SEN & Disabilities
This page contains information on the Academy’s provision for students with additional needs.
For detailed information, please refer to the Academy SEND policy, SEND information report and accessibility plan which can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
At Harris Garrard Academy we firmly believe that all students have the right to achieve their maximum academic and social potential. We are an Academy that promotes acceptance and inclusion, and we ensure that all students have access to the curriculum and co-curriculum activities, alongside a programme of personalised support, assessment and interventions.
Ms Joanna Pritchard is Assistant Principal, SEND & Inclusion/Acting SENCO at Harris Garrard Academy Secondary Phase.
Ms Allen is the Assistant Principal and SENCO at Harris Garrard Academy Primary Phase.
Mrs Nobbs is the SEND Administrator.
You can contact the SEND team at send@harrisgarrard.org.uk or via telephone on 0208 320 4800.
Bexley SEN Newsletter
Please click on the link below and sign up to receive the Bexley SEN Signpost newsletter where you will find receive up-to-date information about current offers of support, upcoming social events in the area and lots of useful information.
Click HERE to sign up to Bexley SEN Signpost newsletter.
What kinds of special educational needs are provided for?
The Academy supports students who have difficulties under the four broad areas of need:
- Communication and Interaction
- Cognition and Learning
- Social, Emotional and Mental Health
- Sensory and Physical
We make provision to support students with SEND needs, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and/or medical needs. Students on the SEND register are students receiving support that is ‘additional and different from’ that provided within the usual Academy curriculum offer. Should you wish to discuss additional support for your child, please email us to arrange a discussion.
What are the arrangements for supporting students during transition?
A number of strategies are in place to enable successful transition to secondary school. These may include:
- Cross-phase handover meetings between secondary SENCO and the student’s primary school SENCO
- A planned introduction programme is delivered in the summer term to support transfer for students starting the Academy in September
- Additional transition days and activities enabling primary students to familiarise themselves with secondary school life
- Personalised transition booklets for students with communication or complex needs such as MLD, ASD or SLCN
- Visits to the student’s primary school to observe their support and learning styles
- Parent/carers are invited to a meeting at the Academy and are provided with a range of information to support them in enabling their child to settle into the Academy routine
- Parent consultations with specialist practitioners such as SALT or EP services to aid transition.
Transition may look a little different this year. We may need to support your child to transfer to secondary school remotely. So, we are offering online and telephone consultations with the SENCO or SALT team, small group virtual tours of the Academy, and remote transition groupwork hosted by our mentors and therapists.
The Academy ensures that students with SEND are admitted on an equal basis with others in accordance with its Admissions policy, which can be downloaded from the bottom of our Academy Admissions page.
How are students with SEND supported to engage in enrichment activities?
The Academy provides a range of co-curricular activities, details of which can be found on the Academy website. All students, including those with SEND are encouraged to attend. We ensure that students are supported to access all Academy activities, including trips.
How are students with SEND supported to improve their emotional and social development?
The Academy offers a wide variety of pastoral support for students. These include:
- A Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PHSE) curriculum that aims to provide students with the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to support their emotional and social knowledge and well-being
- Assemblies and rewards celebrations
- A wide range of all through co-curricular activities that are open to students before, during and after school
- Opportunities for students and parents to share their experiences and feedback via student council meetings, class discussions and parent evenings. Parents can also provide feedback via our website
- In class mentoring, peer mentoring and academic mentoring support
- Personal development groups and 1-1 sessions with the school counsellor
- Games and lunch clubs
- The Academy behaviour policy and rewards systems
In addition to the support above, we offer students with SEND opportunities to speak to us informally during the Academy day. Students can access our Wellbeing centre during breaks and lunchtimes - this is a quiet space for games and socialising. We also offer counselling, Lego therapy, mindfulness activities and resilience workshops.
Accessibility
Accessibility for students with physical needs is good in all areas. There are ample disabled toilet facilities and all areas have been designed to accommodate wheelchair users or those with the need for other adjustments. The are 2 lifts in operation on the site. Where appropriate, the Academy will use delegated funding to provide additional resources, such as adapted chairs or cushions. Please see out Accessibility Plan for more information.
External Agency Partnerships
The Academy works with a range of professionals to support all its students. These include Speech and Language Therapists, School Counsellors, Educational Psychologists, Social Workers and a range of other SEND specialists. We frequently meet with practitioners from statutory, community and voluntary groups to ensure that our SEND services meet the diverse needs of our student population.
For more information on local services, please see the Local Offers from both Bexley and Greenwich local authorities.
Bexley Local Offer: http://www.bexleylocaloffer.uk/
The contact details for the Bexley Local Authority SEND department are below:
Bexley Statutory Assessment Service, Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT. Tel: 020 3045 5724
Greenwich Local Offer: https://www.greenwichfamiliesinformation.org.uk/kb5/greenwich/fsd/localoffer.page?localofferchannel=0
The contact details for the Greenwich Local Authority SEND department are below:
Greenwich SEND Assessment & Review, Inclusion, Learning and Achievement - Children’s Services, Royal Borough of Greenwich, The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ. Tel: 020 8921 3543
Complaints
The Federation has a very clear complaints policy which is available to all parents. If a parent has a complaint about the provision being made by the Academy, it will be dealt with in line with this policy.
