Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities
At Waterloo Primary Academy, inclusion sits at the heart of everything we do and shapes the decisions we make every day. We believe that every child can achieve with the right support at the right time, and that all children should feel valued, understood and included as part of our school community.
Our approach to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities is rooted in high expectations, early identification and inclusive practice. We follow a graduated response of Assess, Plan, Do and Review, working closely with pupils, families, staff and external professionals to ensure that support is carefully matched to individual needs. Children’s voices are central to our work, and we place great importance on listening to their views and experiences.
Inclusion at Waterloo begins with high-quality, adaptive teaching for all pupils. Class teachers carefully adapt their teaching, resources and classroom environments so that learning is accessible, engaging and appropriately challenging for every child. This may include adjusting how lessons are delivered, using different resources or providing additional scaffolding to support understanding.
Where children need further support, this is planned thoughtfully and reviewed regularly, with adjustments made in response to progress and individual need. Staff work closely together to provide consistent support, using a range of strategies to remove barriers to learning and promote independence, confidence and resilience. Through this approach, we support all pupils to make meaningful progress and to feel well prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond Waterloo.
We believe that supporting children with SEND works best when school and families work in partnership. We value open, honest communication and encourage parents and carers to share their views, questions and insights about their child. Families are involved at every stage of planning and reviewing support, and we work together to ensure provision reflects each child’s strengths, needs and aspirations.
Who To Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning, development or support, we encourage you to get in touch. In the first instance, parents and carers are welcome to speak to their child’s class teacher, who knows your child well and can discuss any day-to-day queries.
For further support or more specific SEND-related questions, you can contact the school’s SENDCo, who works closely with families, staff and external professionals to support children with additional needs.
We are always happy to listen and work with families to ensure the right support is in place.
Specialist services
These services may include:
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Speech and Language Therapists
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School Nursing Service
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Educational Psychologist – Jen Waite (Waite Psychology Ltd.)
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Pastoral Manager and Family Support Workers, accessed through The Haven
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Pupil Welfare Officer, through Blackpool Local Authority
Where appropriate, we may also access other specialist services, such as occupational therapy, to ensure support is carefully matched to individual needs.
If you would like further information about specialist services or feel your child may benefit from additional support, please speak to our SENDCo, who will be happy to talk things through and provide guidance on the most appropriate next steps.
At Waterloo Primary Academy, we are committed to ensuring that all children are able to access the facilities and opportunities available to them. Further information can be found in our Accessibility Policy.
SEND Together
We proudly hold half-termly SEND Together Coffee Mornings, providing a welcoming space for parents and carers of children with SEND to come together. These informal sessions offer the opportunity to share experiences, listen, ask questions, or simply enjoy a chat over a coffee in a supportive and inclusive environment.
At our most recent coffee morning, we were pleased to welcome a representative from SENDIASS, who shared valuable expertise and offered advice and guidance to parents and carers. These sessions have been met with very positive feedback, with parents sharing that they feel heard, supported, and reassured that they are not alone.
We truly value the voice of our parents and carers of children with SEND and are committed to working collaboratively to support every child and family within our school community.
Our next coffee morning will be held on Wednesday 11th February 2026. The Parent/Carer Forum, who represent the parent and carer voice for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, will be attending.
We hope to see you there.
Blackpool's Local Offer
Blackpool’s Local Offer provides information about the support, services and provision available for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and their families. It brings together details about education, health and care services in one place, helping families understand what support is available locally and how to access it. The Local Offer is designed to support families to make informed choices and find the help that best meets their child’s needs.