SEND
Our SENCO is Mrs Gwyneth Walker.
She can be contacted through the school office at 01706 640480 or gwalker@holyfamilyrc.rochdale.sch.uk
Holy Family Equality Statement
At Holy Family RC Primary School all staff and governors are committed to working together to provide a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment to ensure every pupil is part of the school community, whatever their ability or need.
From April 2012 schools were expected to meet the requirements of the Equality Act. The Equality Act brings all legislation under a more straight forward law which is less complicated to understand and apply. The Equality Act 2010 replaced all existing equality legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act. The effect of the law is the same as in the past, meaning that “schools cannot unlawfully discriminate against pupils because of sex, race, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation”. There are protected groups and schools have to ensure that the curriculum is delivered to allow access for all. To protect those people considered to have a disability reasonable adjustments must be made.
Holy Family RC Primary School is committed to providing an environment that enables full curriculum access that values and includes all pupils, staff, parents and visitors regardless of their education, physical, sensory, social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs. We are committed to taking positive action in the spirit of the Equality Act 2010 with regard to disability and to developing a culture of inclusion, support and awareness within the school.
Please see our SIngle Equality & Community Cohesion Policy for more information.
The Local Offer
What is the Local Offer?
The government have listened to what parents say their experience of services is like and have put in place a number of things to bring about improvements. One of these is the ‘Local Offer’.
The council for disabled children have provided information and advice on the Local Offer. This helps identify what should be included in the 'Local Offer' – and helps parents recognise if their local offer includes everything it should.
Local Offer – Telling you what is ‘additional and different’
- We will set out what services are available
- How to access services.
- How services will work together.
- How we will make sure that parents/carers have more choice and control over what services they receive.
- Training for the new way of working that is available for everyone – we will train everyone together where the training is useful for everyone (professionals and parents).
What services will this include?
- Suitable childcare
- Leisure activities
- Short breaks
- Rochdale SENDIASS (parent support)
- Dispute resolution services
- All schools – mainstream and special
- The local authority’s role and responsibility
- Health services – universal and specialist
What will be included in the Education Local Offer?
- A summary of the core provision expected of all schools/academies. There will be more detail in every schools own published SEN policy.
- It will cover all aspects of school life – classroom, school day, after school activities and learning off site.
Holy Family RC Primary School's Local offer (SEN Information Report)
Holy Family RCPS Local Offer.doc
Holy Family Inclusion Policy.doc
Holy Family Accessibility Plan.doc
Complaints Related to SEND
Any complaints should first be raised with the SENCO, then if necessary with the Headteacher and, if unresolved, with the SEN Governor. Managing parental complaints must follow our formal complaints procedure. Our school Complaint's Policy can be found here.
- All SEN complaints must follow Holy Family's formal complaints procedure.
- The SEN Governor is consulted.
- External advice may be sought.
- Key legislation regarding the matter is identified.
- Good levels of communication with the parents/ carers are maintained throughout the process.
- Meetings with the parents/carers are arranged, perhaps involving a mediator such as parent support.
- Key issues are identified including where there is agreement.
- Discussions should take place with the SENCO.
- Reports provided by outside agencies should be considered.
Making an SEND Complaint
Follow these steps in order. Move on to the next step if your complaint is not resolved.
- Talk to school's SENCO, Mrs G Walker
- Follow the school's Complaints Procedure
- Complain to Rochdale Local Authority
For further LA guidance contact
SEN Assessment Team,
Number One Riverside
Smith Street
Rochdale OL16 1XU
Tel: 01706 925981
Email: SEN@rochdale.gov.uk