SEN and Disability
All children are welcomed to St Peter’s School where they are valued and respected. We pride ourselves upon being an inclusive school, offering all children opportunities to grow spiritually, socially, emotionally and academically. We are aware that some children will require extra support whilst at school and aim to provide this for them. In some cases this will only be for a short time but in other instances their needs will be ongoing.
All of our class teachers are teachers of children with Special Educational Needs but are also supported by Mrs Towsey, our SENCO (Special educational needs co-ordinator). She is a qualified teacher, a member of the Senior Leadership Team and has received the National Award for SEN Co-ordination. If you have any concerns and would like to speak to Mrs Towsey she can be contacted on 01795 423479 or via email:senco@st-peters-sittingbourne.kent.sch.uk. Mrs Towsey is often supported with her work by our school dog, Shadow, who is already supporting some of our children emotionally.
There is a statutory duty to monitor SEN by the Governing Body. Briony Woolley and Hayley Kingsnorth are the SEN Governors.
If you have a child with SEN and/or disabilities please access Kent’s Local Offer by following the link below. Here you will find details of services available in Kent, for example, arrangements for identifying and assessing children, sources of support, advice and information.
Click here for the Kent Local Offer:
Click here for St Peter's Local Offer
High Needs Funding
With the permission of parents/carers, schools can submit an application for a pupil whose provision exceeds £6,000 per annum.
High Needs Funding is not a reimbursement of actual costs but an additional resource to support a school in meeting the pupil's high level of special educational needs.
Funding is approved for one year and a renewal will need to demonstrate how effectively the school has used previously agreed resources as well as the rationale for continued support.
Please click here for the Parent's Guide to High Needs Funding for further information.
Local Support Groups
Below are the details for ASD/ADHD groups in Swale
Jimmy's Centre
Club Name: Jimmy's Centre
Address: New House Sports & Youth Centre, Chalkwell Road, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2LP
Age Range: 8 - 13 Years
Opening Times: Tuesday 4:30 - 6:30pm, Sunday 2:00 - 5:00pm
Contact: Kerry Consitt - 07495337619 or Jo Gifford - 07475453466
ASD/ADHD Support Coffee Morning for Parents of Children with ASD and ADHD
Once a month - 10-12 pm
Orchards, Atlee Way, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, ME10 2HE
Contact: Tel: 03000411030/07718697516
ASD Support Group
1st Tuesday of every month at Richmond Academy
Nursery Close, Sheerness, ME12 2QT
Contact: Val Shrivel - FLO - 01795 662891
ADHD Family Support Group
Friday's 3-5
Sheppey Healthy Living Centre (off the Broadway, Sheerness ME12 1HH)
Contact: Beverly Nolker - 01795 583547/585335
Early Help and Preventative Services
Early Help and Preventative Services provide the right service, at the right time and in the right place to safeguard and meet the educational, social and emotional needs of children, young people and families to help them achieve good outcomes.
Every child, young person and their family should:
Aspire – aim to contribute positively to their communities and actively engage in learning and employment
Believe – in themselves, be resilient and empowered to manage their future
Achieve – good outcomes by getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adult wellbeing and independence.
This service is open to any family who feel they may need some additional support. This support can include:
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Families are actively involved in all stages of the support process, this includes:
- identifying desired outcomes
- taking decisions
- agreeing actions
- agreeing when outcomes have been achieved and our support is no longer needed.
To get help is simple. After discussion and agreement by you; Mrs Towsey completes an online form. A support worker is then allocated within a couple of weeks to work with you in liaison with the school.
If you would like any further information or feel that the services of Early Help could benefit you or your family, further information can be found at:
http://www.kelsi.org.uk/special-education-needs/early-help-and-preventative-services
or come and discuss, in confidence, any concerns or find out more information from Mrs Towsey.
Useful Websites & Resources
Please click here to download the MIDAS Parents Guide 2017.
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The book above is insightful and takes a refreshing appraoch to understaning ADHD. It combines humour with understanding to reflect the joys and challenges of raising a child with ADHD.
Another title by Kathy Hoopman: All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome