St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe

We are a small and friendly school in Newton Aycliffe, offering our children a highly creative and innovative education. We match high expectations in learning and teaching with fun, exciting and inspirational experiences to engage our pupils.

As a Catholic School, we have close links with St Mary’s Church community; part of the Holy Family Parish in Newton Aycliffe and Catholic values underpin our ethos.

When is it on?

Time of day
Morning
Afternoon
Session information
Monday to Thursday 8.50am - 3.30pm
Friday 8.50am - 2.00pm

Who to contact

Contact name
Annette Sowden
Contact position
Head Teacher
Telephone
01325 300 339
E-mail
office@stmarysna.bhcet.org.uk
Website
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Newton Aycliffe

Where to go

Address
Central Avenue
Newton Aycliffe
County Durham
Postcode
DL5 5NP

Other details

Related links
Ofsted reports

Local Offer

Contact name
Joanne Wills
Contact telephone
01325 300 339
Contact email
p3470.admin@durhamlearning.net
Links
SEND information at St Mary's

How do you identify Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?

How does the setting/school/college know if children/young people need extra help and what should I do if I think my child/young person may have special educational needs?

You can meet Miss Wills, our Special Needs Co-ordinator, by arranging an appointment prior to your child’s admission to the school and at any time during the school year, subject to appointment.

You will be invited to an annual review and/or Parents’ Evening each year, where progress and targets may be discussed.

We hold a parents evening six weeks after students start in September, this gives parents/carers the opportunity to meet with key members of staff involved in your child’s education. Information about how the school supports all pupils to reach their full potential is shared at this meeting. If parents/carers are unable to attend, staff are flexible when making appointments. 

For students with an Education, Health and Care Plan, annual review meetings are held where targets are set and progress is discussed. 

Team Around the Child meetings are held when we feel a student needs additional support from outside agencies. Parents/carers are invited to discuss their child’s needs. 
The SENDCo is available to discuss any issues you may have about your child.  ( You can arrange an appointment through the school office if Miss Wills is teaching).
Parent/carer questionnaires are sent out and the feedback is used to improve the support we offer.

How will you support my child with their special educational needs and disability?

How will early years setting/school/college staff support my child/young person?

After analysing information from your child’s early years provider and assessment data in, teaching assistants, parent support officer and class teachers will be made aware of your child’s learning and/or behavioural needs. Targets will be set for pupils which
are monitored and reviewed to ensure that you and your child are kept up to date with progress made.

Parents/guardians are invited to meet Miss Wills in the summer term to discuss any issues related to learning to ensure that appropriate support is in place for the new academic year. 

All children who have a diagnosis of a SEN will be monitored through a long term support plan. Children with Educational Healthcare Plans will inform staff of students needs and give strategies to meet these needs within the classroom. Parents, class teachers, Learning Support Assistants and pupils are all invited to contribute to the profiles. The profiles are reviewed termly/yearly and adjustments are made depending on the circumstances and needs of individual children.

All parents/carers have a meeting with Miss Wills or class teachers to report on their child’s academic progress. Identified students are given additional literacy support through withdrawal sessions in our learning support base. 

Personal Provision Plans are put in place for students who are not making expected levels of progress, these help to track students and ensure additional support is put in place. 

All students progress is tracked through whole school tracking procedures. 

How will you make sure my child's education meet their needs?

How will the curriculum be matched to my child's young person's needs?

We understand that all pupils have different learning styles and learn at different rates. To ensure that all pupils reach their full potential, we place them in sets in the classroom regarding their year ground this helps the teaching across the curriculum according to need and ability and lessons are appropriately differentiated.


We aim to ensure that the pace and challenge in all lessons supports every pupil to achieve good outcomes and realise their true potential. Teaching Assistants may also support learning in lessons and assistant progress leaders support lessons as well.
You will also receive school reports and an invitation to Parents’ Evening. Furthermore, you can contact Miss Wills to arrange additional meetings should you have any concerns about the progress of your child.

Specialist outreach support is available for students who are identified as requiring additional and more specialised support. Literacy and numeracy intervention takes place after school for identified students to help boost their skills in Key Stage 2.

How will we know my child is progressing?

How will both you and I know how my child/young person is doing and how will you help me to support my child's/young person's learning?

The class teacher should be consulted for concerns related to wellbeing. Should your child have significant medical needs, you will be invited, with health care providers, to contribute to a Health Care Plan. The school Medical Policy provides guidance for pupils who may require medication during the school day. 

There are opportunities for pupils to share their views and opinions with members of the School Council regarding issues which are of concern to them. 

We pride ourselves on our use of rewards; the reward system gives all students opportunities to shine in different ways.

How will you support my child's overall wellbeing?

What support will there be for my child's/young person's overall wellbeing?

At school, all staff support pupils with special educational needs. In addition, the senior leadership team may provide further support. We also access specialist services where appropriate including:

  • Educational Psychology Service
  • Physiotherapy Service
  • Speech and Language Therapy Service
  • Sensory Service
  • Learning and Behaviour Outreach Support
  • Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

There is a school nurse who may be contacted for advice and guidance.

What specialist services and expertise is available at or accessed by the staff?

What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by the setting/school/college?

We are working on further training to support pupils with a wide range of special educational needs. This includes training in ASD, ADHD, Dyslexia, behaviour management and medical conditions. All staff receive regular safeguarding training.

The school has a designated SENCO, Miss Wills. 

How are staff trained regarding SEND?

What training are the staff supporting children and young people with SEND have had or are having?

Full participation in the curriculum and extra-curricular activities is expected for all pupils where possible. For some pupils a full risk assessment may be carried out in partnership with to ensure all aspects of health and safety are covered before a planned activity.

  • NASENCO training
  • Network Meetings
  • COL Meetings
  • Durham SENCO local updated meetings

Miss Wills attends and feedbacks to staff any new changes or guidelines in place. Miss Wills supports staff with the completion of new documentation and supports staff with keeping up to date for SEND provision to take place.

What activities outside the classroom will there be?

How will my child/young person be included in activities outside this classroom including school trips?

Risk assessments will be carried out and reasonable adjustments made to ensure that pupils with additional needs can access all extra-curricular activities.

 

How will you support my child's needs?

How accessible is the setting/school/college environment?

We hold open days in July. There is an open evening for prospective parents which takes place in June.

Our induction day for the new reception intake also takes place in June. This enables pupils to meet their class teacher and take part in activities on the day.

Parents/guardians of primary school pupils with SEND who require additional transitional visits can contact Miss Wills to arrange this. 

Extra support may be put in place as available and information shared with your child’s teachers prior to their induction day.

What is available to help my child with their education?

How are the setting's/school's/college's resources allocated and matched to children's/young people's special educational needs?

Progress of all pupils is tracked closely with levels of achievement closely monitored and reviewed in partnership with parents. 

Students are assessed at the beginning of their academin year.Further assessments are done for those students who we feel would benefit from additional support. The assessments target the support required. Pupils will be screened for dyslexia and diagnosis given after further testing by SENCO if necessary.

Additional whole class or small group support may be identified for individual students.
 

What support can I expect for my child?

How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child/young person will receive?

Early transitional meetings and visits are arranged for all parents/guardians of prospective pupils. Parents/guardians are given the school contact details and encouraged to make individual appointments if they have any specific worries or concerns.

Class teachers work alongside the SENCO to discuss children's progress and discuss support in place. This is monitored over short periods of time to ensure the right provision is catered for each child. Parents are invited to discuss their views and contribute to various decisions around their child.

How will I be involved in my child's education?

How are parents involved in the setting/school/college? How can I be involved?

Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact school and/or visit the school website.

Parents/guardians may telephone the school office on: 01325 300 339 for further information.

If your child currently has an Eductional Healthcare Plan or is on the Special Educational Needs register it is important that you attend review meetings/parent meetings.

My child is going to be starting or leaving soon, how will you help them?

How will the setting/school/college prepare and support my child/young person to join the setting/school/college or the next stage of education and life?

Pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans (previously statements) are allocated resources in line with what is outlined for them in the plan. Decisions on how to allocate resources for other pupils are made according to the needs of the pupil and as available.

The SENCO deploys LSA support to ensure that pupils benefit from specific interventions. The SENCO applies for outreach support for identified students.  

Budget decisions are made in conjunction with school governors at head teacher level. 
Regular TAC meetings are held to ensure that students are receiving the appropriate support. 

Resources are reviewed and adapted to suit the changing needs of students through monitoring, assessment and student voice. Applications for Higher Level Needs Funding and Education Health Care Plans will be made if required by the SENCC to the council.
 

Disclaimer

Durham County Council's Families Information Service does not promote nor endorse the services advertised on this website. Anyone seeking to use/access such services does so at their own risk and may make all appropriate enquiries about fitness for purpose and suitability to meet their needs.
  • St Mary's Primary School

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Address: Central Avenue  Newton Aycliffe  County Durham

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