Welcome to St Mary’s Catholic School, part of the St Thomas Aquinas CMAT. My name is Mr Saxton and I’m the interim Special Educational Needs/Disabilities Co-Ordinator. I work closely with our leadership team, teachers, families and agencies to make sure every child with additional needs is supported and cared for. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you. Email: office@stmarys-rc.leics.sch.uk to contact me
Our Special Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCo):
Mr Saxton is our school Special Education Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo). His role is to ensure that children with special educational needs and disabilities within our school receive the support they need.
His role includes:
- Supporting the identification of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Co-ordinating provision for children with SEN.
- Liaising with parents of children with SEN.
- Liaising with other providers, outside agencies, educational psychologists, and external agencies.
- Ensuring that the school keeps the records of all pupils with SEND up to date.
If you have any thoughts, concerns, or questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA):
At St Mary’s, we have a qualified ELSA (Mrs Watkins). An ELSA is a teaching assistant who has had special training from educational psychologists to support the emotional development of children and young people in school. Our ELSA works with children on a one-to-one basis, and works with children who our teaching staff have identified as needing support with their emotional development.
Our Designated Mental Health Lead:
This is Mrs Watkins. Her responsibility is to develop a whole school approach to support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of the children in our school. She also supports our staff to make sure they can recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health needs in pupils and know what to do if they have a concern.
Our SEND Link Governor
Mrs Jane Monaghan is the SEND Link Governor. She is responsible for monitoring this important area of school life on behalf of the St Mary’s Governing Body. He reports to the full Governing Body and works closely with our SENDCo to monitor the SEND provision we are able to offer.
You can find details of the SEND policy, SEND Information Report and Accessibility Policy on the Policy page of our website: CLICK HERE
What does SEND mean?
SEND stands for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. A child has SEND if they need extra support to learn compared to most children their age.
I think my child may have SEND. What should I do?
Start by speaking to your child’s class teacher. They will listen to your concerns, explain how your child is doing in school and begin gathering information. The SENCO can then work with you and staff to decide next steps.
How does the school identify SEND?
Schools continuously monitor children’s progress. If a child is having difficulty with learning, communication, behaviour, emotional wellbeing or physical needs, the school may complete assessments, observe them in class, and talk with parents before deciding whether SEND support is needed.
What support will my child receive if they are identified as having SEND?
Support is tailored to the child. It may include small group support, adapted classroom teaching, visual or practical resources, support for emotional wellbeing and/or seeking advice from specialist services (e.g., Speech & Language Therapy).
What is the graduated approach?
Schools follow a cycle of Assess – Plan – Do – Review:
- Assess needs
- Plan suitable support
- Do: provide the support
- Review progress
Parents are part of this process at every stage.
How will I be kept informed about my child’s progress?
The school will update you regularly through parent meetings, SEND reviews, phone calls, or home–school communication. You are welcome to contact the SENCO at any time.
What is an EHCP?
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document for children with significant long-term needs that require high levels of support. Only a small number of children need an EHCP. Parents can request an assessment.
Does having SEND mean my child cannot succeed?
Absolutely not. With the right support and a personalised approach, children with SEND make progress and develop strengths across many areas.
Will my child be taken out of class for support?
This depends on their needs. Some support happens in the classroom, some in small groups, and occasionally out of class. Our aim as a school is to always help your child access learning in the classroom successfully.
How do you support children with social, emotional or mental-health needs?
We offer access to a Emotional Literacy Support Assistant and we work in partnership with the Nursing team and other external providers.
Who can I speak to if I have more questions?
Your child’s class teacher is the first point of contact. You can also contact the SENCO, who coordinates SEND provision across the school.
The Leicestershire Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and their families information about help and services in Leicestershire. You can find out more via www.leicestershire.gov.uk/local-offer
Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Leicestershire County Council – Mental health and wellbeing support for children and families — Leicestershire County Council
- YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds
Autism & Neurodiversity
National Autistic Society Family support
Speech, Language & Communication Support
Dyslexia & Specific Learning Difficulties
British Dyslexia Association (BDA) —. British Dyslexia Association+1
Broad SEND / Local Authority Support & Advice
- SENDIASS (Leicestershire) — free, impartial, confidential information, advice and support for children/young people (0-25) with SEND and their parents/carers. Covers education, health, social care, and guidance through processes like assessments, EHCPs etc. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust+1
- Leicestershire SEND Hub — parent-carer forum representing families across Leicestershire, working with local authority and health services to improve SEND support. Good for community and parent-led advocacy, peer support, and staying informed. Leicestershire County Council+1
- Family Hubs Leicestershire – Parenting Support & Family Help Service — offers early help, support for SEND families, mental-health or wellbeing needs, and access to stay-and-play groups or family-centred support. Especially useful for younger children or early-years SEND support. familyhubsleicestershire.org.uk+1
