curriculum enables us to support our pupils to become independent learners with the skills needed to prepare them for when they leave us in either Year 11 or Year 13. 

At Holy Family, there are a range of provisions available to support our pupils with SEND. Our approach to SEND enables pupils to receive the support they need through either our Universal offer which is available to all, our Targeted offer which is short term to support a pupil to get back on track or our Specialist offer which may involve outside agency support.

The majority of the pupils who have SEND are supported through our Universal offer of inclusive, quality first teaching across the school. This offer provides adaptions which are embedded into the daily learning environment across all subjects. It is our aim to have strong Universal offer so that the majority of pupils are supported throughout our curriculum and the adaptions staff embed into daily practice.

In accordance with the SEND Code of Practice, pupils with SEND receive additional and/or different support in one or more of the following areas:

• Cognition & Learning
• Communication & Interaction
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health
• Sensory and or Physical

Through our Targeted support, teachers adapt their teaching and learning environment to meet the needs of these pupils.

For a smaller number of pupils, specialist provisions are needed on a daily basis to enable them to engage with learning and accelerate progress. Pupils who access specialist support often have an Educational Health and Care Plan which outlines their needs and the support they need. The school have bespoke curriculum and provisions in place to meet the specific needs of these pupils.

Our priority is for all pupils to be in the classroom receiving quality first teaching from subject specialists. There are however some occasions where subject content or skills need to be explicitly taught in a different environment through short term intervention support. Where this is needed pupils will access a short, targeted intervention outside of the main classroom, tailored to meet the needs of those participating.

Within our Behaviour Policy, Reasonable Adjustments are highlighted as a key area of support. It is our intention that pupils with SEND are not substantially disadvantaged as a direct result. Reasonable Adjustments are part of our quality first teaching and support. They are not exclusive to pupils on the SEND Register. Where a Reasonable Adjustment is made, staff will identify this on Class Charts.

Meet the Team

Our SENCO is Miss Michelle Palmer (email: send@holyfamilyhighschool.co.uk, Tel: Phone 0151 924 6190)

	Hello! My name is Michelle Palmer and I am the SENDCO at Holy Family. I started working here in January 2020, but I have worked in another Sefton high school for many years, several of those as a SENDCO so I am very familiar with both Sefton and Liverpool SEND procedures. My main subject is MFL and I teach Spanish at Holy Family. My email address is listed at the top of this page, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need any support.  I successfully completed the NASENCO qualification in 2018 with the University of Chester. Furthermore, I am also a Specialist Assessor for the Assessing of Access Arrangements which was again achieved through the University of Chester, and this qualification allows me to assess whether or not our pupils qualify for access arrangements like extra time, a scribe or a reader.
	My name is Karen Parker and I have been the Deputy Headteacher at Holy Family for several years. My area of responsibility is the Quality of Education and the curriculum and, along with Miss Palmer, I have whole school oversight of SEND. I am also part of the science teacher team.
Teaching Assistants        Miss Armstrong Mrs Burton Mr Byrne Mr Cannock Miss Criddle Mr Carter Mr Harvey Miss O. Jones Miss S. Jones Mrs Keats Miss McGee Miss Meadows Mr Miller Miss Seddon-Cowell Mrs Thompson

SEND Parent / Carer Hub

We recognise that as parents you often have many questions relating to your child’s learning needs or may be looking for support to navigate your child’s Special Educational Needs journey. We at Holy Family Catholic High School are passionate about ensuring parents and carers feel informed, supported and empowered to secure the support that their child requires. This ‘SEND Parent / Carer Hub’ is designed to include links to information and advice that answers any questions you may have about your child’s individual learning needs or your needs as a family. Click on the relevant header to access the information available to you. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact Miss Palmer, SENCO or Mrs Green, Assistant SENDCO on send@holyfamilyhighschool.co.uk.

SEND Documentation