Supporting students with Special Educational Needs

At King’s InterHigh, we prioritise student integration and support from the very start. Our comprehensive student induction program includes an in-person session, supplemented by video guides, designed to familiarise students with all school systems and processes. This interactive approach ensures that students can ask questions and feel confident as they settle into our learning environment.

Moreover, we place a special emphasis on supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our staff are trained to take note of any required follow-up communication, ensuring that we address the unique needs of SEND students and their families effectively.

In addition, students can connect with their dedicated Reflect Tutor. These tutors are instrumental in assessing how well students are settling in and accessing learning, providing personalised support and guidance where needed.

At King’s InterHigh, we are committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for every student, ensuring that they have the resources and assistance they need to thrive academically and personally.

Parents and caregivers can complete a form that will be used to develop a personalised ‘Inclusive Teaching Plan’ for their child as part of the enrolment or renewal process.

This plan is designed to equip teachers with comprehensive information across four key categories:

• Understanding your child’s needs
• Support to access learning materials
• Enabling your child to thrive in a classroom environment
• Ensuring that your child can make learning progress

Teachers will leverage this invaluable insight to tailor their planning, teaching, and assessment strategies, ensuring they align closely with best practices. Additionally, the Inclusive Teaching Plan will be conveniently accessible on the Parent Hub for easy reference and ongoing collaboration between parents, caregivers, and educators.

We recognise and value the uniqueness of every child, seeing it as something to be cherished and nurtured. If you’d like to discuss your child’s individual needs in more detail, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. We’re here to help.

We offer a variety of options for parents and caregivers to tailor their child’s educational experience, ensuring it aligns with their unique needs and aspirations while providing a comprehensive curriculum and the opportunity to achieve desired qualifications.

These options include:

• Live or Non-Live Learning: Choose between participating in live classes or accessing pre-recorded sessions, providing flexibility to accommodate various schedules.
• Flexible Subject Selection: Customise the number of subjects studied to fit individual preferences and goals, with the option to deviate from our recommended packages.
• Club Participation: Supplement the core curriculum with virtual extracurricular activities and clubs tailored to specific interests and passions.
• Contribution Level Selection: Empower students to define their preferred mode of participation in class discussions and activities, whether through voice, video, text, or a combination thereof.

Additionally, the education team at King’s InterHigh undergo regular training and are equipped with specialised strategies and resources to support the diverse learning needs of students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Through the creation of an Inclusive Teaching Plan based on information provided by parents and caregivers, teachers are informed of students’ additional learning requirements and adapt their instructional approaches, drawing from the latest pedagogical research and best practices. If you’d like to discuss your child’s individual needs in more detail, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. We’re here to help.

In a physical school setting, teaching assistants often play a role in ensuring that students can effectively engage with their learning and navigate the school environment. However, as an online school, our learning environment is inherently designed to cater to the diverse needs of students, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Our online platform provides a calm, purposeful, and supportive atmosphere, which is already tailored to accommodate students who may have encountered challenges in a traditional school setting. While we may not have teaching assistants in the traditional sense, we offer a range of resources and support mechanisms to empower students and help them thrive.

Students have access to various avenues for assistance and guidance. Whether it’s an Inclusive Teaching Plan, peer support networks, or specialised resources, we are committed to ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed academically and emotionally.

Access arrangements, such as extra time or the use of word processing, can be requested for students with a professional diagnosis of SEND by contacting the dedicated SEN team.

Teachers will ensure that these arrangements are implemented during assessments. It’s essential for parents or carers to have obtained a professional diagnosis before indicating that their child requires an access arrangement such as extra time. However, if this diagnosis is in the process of being acquired, please let us know if you need guidance on how to proceed, and we can provide support. Additionally, we can offer advice on how to apply for access arrangements to be implemented by the exam centre for external examinations through our exams team.

Currently, King’s InterHigh does not offer assessment services. The diagnosis of SEN is typically obtained through local authority services, educational psychologists, or medical professionals. Private assessments are also an option. If you’re considering this route, we suggest seeking a registered educational psychologist through the British Psychological Society’s directory, available here: https://www.bps.org.uk/find-psychologist