At Saint Cecilia’s all pupils, regardless of their particular needs, are offered inclusive teaching which will enable them to make the best possible progress in school and feel that they are a valued member of the wider school community.
We work within the ‘Wandsworth Guidance on Provision for children with SEND in Mainstream Schools’ which explains the ways pupils and students with different additional needs are provided for within the school.
We offer the following range of provision to support children with communication and interaction, cognition and learning difficulties, social, mental and health problems or sensory or physical needs.
Smaller group sizes in some subjects, including English and Maths (at Key Stage 4 only)
In-class support across the curriculum if your child has an EHCP
Small group literacy and numeracy support
Language support groups
1:1 mentoring
Work with outside agencies such as Speech and Language therapists, Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service, Schools and Community Psychology Service, and the Home Hospital Tuition Service
ELSA support
Help with emotional and social development, social skills and behavioural support where possible.
At Saint Cecilia’s, our Special Education Needs Co-ordinator is Catherine Bull who can be contacted via email send@saintcecilias.london
Click here for our SEND Information Report
The Bethany Centre
Our Bethany Centre is our special suite of rooms for all support and inclusion and where interventions take place. Staff here support children with Special Education Needs and those with personal struggles such as bereavement. The Centre is a safe space for pupils and students who need a place to talk and reflect, and is a quiet area where children can eat lunch. Centre staff hold coffee mornings and drop-ins for parents/carers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before contacting the SEND team, please read the answers to the most regularly asked questions. You may be able to get an answer to your query below.
Q: How do I apply to Saint Cecilia’s if my child has an EHCP plan?
A: First contact your EHC Co-Ordinator at the SNAS Team (Special Needs Assessment Service) or equivalent at your local council. You will need to nominate Saint Cecilia’s as your preferred school. They will consult with our SENCo to see if we can meet your child’s needs. Your EHC Co-Ordinator will advise you on the specific deadlines for applying into Year 7.
Q: Can we have a specific tour of the school if my child has an EHCP before applying?
A: The only tours of the school we offer are our public open events. They happen in the summer and autumn terms each year and we publish details on our open days and prospectus pages before the summer holidays. Join our mailing list to receive dates and information as soon as we publish them.
Q: My child is starting in Year 7 in September and they are currently getting SEND support at primary. Who should I contact?
A: Your child’s primary school should send all the relevant information to us, but it never hurts to get in touch and let us know your child’s needs directly. Please email send@saintcecilias.london and include a completed Pupil Passport. Please complete the passport with your child so we can capture their views as well.
Q: What do I do if I wish to pursue a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD for my child?
A: Contact your GP. They can refer you to the Neurodevelopment Disorders Team at CAMHS who will conduct the assessments. We are unable to refer you to this team.
Q: What do I do if I am concerned about dyslexia?
A: Contact send@saintcecililas.london to request a dyslexia screener. We cannot offer a full diagnostic assessment but we can complete a screener with your child which will identify any dyslexic traits which are present. It is a short computer-based assessment that can be done in school. We will post you the results afterwards and, if necessary, will get in touch with you to discuss next steps.
Q: My child needs emotional support. Can you help or refer them to CAMHS?
A: We have a number of trained ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) who run small group support around building self-confidence, anger management, bereavement and friendships. Please contact send@saintcecilias.london if you feel your child needs this type of support. For referrals to CAMHS, the quickest route is usually through your GP but we can sometimes also complete referrals so do get in touch if you are worried about your child’s mental health.
Q: Does the school have an Educational Psychologist I can talk to regarding my child’s needs?
A: The school buys in time from the Schools and Community Psychology Team, who currently assign us two Educational Psychologists (EP) to support our staff and students with everything from 1:1 work with children, assessments of need for EHCPs and staff training. If you feel that your child needs support from an EP, get in touch with the SEND department so that we can discuss your child’s needs in more detail. If a referral is necessary then we can make this for you, but please be aware that there can be a waiting list for this service.
Q: I think my child needs extra time in exams and needs an access arrangement. Who do I contact?
A: Please email send@saintcecilias.london and include specific reasons for this request. The final decision at GCSE level and A Level is not down to the school but has to comply with JCQ guidelines. If your child has received extra time at a previous school, please send us this documentation. If you believe your child needs special access arrangements due to ASD, ADHD or a medical need, please include original diagnosis documents with your request. These arrangements need to be in place as early in Year 10 as possible.
Other useful information
Policies:
Our SEND, Accessibility and Equality policies are reviewed annually and are published on our policy pages.
Useful external websites:
Family Information Service
Wandsworth local offer for SEND including information on the WAND card
www.Adhddd.com for comic strips and resources around managing and living with ADHD
