Supporting Pupils with Additional Needs
Welcome to the SEND Team
At Mesne Lea Primary School, we believe that every child is unique and deserves to feel happy, valued, included and successful. We understand that parenting a child with additional needs can be both incredibly rewarding and uniquely challenging, and we know that having the right support at the right time can make all the difference.
We are committed to working in partnership with families to understand every child's strengths, interests and aspirations, as well as any barriers they may face. Whether you are seeking advice, support or simply someone to talk through concerns with, our SEND Team is here to help.
Our school vision, "Working Together for Individual Excellence", underpins everything we do. We believe that children achieve their very best when families, staff and pupils work together towards shared goals. Through kindness, honesty, respect, resilience and determination, we strive to create a community where every child can thrive and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to shine and be prepared for a future full of possibilities. We are proud to be a school where children feel included, respected, safe and secure, and where achievements and contributions are valued and celebrated.
Kind regards
Mrs Kathryn Dougill
SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Lucy Stott
Deputy SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher
Meet the Team
Mrs Kathryn Dougill - SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Dougill leads SEND provision across the school and works closely with children, families, staff and external professionals to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Mrs Lucy Stott – Deputy SENDCo and Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Stott supports the coordination of SEND provision across the school. She works alongside families, teachers and external professionals to help identify needs, review support and ensure children receive the right provision to achieve their full potential.
Miss Adrienne Fisher - Learning Mentor
Miss Fisher provides pastoral and emotional wellbeing support for pupils and families. She works with children to develop confidence, resilience, positive relationships and emotional wellbeing.
Contact the SEND Team
If you would like to discuss your child's needs or speak to a member of the SEND Team, please contact us:
📧 mesnelea.senco@prestoleetrust.org
or through the school office.
Our Vision for Inclusion
At Mesne Lea Primary School, we believe every child has the right to achieve, belong and flourish.
Our vision is simple:
Working Together for Individual Excellence
This means creating a school where every child has the opportunity to shine and is prepared for a future full of possibilities, regardless of their starting point or individual needs.
We are proud of our inclusive culture where children, families and staff work together to create a community in which everyone feels safe, respected, valued and supported. We recognise that every child learns differently and that inclusion is not about treating everyone the same, but ensuring everyone gets what they need to succeed.
We have high expectations for all pupils and are committed to ensuring that every child develops the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to achieve their potential.
Our school values guide everything we do:
- Kindness - showing care, empathy and understanding towards others.
- Honesty - building trust through openness and integrity.
- Respect - valuing ourselves, others and our community.
- Resilience - learning from challenges and persevering when things are difficult.
- Determination - aspiring to achieve our personal best.
These values are reflected in our commitment to:
Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Writer
Every Child Numerate
Through our personal development curriculum, enrichment opportunities, pupil leadership roles and wellbeing support, we help children become confident, respectful and responsible young people who are ready for the next stage of their journey.
What Support Looks Like at Mesne Lea
Universal Support for All Pupils
All pupils benefit from:
- High-quality teaching
- Adaptive teaching strategies
- Clear routines and expectations
- Visual supports and scaffolds
- Positive behaviour support
- Opportunities for success and participation
- A focus on emotional wellbeing and belonging
- A broad, ambitious and inclusive curriculum
Additional SEND Support
Some pupils may also receive:
- Small group interventions
- Individual Support Plans (ISPs)
- Nurture and pastoral support
- Speech and language programmes
- Social communication support
- Sensory regulation strategies
- Adapted resources and learning approaches
- Additional adult support where appropriate
Specialist Support
For a small number of pupils with more complex needs, support may include:
- Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Multi-agency involvement
- Specialist assessments
- Bespoke programmes and personalised outcomes
- Advice and input from external professionals
What Should I Do If I Have Concerns About My Child?
If you have concerns about your child's learning, development or wellbeing, we encourage you to speak to your child's class teacher in the first instance.
We will listen carefully to your concerns and work alongside you to understand your child's strengths and any areas where additional support may be needed.
Where appropriate, support may then be provided through our graduated approach using the Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle.
Our SEND Team may also become involved to help coordinate support and, where necessary, seek advice from specialist services.
We believe that early identification and strong partnerships between home and school are key to helping children thrive.
Assess, Plan, Do, Review
At Mesne Lea, we use the Assess, Plan, Do, Review (APDR) process to identify needs, implement support and monitor progress.
Assess
We gather information from parents, teachers, assessments and, where appropriate, specialist professionals to gain a clear understanding of a child's strengths and needs.
Plan
Together we agree outcomes and identify the support, strategies and reasonable adjustments needed.
Do
Support is delivered by the class teacher, with guidance and oversight from the SEND Team where appropriate.
Review
Progress is reviewed regularly with pupils, families and staff to ensure support remains effective and responsive to need.
This graduated approach enables us to continually adapt and refine provision as children develop and grow.
Adaptive Teaching at Mesne Lea
Adaptive teaching is central to our inclusive approach and enables all children to access learning successfully.
Our staff use a range of strategies including:
- Building on prior knowledge
- Adjusting the pace and presentation of learning
- Providing visual supports and practical resources
- Modelling and scaffolding learning
- Flexible grouping
- Use of technology where appropriate
- Ongoing assessment to inform next steps
These approaches benefit all learners and help create classrooms where every child can experience success.
Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision
Salford is committed to providing inclusive education for all children and young people.
At Mesne Lea, we use the Salford Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision guidance to ensure that effective support and reasonable adjustments are embedded within everyday classroom practice.
This means that many children's needs can be successfully met through high-quality teaching, adaptive practice and targeted support without requiring a formal diagnosis.
These approaches form the foundation of our inclusive practice and help all pupils to achieve, participate and thrive.
A diagnosis is not required for support. We focus on understanding need and providing the right support at the right time.
Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support
We recognise the importance of emotional wellbeing in helping children achieve and thrive.
Support available in school may include:
- Learning Mentor support
- Pastoral support
- Nurture provision
- Emotional regulation strategies
- Friendship and social support
- Support during key transitions
- Signposting to additional services where appropriate
Our aim is to help every child develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness and positive mental wellbeing.
The Four Main Areas of SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities are grouped into four broad areas:
Communication and Interaction
Including:
- Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
Cognition and Learning
Including:
- Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
- Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD)
- Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
- Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
Including:
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Anxiety
- Low mood
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Behaviour which may be linked to underlying needs
Sensory and/or Physical Needs
Including:
- Visual Impairment (VI)
- Hearing Impairment (HI)
- Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI)
- Physical Disabilities
Individual Support Plans (ISPs)
Some pupils may have an Individual Support Plan (ISP) to help coordinate and review support.
ISPs identify a child's strengths, needs, desired outcomes and the strategies being used to support them. Plans are developed collaboratively with parents, staff and, wherever possible, the child themselves.
ISPs are reviewed regularly throughout the year to ensure support remains effective and responsive to changing needs.
Parent and pupil voice are central to this process.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We recognise that parents and carers know their children best.
We are committed to building positive relationships with families and ensuring that parents are fully involved in decisions relating to their child's education and support.
We value your views and will always seek to work collaboratively to celebrate strengths, overcome barriers and achieve the best possible outcomes for your child.
We also recognise the importance of pupil voice and actively involve children in discussions about their strengths, aspirations and the support they receive wherever possible.
Together, we can help every child flourish.
Supporting Transitions
We understand that change can sometimes be challenging for children and young people.
We carefully plan for transitions between classes, key stages and schools to ensure that pupils feel confident and well prepared.
Transition support may include:
- Additional visits
- Transition books and photographs
- Social stories
- Meetings with key staff
- Enhanced transition planning
- Individual transition programmes where needed
We maintain strong links with local secondary schools to ensure information is shared effectively and support is in place before pupils move on.
What Our Children Say
We are proud that our pupils feel safe, valued and included at Mesne Lea.
"The teachers make learning very fun and interesting."
"This is a happy school. The children are nice to me."
"I feel happy and safe all the time at school."
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need a diagnosis to receive support?
No. Support is based on need rather than diagnosis.
How will I know if my child is receiving SEND support?
School will work closely with you and keep you informed about any support being provided.
What is an Individual Support Plan?
An ISP outlines a child's strengths, outcomes, support and strategies and is reviewed regularly with parents and carers.
What is an EHCP?
An Education, Health and Care Plan is a legal document describing a child's needs and the provision required to support them.
Who do I contact if I have concerns?
Your child's class teacher is the first point of contact. You can also contact the SEND Team at:
📧 mesnelea.senco@prestoleetrust.org
Useful Information and Links
Salford Local Offer
The Local Offer provides information about education, health, social care and support services available to children and young people with SEND and their families across Salford.
Salford Thrive Graduated Approach
The Thrive Graduated Approach helps schools, settings and professionals identify need early and provide the right support at the right time through a graduated approach.
Early Years SEND Support (0-4 Years)
Information and advice for families with younger children and emerging SEND needs.
School Age SEND Support (5-16 Years)
Guidance and support for school-aged children and young people with SEND.
SEND Policy, SEND Information Report and Accessibility Plan
Please visit our Statutory Information section for our most up-to-date SEND Policy, SEND Information Report and Accessibility Plan.
At Mesne Lea, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, valued and capable of success. Through kindness, honesty, respect, resilience and determination, we work together for individual excellence and create a community where every child belongs, every child is valued and every child can flourish.
Local Offer - Mesne Lea Primary School is a two-form entry school offering a primary education for children aged 3 to 11 years old, plus our Enhanced Resource Provision - The Cherry Tree Room. The unit is structured to meet the complex learning needs of up to eight children across Year 1 to Year 6. All pupils must have an Education, Health and Care Plan and meet our eligibility criteria.
Our Accessibility Plan:
