Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

At Prestbury CE Primary School, inclusion is at the heart of our mission and Christian ethos. We believe every child is a unique creation of God, gifted with individual talents, strengths, and potential. Our school community – staff, pupils, and parents – works together in a spirit of care, respect and encouragement to ensure all children thrive.

We are committed to ensuring that all children, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), are nurtured and supported to flourish both academically and personally. We believe that a child’s needs should first and foremost be met through quality first teaching, a differentiated curriculum, and the guidance of caring and reflective staff, all within a clear Christian ethos and values-based environment.

Wherever possible, children are fully integrated within the classroom setting, as we recognise the importance of belonging, community, and learning alongside peers. Withdrawal from the classroom is used only when it is clearly in a child’s best interests, and always with the goal of supporting greater inclusion.

We understand that the identification of SEND can be a sensitive and emotional process for families. That is why open, honest, and compassionate communication is central to our way of working.  We strive to work in close partnership with parents and carers, valuing your insights and involving you in every step of your child’s journey.

At Prestbury CE Primary School, we refer to initial concerns about a child’s learning or development as Wave 1 support (Cheshire East call this First Concerns). This stage includes targeted classroom strategies and monitoring to ensure the child is receiving the right support within the classroom environment. Where appropriate, this is documented and reviewed using Wave 1 paperwork, which is discussed with parents termly during Parents’ Evening, with an additional time slot allocated to allow for a focused conversation. If further support is needed, we move to a more structured approach through an SSP (School Support Plan – Cheshire East call this an SEN plan), which outlines specific interventions and strategies tailored to the child’s individual needs. We hold termly SSP Days, where parents are invited into school to meet with staff, review the plan, celebrate progress, and agree next steps together.