Welcome

At Holmer Church of England Academy, we believe every child is unique and has the right to shine. We are committed to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have the support they need to achieve their very best, both academically and personally. We aim to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where children feel valued, respected, and confident to try new things.

What is SEND?

A child has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which means they need extra help to learn, compared to other children of the same age.

SEND can include difficulties or disabilities within:

• Communication & Interaction e.g. speech and language difficulties or autism spectrum conditions (ASC)
• Cognition & Learning e.g. dyslexia type difficulties or difficulties with memory or understanding
• Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) e.g. anxiety or difficulties in controlling emotions
• Sensory & Physical e.g. vision or hearing needs or mobility support

At Holmer, we support children with a wide range of needs and work closely with families to make sure provision is right for each child.

How We Support Children with SEND

We follow the SEND Code of Practice (2015), which sets out how schools should identify and meet the needs of children with SEND.

At Holmer Church of England Academy, we:

1. Identify needs early through observations, assessments, and discussions with parents
2. Plan support together agreeing targets and sharing these with parents and children
3. Put the plan into action using strategies, interventions, or adjustments in class
4. Review regularly checking progress and making changes where needed.

This is known as the Assess-Plan-Do-Review (APDR) cycle.

Types of Support We Offer

• Quality first teaching in every classroom
• Small group or one-to-one sessions (interventions) for targeted skills
• Specialist resources (e.g. visual supports, assistive technology)
• Adaptations to the learning environment
• Support for social and emotional wellbeing (e.g. Emotional Literacy sessions with ELSA trained staff, well-being check-ins with our pastoral lead)
• Extra support with transitions (moving between classrooms or to a new school)

Working with Parents and Pupils

We believe children learn best when home and school work together in a triangulated approach. Parents are kept informed through:

• Regular meetings with the class teacher, SENCO and pastoral lead as appropriate
• Termly parent consultation meetings to discuss progress
• Invitations to workshops and support sessions within school

We also value pupil voice - children are encouraged to share what helps them learn best.

Working with Specialists

When needed, we work with outside professionals, such as:

• Speech & Language Therapists
• Educational Psychologists
• Occupational Therapists
• Professionals from The Children's Developmental Centre (CDC)
• CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)
• Hampton Dene Autism Outreach Service

We will always talk with parents before involving another service.

Transitions

We provide extra support for:

• Children joining our school
• Moving between year groups
• Preparing for secondary school

This may include extra visits, social stories, or meeting new staff before the change happens.

Accessibility

We make sure our school is accessible to all children and adults. For more detail please see our Accessibility Plan.

Policies and Documents

• Holmer SEND Policy
• Holmer SEND Information Report
• Disability Access Policy
• Accessibility Plan
• Equality Information & Objectives
• Pupil Emotional Health & Wellbeing Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy

Local Offer

The Herefordshire Local Offer explains what help is available for children and young people with SEND in our area. Visit: www.herefordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

Useful Links

• SENDIASS Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service
• IPSEA Independent Provider of Special Educational Advice
• SEND Guide For Parents
• National Autistic Society
• British Dyslexia Association

Contact Information

Parents should always talk with the class teacher about their concerns in the first instance. Should you have further questions, queries or concerns related to SEND, you can contact our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator:

SENCO: Mrs Lisa Harding

EMAIL: lharding@holmer.hereford.sch.uk

TEL: 01432 273301