Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form aims to be an inclusive school.  BGN staff are committed to giving all students every opportunity to achieve the highest standards regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, attainment or background.  Everything we do is based on our five Gospel values of Compassion, Respect, Truth, Service and Forgiveness and we are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all pupils, staff, parents and carers irrespective of race, gender, disability, belief, sexual orientation, age or socio-economic background.

The National Curriculum is the starting point for planning a curriculum that meets the specific needs of individuals and groups of students through:

• setting suitable learning challenges
• responding to students’ diverse learning needs
• overcoming potential barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups of students
• providing other curricular opportunities outside the National Curriculum to meet the needs of individuals or groups of students
• implementing and using appropriate provision and resources in individual and small group work
• informing parents/carers of ICT opportunities which can be accessed in school and at home

Educational inclusion is achieved by continually reviewing what is done, through asking key questions and analysing data.

Special Educational Needs and Disability Inclusion

The school adheres fully to the requirements of Equality Act (2010), Children and Families Act (2014) and to SEND Code of Practice (2015) in coordinating and providing SEND support. We have high aspirations and expectations for children and young people with SEND. All children and young people are entitled to an appropriate education, one that is appropriate to their needs, promotes high standards and the fulfilment of potential. This should enable them to:

• achieve their best
• become confident individuals living fulfilling lives, and
• make a successful transition into adulthood, whether into employment, further or higher education or training.

We have ICT provision available for students with specific learning needs which can be signed out and used in certain lessons.

Learning Support

Learning Support Assistants play a major role in engaging in and supporting students in their learning, directed by the SENCO and Inclusion Lead.  Their role is multi-faceted and includes facilitating specialist individual learning support interventions, literacy/numeracy programmes, working with students, reporting and recording interventions, organising visits and providing social activities during lunch time to encourage social interaction.  They also act as named key workers for students who need extra adult support.

BGN has several High Level Learning Support Assistants and specialist Learning Support Assistants for wide range of neuro-diverse conditions and social, emotional and mental health. We also have an in-house trained assessor to assess JQC exam Access Arrangements and specialist Dyslexia Assessor.

Equality and inclusion, Students with Special Educational Needs

BGN School supports pupils with a wide range of Special Educational Needs and/or disability registered on SEN support and those with Education Health and Care Plans. We regularly review and evaluate the breadth and impact of the support we offer or access. We co-operate with the local authority in reviewing the provision that is available locally and in developing the Local Offer -  https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/children-education-and-families/education-and-learning/special-educational-needs-and-disability-local-offer

BGN also collaborates with other local education providers to explore how different needs can be met most effectively. We have due regard to general duties to promote disability equality. (SEND CoP 2017: 6.8).

 The Learning Base supports the use of external professionals and assessors as well as providing information and resources to staff to assist us in providing the very best care for our students.

Please see our SEND Information Report, School Offer and SEND Policy below.  If you have any questions, or queries please do not hesitate to contact our SENCO and Inclusion Lead Heli Laiho-Murdoch, on 01295 264216, senco@bgn.oxon.sch.uk .