At St Joseph’s, our mission guides everything we do. We cherish the uniqueness of all individuals, recognising that every child brings their own gifts, strengths, and challenges. This belief underpins our inclusive approach to SEND: every pupil is valued, supported, and encouraged to flourish.

Our SEN provision is rooted in our commitment to developing the whole child, nurturing a love of learning, and striving for excellence so that all pupils can realise their God-given potential within a broad and balanced curriculum. We seek to create a learning climate where every child feels safe, known, and loved, and where barriers to learning are identified early and addressed with compassion and skill.

In all aspects of our work, we aim to proclaim the Gospel values through the ways we treat one another—with dignity, kindness, and respect. Worship, prayer, and our relationship with God sit at the heart of our school, shaping the way we support children pastorally, academically, and emotionally.

As a school that embraces our role in the wider community, we work in partnership with families, external professionals, and parish life to ensure that pupils with SEND are fully included and well-supported. We understand that a diagnosis can be helpful in understanding a child’s needs, but a diagnosis alone does not automatically qualify a child for SEN support; equally, some children may require additional support without having a formal diagnosis. Provision is always tailored to the child, based on their individual needs.

Much of our pastoral and SEMH support happens organically through daily relationships and interactions, as part of our mission to offer every child understanding, love, and guidance. In addition to this daily support, we also offer a carefully planned range of structured interventions delivered by trained staff, according to identified need and referral.

Surrey Local Offer

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we work closely with the Surrey Local Offer to ensure children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) receive the right support academically, socially and emotionally.

The Surrey Local Offer provides clear information about:

• Support available in mainstream and specialist settings
• The SEND identification process
• EHC Needs Assessments and EHCPs
• Access to health, therapy and social care services
• Leisure activities, childcare, short breaks and holiday provision
• Support for transitions between school phases and into adulthood

It is designed for parents and carers, children and young people, and professionals, with tailored pages for each group.

How St Joseph’s Works with the Local Offer

• We use the Local Offer to stay informed about Surrey’s specialist services and to direct families to accurate, up-to-date support.
• Our SENCo works in partnership with Surrey services such as Specialist Teaching Teams, Educational Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy and Early Help.
• We signpost parents to information on EHCPs, specialist provision, health services and transition support.
• For EHC Needs Assessments, we collaborate closely with Surrey SEND teams and contribute detailed evidence to support the process.
• We follow Surrey’s guidance on “Ordinarily Available” provision and use the Local Offer to help identify when additional support may be needed.
• Engaging with the Local Offer keeps our SEND practice current through updates on policy, training and available services.

The Surrey Local Offer is continuously updated and welcomes feedback to ensure it meets the needs of local families.

Visit the Surrey Local Offer: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/local-offer

Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP)

OAP is the support every mainstream school in Surrey should provide from its usual resources to help children access learning and participate fully.

It includes high-quality teaching, reasonable adjustments, and inclusive practices that help remove barriers to learning — without needing a formal diagnosis.

What OAP Means in Practice

With OAP, schools aim to:

• Use a tailored, flexible approach — recognising that “success” may look different for each child.
• Provide universal support through good teaching, but add strategies, adjustments or resources when a child needs extra help (for example different presentation of materials, sensory or environment adaptations, differentiated tasks).
• Work through the “Assess, Plan, Do, Review” cycle outlined in the SEND Code of Practice to monitor progress and adjust support as needed.

Why OAP Matters

• OAP ensures inclusion: it allows children with additional needs — whether diagnosed or not — to learn alongside their peers and access the standard curriculum.
• It supports early and timely adjustments to remove barriers before needs escalate.
• It helps schools meet their legal obligations under disability and equal-access legislation by providing reasonable adjustments.

How Schools Use OAP

Schools can implement OAP by:

• Differentiating teaching methods, resources and assessment; using visual supports, technology, alternative presentation, flexible curricula, etc.
• Making environmental and organisational adaptations — e.g. seating plans, quiet workspaces, sensory aids, flexible breaks — to support children’s needs.
• Offering inclusive support in class and creating a school culture based on positive relationships, understanding, respect and belonging.
• Regularly reviewing the child’s progress and adjusting support through the Assess-Plan-Do-Review model.

Please add these to the website:

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/local-offer/practitioners/resources/ordinarily-available-provision

Parent Guide: 

Please follow the link below to access the parent carer guide to ordinarily available provision in schools.

 https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/local-offer/parents-and-carers/education-and-training/a-parent-carer-guide-to-ordinarily-available-provision-in-schools

Communication Development

Supporting Communication Development in Children

One of the prime areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is Communication and Language. Within this area, the three early learning goals focus on listening and attention, understanding, and speaking. This emphasis highlights how important it is for children to develop strong communication and language skills early in life.

Our Universally Speaking resources provide practical guidance to help parents and staff support children’s communication development in line with their age. They also help identify and support children who may be experiencing difficulties. Because children’s communication and language is everybody’s business, parents and staff — who see and work with children regularly — are often best placed to notice early signs of concern.

Parents are encouraged to use these documents to:

• Explore the “Children should be able to…” sections to learn about typical development
• Use “How to check it out…” to reflect on the children they know
• Follow the “Top 4 things to do” tips to support speaking and listening in school
• Refer to the pullout “Checklist” for children they may be concerned about

We provide documents covering birth to 5 years and 5–11 years, helping families and staff track development from the earliest stages through primary school. Regularly checking these resources can help ensure children’s communication skills progress in line with age‑related expectations.

Birth to 5: file://sjd.school/staffdata$/LTanner/Downloads/Universally%20speaking%200%20-%205years.pdf

5- 11: file://sjd.school/staffdata$/LTanner/Downloads/Universally%20Speaking%205%20-%2011%20years.pdf

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School works closely with Surrey County Council to support pupils with additional needs, using the Surrey Local Offer as a key resource to guide families towards the services, advice and support available. The Local Offer is a central hub that brings together information on education, health and care services for children with SEND, helping parents understand what support is available and how to access it.

At St Joseph’s, staff use this partnership to signpost families, collaborate with external professionals and ensure that every child receives the right support at the right time.

 https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/local-offer

If you have any questions regarding SEND at St Joseph's, please contact the school office via email on: 

office@stjosephs-dorking.surrey.sch.uk

Click below on the side bar for more information and see below for our school policies.