Special Educational Needs Information

St John’s is a mainstream setting where children come first. We aim to provide the best possible education for every child within a compassionate, creative and courageous ethos. We are committed to ensuring ‘quality first inclusive teaching’ to allow all our children to reach their potential. This provision can also be referred to as Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP). However, at times a child may require additional support beyond this practice. Children are identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through a variety of different ways including:

Transfer liaison with previous schools;
If a child is performing significantly below age expected levels in either reading, writing or maths;
Results of termly spelling and reading standardised tests;
Concerns raised by teachers;
Concerns raised by parents;
Other tests may be used if considered appropriate, e.g. dyslexia tendency screening;
Via correspondence with external agencies.

All schools are supported to be as inclusive as possible, with the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities being met in a mainstream setting wherever possible. All schools working under the Hampshire Local Authority (LA) have a similar approach to meeting the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and are supported by the LA to ensure that all children, regardless of their specific needs, make the best possible progress in school. For further information about the Ordinarily Available provision and SEN Support, please see the Hampshire guides at the bottom of this page and/or view the video (Ordinarily Available Provision and SEND Support | Hampshire CTSH)>

At SJTB Primary School, we embrace the fact that every child is different, and, therefore, the educational needs of every child are different. Mrs Alison Reilly is our school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and Assistant Headteacher. If you wish to contact Mrs Reilly, please email the school office.

Our SEND Coffee Afternoons offer a friendly, supportive space for parents and carers of children with additional needs to come together, share experiences and build connections. Each session begins with a short presentation from our SENDCo, focusing on helpful strategies, updates and ways we can work together to help every child thrive. Afterwards, there is time to chat informally with other parents, exchange ideas and develop supportive links within our school community.

Sessions run from 2:00–3:00pm, and tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.

Dates for 2026–27:

Tuesday 13th October, 2:00–3:00pm

Tuesday 1st December, 2:00–3:00pm

Tuesday 2nd February, 2:00–3:00pm

Tuesday 9th March, 2:00–3:00pm

Tuesday 27th April, 2:00–3:00pm

Tuesday 8th June, 2:00–3:00pm

Topics for next year are not yet confirmed, giving parents the chance to raise areas they find tricky or would like support with. Please see below the handouts from this year’s sessions, which give a helpful flavour of what to expect from our SEND Coffee Afternoons

For further details of the support in place at SJTB with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), please visit our polices page, view our current SEND Information Report below and visit Hampshire Local Offer Website. Our SEND Policy and school practices comply with the SEND Code of Practice (2015).

Please do not hesitate to visit us and find out more.

For further information and useful links:

Links To Information On Outside Agency Support

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services(CAMHS)

Solent Child and Family ServiceSpeech & Language Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Physiotherapy

Hampshire Specialist Parenting Support support for families from Barnardos