SEND Support

SEND stands for 'Special Educational Needs and Disabilities'.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can affect a child or young person’s ability to learn.

They can affect their;

• behaviour or ability to socialise, for example they struggle to make friends.
• reading and writing, for example because they have dyslexia.
• ability to understand things, concentration levels or physical ability.

If a child or young person is identified as having SEND they may be entitled to additional support.

The Faculty of Learning Support seeks to support and empower SEND students at the Academy to grow and develop on their own personal learning journey. Our provision and support aims to remove barriers, build confidence and resilience and provide challenge and support for academic and personal growth.

Our Students Will

Thrive and feel confident through their personalised learning journey

Grow to be independent learners who can self-manage

Experience personal growth and build academic and social resilience 

Have the confidence to formulate and express ideas and opinions

Experience making a positive contribution to the school community

Our Student-Centred SEND Curriculum Principles

To support the transition of SEND students from primary to secondary, KS3 to KS4 and beyond Year 11

To support the progress of SEND students to achieve beyond initial expectations

To support SEND students to maximise learning in lessons

To provide additional learning opportunities for literacy and numeracy

To ensure barriers to examinations are reduced through effective access arrangements

To provide targeted intervention through in-class support, withdrawal, enrichment and mentoring

To support SEND students to become confident individuals through enrichment, community events and participation with SEND student voice

To prepare students for life beyond the Academy via a diverse array of social and communication interventions

To instill self-worth and a strong sense of how to safeguard themselves and others

Children with SEND are generally thought of in the following four broad areas of need and support: communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional and mental health and sensory and/or physical needs.

These areas give an overview of the range of needs that schools should plan for. However, individual children often have needs that overlap all areas and may change over time.

Here is a link to the SEND Code of Practice SEND-Code-of-Practice-January-2015.pdf

Key points from the SEN Code of Practice

• The Code of Practice covers the 0-25 age range and includes guidance relating to disabled children and young people as well as those with SEN.
• There is a clear focus on the participation of children and young people and parents in decision-making at individual and strategic levels.
• There is a stronger focus on high aspirations and on improving outcomes for children and young people.
• It includes guidance on the joint planning and commissioning of services to ensure close co-operation between education, health and social care.
• It includes guidance on publishing a Local Offer of support for children and young people with SEN or disabilities.
•  For children and young people with more complex needs a co-ordinated assessment process and the new 0-25 Education, Health and Care. plan (EHC plan) replace statements and Learning Difficulty Assessments (LDAs).
• There is a greater focus on support that enables those with SEN to succeed in their education and make a successful transition to adulthood.

The Learning Zone

The Learning Zone is compiled of two classrooms designed to support the educational needs of SEN and vulnerable students in the Academy.

The learning zone can provide specialist IT equipment to support your child in overcoming barriers to learning. IT equipment is available to support children in accessing learning and achieving their full potential during assessments.

During break and lunch times the learning zone is open for students to play games and develop interaction and communication skills or to complete homework in a quiet and safe space.

It provides a quiet, safe working space at lunch time and for after school enrichment activities. These classrooms are used throughout the day for SEND support and intervention.

Adjacent to the Learning Zone, is our very own garden which has been created by our students and the National Trust, who run gardening enrichment with our students every week.

The Intervention Zone

The intervention zone is a designated room in the Academy for workshops, interventions, 1:1 support and advice sessions.

The intervention zone serves all students but also provide targeted intervention for students with SEN and the most vulnerable students.

It is open at KS3 and 4 lunch times for students to seek support and advice about anything that is worrying them. Students can also spend lunchtimes in the Intervention Zone socialising with their peers and taking part in structured activities or attend drop-in sessions delivered by external organisations such as Free2be, Catch22 and Off the record.

Provision Overview

Support will be offered in line with the child or young person’s individual need. We have a range of interventions which are implemented to ensure every child has the best chance of achieving success.

Intervention Overview

What is Quality First Teaching?

Quality First Teaching is a style of teaching that emphasises high quality, inclusive teaching for all pupils in a class. QFT includes differentiated learning, strategies to support SEN pupils’ learning in class and on-going formative assessment.

The core principles of QFT are personalising learning to pupils, encouraging greater inclusion of pupils with SEN needs, and working to narrow the attainment gap.

QFT is a universal provision which all HAM students benefit from.

Contact Us

Parent/Carer Learning Support Survey HERE.

Student Learning Support Survey HERE.

Who do I contact to discuss my child’s progress?

Please contact your child’s faculty assistant principal.

Who do I contact if I am concerned about SEND?

The SENCo is:

Mrs Simpson 

02086231003 / 07718670894 / simpsonr@harrismerton.org.uk

Other Learning Support contacts are:

The SEND Support Officer is:

Ms Forysth

02086231000 / ForysthR@harrismerton.org.uk

The SEND Governor: 

Mr. Paul Burgess

info@harrismerton.org.uk / 020 8623 1000

Please follow the links below for information and support.

Dyslexia

http://www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/

Autism

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance

Anxiety

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/anxiety-in-children/

ADHD

https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/parents/

Harris Academy Merton values parents and carers as partners in the development and education of their children.

Parents will be involved in setting targets for Individual Learning Plans (when this is possible) and agreeing their involvement in efforts to meet their child’s learning needs. Individual learning plans will mostly be written by school staff and then shared and agreed with parents.

We warmly encourage you to:

• Attend parents' evening and any additional meetings arranged
• Attend the SEND parent engagement events
• Contact the school over any issues you may have
• Follow us on Twitter and check the school website
• Make regular use of the ‘My Child at School’ App
• Use the ‘Parent Zone’ section of the website for information https://www.harrismerton.org.uk/289/parent-zone

Independent Parent and Carer Support Groups

Merton Special Educational Needs Information, Advice and Support Service (MIASS)

MIASS was formerly known as Merton Parent Partnership Service.

MIASS offer independent advice and support to parents and carers of all children and young people with SEND. 

For further information in Merton contact Fran Turko/Shazia Khan.

Tel:  0208 543 8854

Email: miass@merton.gov.uk

Croydon Parents in Partnership (PIP) 

In Croydon the parent support service is called, Parents in Partnership (PIP).

You can contact PIP on office@pipcroydon.com

Merton SEN and Disbility Support and Advice Services 

• Merton ASD Support Groups here
• Merton Behaviour Support Services here
• Merton Learning Difficulties here
• Merton Medical Needs here
• Merton Speech and Language here
• Merton Mencap https://www.mertonmencap.org.uk
• Merton Directory of Support & Advice Services      https://directories.merton.gov.uk/kb5/merton/directory/advice.page;jsessionid=1DC9CD3D3357B2A034229DD6B46C743B?id=Qy28Uw8VOUE

National SEND Support and Advice Services 

• ADHD support and advice can be found here 
• Autism support and advice can be found here
• Dyslexia support and advice can be found here

What is EAL?

Students with EAL are students who speak English as an additional language.

They may be fluent in English, not speak English at all or have a level of English anywhere between.

They may have achieved high academic levels in another system or have no experience of school at all.

They may have been born in this country or abroad.

They may have arrived in Britain voluntarily as part of an organised move or may have fled traumatic experiences at short notice.

Special Educational Needs and Gifted and Talented Students

The Academy recognises that most EAL students needing support with their English language development do not have SEND needs. However, should SEND needs be identified during assessment, EAL students will have equal access to SEND provision.

Similarly, the Academy recognises that there may be EAL students who are More Able even though they may not be fully fluent in English.

EAL and SEND staff will work together to ensure a co-ordinated approach where any of the above applies.

What is Literacy?

Literacy is the ability to read and write. Having strong literacy skills will support your child in every aspect of their academic learning and in wider life.

How can I support my child develop their literacy skills?

Encouraging reading and developing vocabulary through conversations are both brilliant ways to support your child develop their literacy skills. 

Useful links

You can find short lessons on particular areas of grammar and punctuation by following the literacy bites link.  

BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z8rdtfr

Seneca learning - https://app.senecalearning.com/courses?Price=Free&Subject=English

Our online library - https://www.thinglink.com/scene/1421537591773102082

What is Numeracy?

Numeracy is the ability to understand and work with numbers.

How can I support my child develop their numeracy skills?

Be positive about maths. Don’t say things like "I cannot do maths" or "I hated maths at school"; your child might start to think like that themselves.

Point out the maths in everyday life. Include your child in activities involving maths such as using money, cooking and travelling.

Praise your child for effort rather than talent as this shows them that by working hard they can always improve.

Family Maths Toolkit activities

For some suggestions for acitivities which can be done at home to practice using and talking about maths, clink on the link below; 

https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/our-work/tools/family-maths-toolkit

Useful websites

Seneca learning - https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/seneca-certified-resources/maths-ks3-national-curriculum/

BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z6vg9j6

Oak Academy - https://classroom.thenational.academy/specialist/subjects/numeracy

Family Maths Toolkit - https://www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk/activities-for-children

What is the Local Offer?

The Local Offer team publish information about services available for children and young people (aged 0 to 25) with special educational needs and disabilities in the local authority area.

Information on where the Local Authority’s SEND Offer can be found by following the links below.

• The London Borough of Merton SEND Offer
• The London Borough of Croydon SEND Offer
• The London Borough of Lambeth SEND Offer

All children, including those with SEND will have different strengths and barriers to learning. Taking these strengths and barriers into consideration will inform which qualifications it will be appropriate for each child to work toward.

Information on subjects can be found here

Transition from KS3 to KS4

Your child will be supported by the learning support team in choosing the options that will best suit their skills and interests. In the spring term of year 9, you and your child will be invited to discuss the options available

Post 16 Destination              

Your child will have the opportunity to speak with a careers advisor and each child will be supported in deciding upon which avenue of further education or training is right for them.