At Harston & Newton Primary School, we believe every child is unique and deserves the opportunity to thrive. All pupils, whether they have special educational needs or not, are given equal access to the full curriculum. We recognise, however, that some children may experience greater challenges in learning—either permanently or at certain times—and some may have disabilities that limit their ability to use the facilities available.
Our differentiated approach is designed to support all learners, but we also provide additional help for those who need it. Children requiring extra support are placed on the Special Educational Needs (SEN) register, ensuring that their assessment and provision are carefully structured, documented, and monitored.
We place great value on working in partnership with parents. Their involvement is sought at every stage of assessment and provision for children with additional needs. Support is tailored in different ways: some children may have an Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR) document with individual targets, which is reviewed and shared with parents each term during a short meeting.
Our team of Teaching Assistants plays a vital role in delivering support. They work with individual children or small groups through planned intervention programmes and also provide targeted assistance for pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The coordination of SEN provision is overseen by our SENCO, Mr Lloyd Douglas. If you have concerns about your child’s progress, your first point of contact should be their class teacher. You may also arrange an appointment with our SENCO via the school office.
Where appropriate, we can make referrals to external agencies such as the school nursing team, speech and language therapists, community paediatricians, or educational psychologists. Referrals are only made when clear evidence of school-based support has already been provided.
Hello, my name is Lloyd Douglas, and I am proud to be the SENDCo here at Harston & Newton Community Primary School. I completed my National Award for SEND in 2018 and have since undertaken a wide range of training opportunities to ensure I can support both staff and children effectively.
At Harston & Newton, we are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment where every child can succeed and thrive. We recognise each child as an individual, and our approach is always creative, personalised, and centred on their voice, aspirations, and wishes.
Our staff receive high-quality information and bespoke training, which they prioritise in their classrooms to provide the very best support. We work swiftly to identify pupils who may be making limited progress and put in place targeted interventions to meet their needs and close any gaps.
We believe that strong partnerships with parents and carers are essential. You will be kept informed about our SEND processes and your child’s learning at regular points throughout the year. In addition, we work closely with the Local Authority and Health Professionals to ensure pupils receive the most appropriate and effective support.
The documents below provide further information about SEND and how school and home can work together to support our children. If you have any questions about your child, please speak with their class teacher first. Should you wish to arrange a phone call or meeting with me following that discussion, please contact the school office on 01223 870345 or email senco@harstonnewton.org.