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St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School (STM)

Our mission is to ensure that faith is lived, taught and celebrated. We create exciting learning which enables all to experience the fullness of life. We nurture the unique, prize the diverse and enjoy equality. We inspire, challenge and support one another as we journey together. We aim to be a witness to the truth of Christ as we work with the wider community and ensure that we value and celebrate the achievements of all.

Who to contact

Contact Name
Mechelle Claxton
Contact Position
Assistant Head/Individual Needs Co-ordinator
Telephone
E-mail
mclaxton@stm.beds.sch.uk
Website
www.st-thomasmore.org.uk

Where to go

Name
St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School (STM)
Address
Tyne Cresent
Brickhill
Bedford
Postcode
MK41 7UL
Get directions

Time / Date Details

When is it on
Monday to Friday

Other Details

Age Bands
11-14 years old
15-17 years old

Schools Extended Local Offer Response

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?

• Tracking is sent home at regular intervals which will give parents an opportunity to monitor the progress of their child. Parents are free to contact the SENDCo at any time via ‘phone or e-mail (mclaxton@stm.beds.sch.uk) if they are concerned about their child, their progress or well being

• All school staff monitor progress closely in their subject area. The Progress Co-ordinator and SENDCo monitor the tracking and respond appropriately if there are concerns

• Parent consultation or mentoring days happen twice yearly but staff are always available to discuss progress especially if there are concerns. Progress co-ordinators are easily contacted to raise concerns.

• Parents are always welcome to share their concerns with school staff either with the SENDCo directly or with any member of staff.

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

• All staff at St Thomas More are teachers of special needs and plan their lessons to reflect the needs of the students in their class. All teachers provide quality first teaching in the first instance which should meet the needs of the majority of children.

• Where appropriate there will be a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) in the lesson whose role it will be to have an impact on the progress of the student

• This support is determined by the SENDCo and is regularly reviewed following each tracking point. Progress of students is closely monitored by the SENDCo, Heads of Department, Form tutors, Support staff and Progress Co-Ordinators after each tracking point and support is moved accordingly.

• The Assistant Head for Inclusion and the SENDCo report to the directors regularly. In this report there is reference to the progress being made by all pupils including those with SEND.

• The Executive Principle and the SENDCo meet with other SENDCos in the Academy Trust at least termly

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

• All teachers are given detailed information of students with additional needs. This information is gathered from the student and the family, their feeder schools and any professionals working with the students.

• There is always an open dialogue available through the Emmaus team as well with the student’s individual teachers

• There are parents evenings and mentoring days where parents can join their child to discuss how they are progressing, the SENDCo is always present at mentoring days and consultation evenings

• School progress reports are sent home on a regular basis throughout the year

• Parents will receive text updates on positive and negative issues that have developed in the class setting that affects their child’s learning

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 Emmaus Centre is available to offer pastoral support on a regular or ad-hoc basis

• Mentoring is offered in many guises and is accessed through our dedicated behavioural and pastoral support team

• Our Lay Chaplain is involved in pastoral work throughout the school, working one to one or with small identified groups

• The support staff are also available to students in lessons

• Wellbeing is taught throughout the school as part of our PHSE Programme

• We work closely with DEAF CAMH if there is need for additional support for our HI students

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

• We have a school nurse who is available for students to access once a week

• We have a Careers advisor who comes to the school once a week for students and their parents to have individual appointments to discuss Post 16 options

• CAMH come into the school to see students at our request

• The department has a dedicated team of Educational Communicators for our hearing impaired students

• We have a team from the Visually Impaired service also based within Emmaus

• We have speech and Language specialists who can come into the school when appropriate

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

• There is regular training for the teaching of students with HI/VI by the Sensory Impairment service

• All Emmaus staff have had First aid training for students with specific needs, Choke training, manual handling, etc

• Safe guarding and general support training is comprehensive and takes place on a regular basis

• Specific training for conditions is undertaken as needed when students join us or when needs change.

What training have the staff supporting children and young people with SEND had? Are any being trained currently?

• The school have an inclusive approach to learning outside the classroom and will do everything in their power to ensure that no child is excluded from taking part in any activity.

• Support staff are always ready to accompany students on activities outside the school day • All students have access to Breakfast in the canteen and in the Emmaus Centre.

• An Emmaus Gym club is run once a week by a specialist teacher and focuses on the individual needs of the students

• Students are encouraged to take part in school trips, these can be subject related, pastoral or reward trips or trips to develop social skills and confidence

• A residential trip takes place for selected students working on team building, social interacting and the development of resilience and self-esteem

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

• The Individual Needs Department make contact with schools once they are informed of requests for places

• A robust transition plan is put in place to prepare the student for the move to secondary school as well as giving the STM staff a chance to build new bonds.

• Transitions days are organised by Emmaus staff for students to attend.

• Each incoming parent is given an opportunity to meet the SENDCo to discuss their child.

• Each student has access to independent careers advice and guidance where different post 16 options can be discussed

• We help students with applications for sixth form or their college courses.

• We liaise with other schools or training providers to organise taster sessions.

• Students are accompanied on transition visits to other training providers.

• Visits with individual students and their parents are organised to go and visit a variety of post 16 options

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?

• We will provide the appropriate support as detailed in the EHCP.

• We will endeavour to support all children who are at School Support within class wherever possible.

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

• Parents have open access to all teachers via email and face to face meetings on request Parents can attend a careers advice and guidance meeting with their child/ young person

• Parent evenings and mentoring days are held for each year group throughout the year. These meetings are with the form tutor, individual teachers and /or a member of the senior leadership team

• Parents can get involved in the PTA to raise money for school projects

• Parents are invited to be part of a monthly group led by our Lay Chaplain to meet with other parents and pray for the family of families that our school is