SEN & Disabilities
After a rigorous assessment process we are pleased to announce that Harris Academy Rainham has been awarded the SENDIA award in recognition of the excellent support given to pupils with Special Educational Needs.
This award is currently being renewed for 2023 onwards.
Welcome to our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Information Report. Harris Academy Rainham is committed to providing an appropriate and high quality education to all the children living in our local area.
We believe that all children, including those identified as having special educational needs and disabilities have a common entitlement to a broad and balanced academic and social curriculum, which is accessible to them, and to be fully included in all aspects of school life.
Harris Academy Rainham is committed to promoting inclusion and removing barriers to learning. We believe that all children should be equally valued in school. We will strive to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, and to develop an environment where all children can flourish and feel safe.
- Our SENCo is Adam Whitehead. a.whitehead@harrisrainham.org.uk
If your child has a disability and you would like to know more about what we offer at Harris Academy Rainham please contact us on 01708 552811 or email info@harrisrainham.org.uk.
Our SEND policy can be downloaded below.
Further information about other services in Havering can be found using the link below to Havering SEND Local offer:
https://familyserviceshub.havering.gov.uk/kb5/havering/directory/localoffer.page?localofferchannel=0
Further information about the Parent Advisory Team at Havering can be found at:
Special educational needs support for parents
Special needs and parents
Autism
Dyslexia
ADHD
Speech, language and communication
Emotional and mental health
What should I do if I think my child may have special educational needs?
A child or young person has SEN if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him or her. A child of compulsory school age or a young person has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she:
- has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
- has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post 16 institutions.
At HAR, staff and parents/carers will work together to support students identified as having SEN. Parents’ evenings provide regular opportunities to discuss concerns and progress. Parents/carers are also able to make other appointments on request. An appointment can also be requested with the SENCo, Adam Whitehead, if there are concerns relating to special educational needs.
What should I do if the school and I disagree?
If a parent wishes to complain about the provision or the policy, they should in the first instance, raise it with the SENCo, who will try to resolve the situation. If the issue cannot be resolved within 10 working days, the parent can submit a formal complaint to the Principal in writing or any other accessible format. The Principal will reply in 10 working days. Any issues that remain unresolved at this stage will be managed according to the school’s complaints procedure.
What specialist services and expertise are available or accessed by the school?
Some of our staff have additional qualifications and specialisms which can be used in the individual planning to help students access the curriculum. These qualifications are:
- First Aid and Defibrillator trained
- School Medical officer
- Bereavement Counselling
- Life Coaches
- Social skills training
- Managing Conflict and Aggressive Behaviour
- Developing social skills
- English as an Additional Language
- Secondary Language Link talk fitness
- Speech, Language and Communication Needs
- ASD
- ELKLAN language training level 3
- All Teaching Assistants are NVQ level 3 qualified or have a degree or specialism
- Assessing (CPT3A qualified to level 7) for exam access consideration
- Supporting students with hearing impairment
- Dyslexia training and screening
- Read Write Inc phonics and reading programme
- Teaching Assistants
The SEND department and Pastoral Team liaises frequently with a number of other outside agencies, for example:
1. NHS School Nurse
2. Specialist Hearing Impaired Advisory Team
3. Specialist Visual Impaired Advisory Team
4. Travel training
5. Speech and Language Consultant
6. Outreach ICT Consultant
7. Community Paediatrician
8. Speech Therapy
9. Educational Psychologist
10. Social Services
11. Local Authority SEND team
12. Education Welfare Services
13. Parent Advisory Team Havering SENDIAS
It is also worth noting that there are some changes to SEN legislation, following the Children’s and Families Act 2014. A summary of key changes are below, but please visit the link at the bottom of the page for further information.
The SEN Code of Practice key changes
The Code of Practice (2014) 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 clearer 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
To see the new SEN Code of Guidance including updates, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25
Link to Disability and Equality Act 2010:
Link to Children and Family Act 2014:
Link to The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations Act 2014
The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 that set out schools’ responsibilities for education, health and care (EHC) plans, SEN coordinators (SENCOs) and the SEN information report.
