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27/03/24

🌟 Our amazing pupils showcased incredible 'Character (to)day' diving into a variety of topics & activities! 🚀 Year 7s showed immense Courageous Advocacy, delving into Bee habitats and acing the Big School litter pick! 🐝🗑️ pic.twitter.com/zt2ebNR4ea

27/03/24

Ahoy there! ⚓️ The Year 9 crew from HGA set sail today for the Maritime Museum in Greenwich. 🌊 Anchors aweigh for a character-filled adventure on the high seas! ⛵️🌟 pic.twitter.com/yTfUrlmJjh

26/03/24

🏐🎉 Incredible news! Our year 8 netball team has smashed their way to the Harris Cup semi-finals! 🌟👏 Big shoutout to our amazing players, especially the year 7 stars shining bright! 🌟✨ Let's cheer them on as they face ! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E4mK2T0cAT

20/03/24

🚀 Kicking off Creative Careers 2024! 🎨 Students are diving into a world of possibilities, exploring diverse pathways in the creative industry. 📸#CreativeCareers2024 pic.twitter.com/otVpl4Ua0K

19/03/24

🌟 Thrilled to share moments from the Speak Out Regional Final! 🎤 Megan Farr and May Mbabazi shone brightly, representing Harris Garrard Academy with their powerful voices. A celebration of young talent and the magic of expression. ✨ pic.twitter.com/yI8GICW9uF

15/03/24

Off to the we go, with Year 8 in tow, to witness love's timeless tale in a contemporary glow. Thanks to ’s generous sponsorship, Shakespeare's words will leap and dip. 🎭💔 pic.twitter.com/ezNpvHdema

08/03/24

pic.twitter.com/6A3IurXrFK

07/03/24

📚✨ The halls of HGA have transformed into a literary wonderland as our secondary staff channel their inner bookworms, dressing up as their favorite book characters! From the whimsical to the wicked, can you guess the characters? 📸🎭 pic.twitter.com/y8azMifcNq

06/03/24

The yr5/6 Netball final took place between today.Both teams have done exceptionally well to reach the final & were undefeated in their league so we knew we were in for a close game

05/03/24

The yr5/6 Netball final took place between today.Both teams have done exceptionally well to reach the final & were undefeated in their league so we knew we were in for a close game

01/03/24

Just wrapped up another fantastic week at HGA, proving that even when the skies open up, we find our pot of gold in the learning of our students. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/jKjPQHPkQ2

01/03/24

HGA Sixth Formers' visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau was a powerful reminder of history's darkest chapters. Their solemn reflections will echo in our hearts and history classes. pic.twitter.com/k1CaBME2Ns

29/02/24

Excited to kick off day 1 of the Y12 Biology Residential! 🌿 Stay tuned for updates, insights, and all the fascinating discoveries we'll make together! pic.twitter.com/6nqWUWrZBE

27/02/24

We're looking forward to National Careers Week, 4th-9th March 2024. We will be using the many resources available, such as a virtual careers fair, films, talks and booklets to inspire our students about their future options and pathways. https://t.co/kTXTWlyLix pic.twitter.com/RyYS0u3HQR

20/02/24

🎉 What an inspiring afternoon at our Careers Fair! Students explored a world of opportunities with leading employers, colleges, and universities. Their futures look bright! 🌟 Check out the highlights 📸 pic.twitter.com/D5uRNqGvDW

09/02/24

Congratulations to everyone you have done yourselves, your school and your Borough proud https://t.co/AxU7Tsxvjc

09/02/24

Congratulations to everyone you have done yourselves, your school and your Borough proud https://t.co/AxU7Tsxvjc

09/02/24

We are officially through to the Sports hall finals. We finished inside the top 3 of todays qualifier and now will be one of 12 schools in the grand finals on the 19th March! This is the first time in the 3 years we have achieved this! pic.twitter.com/hw1DbJxEo1

09/02/24

We have officially arrived at for the indoor sports athletics London finals representing to team Let’s go Garrard!! pic.twitter.com/op0BNKu50R

09/02/24

Look what arrived in the post! These adorable handmade worry monsters were ordered from over a year ago. Big thanks to the talented knitters - they will bring comfort to many. Therapeutic tools for little ones. pic.twitter.com/r6GhmtALKl

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Latest News

Posted on April 27th 2020

SEND support: Online and Telephone Therapy

We are pleased to inform you that Harris Garrard Academy are now offering online and telephone sessions with specialist practitioners.

Online and telephone sessions are being offered to:

  • Students with SEND who have open referrals to the ASD Advisory Service, Speech and Language Therapy Services or Educational Psychology Services 
  • Year 6 students with a diagnosis of speech and language needs or Autism
  • Parents of students with EHCPS.

About online and telephone therapy sessions

Online and teletherapy practices have been around for over 20 years and has traditionally been used to compliment face-to-face therapy, or to provide support to people unable to access direct therapy due to illness or location.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health and education professionals around the globe have had to adapt their way of working by moving towards more virtual interventions.  In order to provide continued support to students with SEND, the HGA SEND team have now introduced online consultation and therapy interventions. 

Online and tele-therapy interventions can produce excellent outcomes and can be just as effective as face-face interventions. There are clear guidelines issued by The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, The Department of Education and The British Psychological Society. All practitioners commissioned by HGA are qualified and registered.

Online sessions can be delivered via Skype directly to students working at home. You can access sessions on a laptop, mobile phone or any other device with internet access. You will need to set up a Skype account. Telephone services can be conducted on a device with a loudspeaker function so that parents and students can hear and speak to the therapist together.

Each session lasts for approximately 40 minutes. Parents will also be able to speak directly to the specialist in order to discuss home-based support.

To ensure that sessions adhere to safeguarding requirements, parents are required to be present for the duration of each session. 

To maximise therapy sessions:

  • Make sure that your family members are dressed appropriately for video sessions - including family members who may pop in unexpectedly whilst you are accessing the session.
  • Try and find a quiet space with minimal distractions
  • Make sure batteries are fully charged
  • Have a pen and paper handy
  • Clean the lens on your camera
  • Try to find background with minimal distractions or hide your background
  • Set your phone to ‘do not disturb’, or mute/ hide any notifications that may pop up on your phone or tablet
  • Encourage your child to treat online therapy like a real face-to-face session.
  • Use the time online constructively.  Prepare for the next session by having a list of questions or notes ready.

Contact the SEND team at HGA to find out more

In order to register for online or teletherapy sessions, please contact the SEND team at send@harrisgarrard.org.uk. If we are able to provide this service to your child, a member of the SEND team will contact you to arrange a suitable session time and date.

Please note, sessions are limited and will be offered on a needs-led basis.


Additional Local Authority support:  Bexley Parent Support Services

If you have a child with additional needs who is struggling emotionally or academically during this pandemic, Bexley Council’s Early Intervention and Specialist Advice Service (EISAS) may be able to help you.  During this period of school closure, the EISAS team are providing advice and guidance to parents and carers, via phone or email.  The EISAS service is open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (not including Bank Holidays). Telephone: 0203 045 3692. Email: parentsensupport@bexley.gov.uk.

Best wishes and stay safe.

Ms Banton

Assistant Principal and SENCO