Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Every child belongs. Every child can achieve. Every child deserves to flourish.

At Bentham Community Primary School, we believe that every child is unique and has the right to feel welcomed, valued, included and successful.

We are ambitious for every pupil, regardless of their starting point, background or individual needs. Through high-quality teaching, strong relationships and an inclusive approach, we work to remove barriers to learning so that every child can participate fully in school life and achieve their very best.

We believe that inclusion is not about lowering expectations—it is about providing the right support at the right time so that every child can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

North Yorkshire SEND Local Offer

The North Yorkshire SEND Local Offer provides information, advice and guidance for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. It explains the support, services and opportunities available across education, health and social care throughout North Yorkshire.

View the North Yorkshire SEND Local Offer via this link: SEND Local Offer | North Yorkshire Council

At Bentham Community Primary School, we build on the Local Offer by providing a high-quality, inclusive education that is tailored to the individual strengths, needs and aspirations of every child. We work closely with families, the Local Authority and a range of specialist professionals to ensure that children receive the right support, at the right time, enabling them to thrive both academically and socially.

Our Inclusive Approach

Inclusion is central to everything we do.

We believe that:

• Every child belongs.
• Every teacher is a teacher of pupils with SEND.
• High-quality teaching is the foundation of success for all learners.
• We remove barriers rather than lower expectations.
• Children with SEND should learn, play and participate alongside their peers wherever possible.
• Independence, confidence and resilience are developed alongside academic achievement.
• Parents and carers are valued partners in every stage of their child’s education.

Our aim is to ensure that every child feels safe, respected, included and able to flourish within our school community.

How We Support Children with SEND

The most important provision we make for children with SEND is excellent classroom teaching.

Teachers continually adapt learning so that all pupils can access an ambitious curriculum whilst remaining appropriately challenged.

Where additional support is needed, we follow the Graduated Approach (Assess – Plan – Do – Review) to identify needs early, plan appropriate support and regularly review its impact.

Support may include:

• adaptive classroom teaching
• personalised learning strategies
• targeted interventions
• small group or individual support
• specialist resources or assistive technology
• support for social, emotional and mental wellbeing
• advice from external professionals where appropriate.

Every child is different, so support is always tailored to individual strengths, needs and aspirations.

Working in Partnership with Families

We believe that parents and carers know their children best.

Positive relationships between home and school are essential in helping children achieve the best possible outcomes. We value open communication and work closely with families to make shared decisions about support, celebrate success and respond quickly if concerns arise.

Children are also encouraged to share their views about what helps them learn, what they enjoy and any barriers they may experience. Their voice is an important part of planning effective support.

Our SEND Leadership Team

Mr Richard Wright
Headteacher & SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator)

Mr Wright provides strategic leadership for SEND across the school, ensuring that inclusive practice, high-quality teaching and effective provision remain central to school improvement.

Mrs Emma Chapman
Deputy SENCo

Mrs Chapman works closely with pupils, families, staff and external professionals to coordinate support, monitor progress and help ensure every child receives the right support at the right time.

Together, they lead our inclusive approach, oversee the identification of need, coordinate provision and evaluate the impact of support to ensure children make strong progress from their individual starting points.

Working with Other Professionals

Where appropriate, we work closely with a range of external agencies to ensure children receive specialist advice and support.

These may include:

• Educational Psychology
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• School Nursing Service
• CAMHS
• Autism and Communication Team
• North Yorkshire SEND Services
• Early Help and Children’s Social Care.

By working together, we ensure that children and families receive joined-up support and the best possible outcomes.

What This Means for Your Child

Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions a family makes.

At Bentham Community Primary School, your child will be known as an individual. Their strengths will be recognised, their needs understood and their achievements celebrated.

If your child requires additional support, we will identify this as early as possible and work alongside you to provide the right help at the right time. We will maintain high expectations, encourage independence and ensure your child has every opportunity to succeed alongside their peers.

Our goal is simple:

Every child belongs. Every child can achieve. Every child deserves to flourish.

Find Out More

For further information, please see our:

• SEND Information Report
• SEND and Inclusive Education Policy
• Accessibility Plan
• Equality Objectives
• North Yorkshire SEND Local Offer

If you would like to discuss your child’s needs or arrange a meeting with our SEND Team, please contact the school office. We are always happy to help.