Special Educational Needs

Our SEND Mission Statement:

At Mersey Drive we are committed to helping every child reach their full potential academically, socially and emotionally. We recognise that every child is unique and support and value the abilities of all our pupils. It is our duty to provide equal opportunities and a safe learning environment which caters to the needs of every child as an individual. We are committed to inclusion within the school curriculum and participation in all aspects of school life. We provide an exciting, creative and effective learning environment, recognising and responding to individual learning styles. We aim to help each child experience success and to reach their full potential by providing the highest standard of education and care. Some children may require additional support in order to experience this success.

SENDCO: Mrs K Stubbs/Mrs E Lorenzo, email: SENCO.merseydrive@bury.gov.uk, telephone number: 0161 766 6298

SEN Link Governor: M.Whitby

Our SENDCO is part of the Inclusion team working at Mersey Drive. This team is led by Miss Ridley, Headteacher and consists of: 

Mrs Stubbs and Mrs Lorenzo – SENDCO 

Mrs Wilcox – Wellbeing Lead

Miss Shaw – Attendance and Wellbeing

Our Aims:

• To identify children with SEN as early as possible and to ensure their needs are met
• To provide an environment where barriers to learning and participation are reduced to a minimum
• To provide all children with an engaging, exciting and inspiring curriculum that is differentiated to the needs and abilities of the individual
• To ensure all pupils take a full and active part in school life
• To provide a strong partnership between children, parents/carers and outside agencies to ensure a child’s needs can be met

Inclusion is at the heart of all we do and we work hard with families and outside agencies to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for all of our children irrespective of their level of need.

Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND):

A child has special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision made for them. At Mersey Drive we recognise the definition of Special Educational Needs described in the Special Needs Code of Practise 2014:

A child has a learning difficulty or disability if they:

• Have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age; or
• Have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream school 

Categories of SEND:

Children’s SEN are generally thought of in the following main areas:

Cognition and learning - this includes children who have moderate or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia

Communication and interaction - this includes children with speech and language delay and those with difficulties with social communication

Social, emotional and mental health - this may include children who may be withdrawn or isolated, disruptive, hyperactive or who lack concentration

Physical or sensory issues - this includes children with impairments including hearing or visual difficulties, or other physical difficulties

Special Educational Needs are categorised in this way in order to enable school to plan provision accordingly.

Mersey Drive’s Local Offer and SEN Policy

The SEN reforms place a statutory requirement on schools from September 2014 to make information available to young people and parents about how the school supports children and young people with SEND. This information forms the basis for the school’s Local Offer.

Click here to view our Special Educational Needs and Disability Policy

Click here to view our Special Educational Needs and Disability Report

Click here to view our Accessibility Policy

Click here to view the SEND Local Offer in Bury

If you are looking for information on The Hive, the ASC Resourced Provision, please click here.