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Education for Children with Special Needs

If your child's special needs are identified at a very early age, then you may receive help from the Portage Service.
If your child has a sensory impairment, teachers who specialise in hearing and vision may visit you at home to help with early learning.

There are various childcare and education options open to you and these include a childminder, playgroup or nursery. Lists of all these are available from the Families Information Service on 020 8547 6582.

Many private play groups and nurseries will have a named person who is responsible for coordinating help for children with special educational needs (the SENCO) and all playgroups and nurseries will have literature which will tell you about the way they include children with special needs.

Many of the Infant and Primary Schools in Kingston have nursery classes and the Surbiton Children's Centre combines nursery education with childcare as well as a range of other services. All Kingston schools have experience and expertise which is available to support children with special needs.

A number of schools in Kingston offer specialist provision for young children with special needs:

Surbiton Children's Centre Nursery

Address and Telephone Numbers

Alpha Road
Surbiton
KT5 8RS

Telephone: 020 8390 2555                   
Email: SHN@rbksch.org

Further Details

Surbiton Children's Centre Nursery has the Green Class-a nursery unit for children with considerable speech, language and communication difficulties.

Bedelsford Special School

Address and Telephone Numbers

Grange Road
Kingston
KT1 2QZ

Telephone: 020 8546 9838   
Email: BDS@rbksch.org

Further Details

Bedelsford has the Greenwood Unit/Nursery - an assessment unit for children with complex needs.

Dysart Special School

Address and Telephone Numbers

Ewell Road
Surbiton
KT6 6HL

Telephone: 020 8412 2600    
Email: DYS@rbksch.org

Further Details

Dysart has the Blue Class-a nursery assessment class for children with complex learning needs.

Contents in this area

This section gives details of the units attached to mainstream primary schools in Kingston. The decision about whether a unit is the most appropriate place for your child will be taken by the LEA in consultation with yourselves and other key professionals involved in your child's education.

King's Oak Primary School (formerly known as The Mount Primary School)

Address and Telephone Numbers

Dickerage Lane
New Malden
KT3 3RZ

Telephone: 020 8942 5154              
Email: kop@rbksch.org

Further Details

(Key Stage 1 and 2) Unit for children with autistic spectrum disorders.

The majority of children with statements will transfer to a mainstream secondary school of their choice where, if appropriate, the statement will continue. For a small number of children, where other provision is felt to be more suitable, discussions will take place with you in your child's final year of primary school ( at the latest). Through these discussions, decisions will be made about the most appropriate secondary placement and the best way to ensure a smooth transfer for your child.

In the secondary sector, the LEA has two Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). These are off-site units for pupils who, for a variety of reasons, cannot access mainstream school and who, for a period of time, need a smaller, more individualised environment to support their return to school.  These are not generally appropriate provision for pupils with statements of SEN.

Mecklenburg Pupil Referral Unit
Based at the North Kingston Centre

Malden Oaks Pupil Referral Unit
Dukes Centre, Dukes Avenue, Kingston.

For a small number of children, it may be agreed that their needs can best be met within one of the LEA's Special Schools. These pupils will always have statements, unless they are on an assessment place, where a statutory assessment is underway and the most likely provision specified in the eventual statement will be that special school.

Bedelsford Special School

Address and Telephone Numbers

Grange Road
Kingston
KT1 2QZ

Telephone: 020 8546 9838   
Email: BDS@rbksch.org

Further Details

For pupils aged 3-16 with physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties.

Dysart School

Address and Telephone Numbers

Ewell Road
Surbiton
KT6 6HL

Telephone: 020 8397 2672

 
Email: DYS@rbksch.org

Further Details

For pupils aged 3-19 with severe learning difficulties and possibly associated physical and/or sensory impairment. Within Dysart, there are also primary class and a secondary class for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders.

St. Philip's School

Address and Telephone Numbers

Harrow Close
Leatherhead Road
Chessington
KT9 2HP

Telephone: 020 8412 2600                
Fax: 020 8391 5431
Email: PHS@rbksch.org

Further Details

For pupils aged 11-19 with moderate learning difficulties and possibly associated sensory and/or behavioural difficulties.

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The following sections outline some of the services that you might come into contact with before or during your child's time at school. Remember that not all will be appropriate for your child's particular needs.

The Statutory Assessment Team receives referrals for children who may have special educational needs (SEN) which cannot be met within the schools own resources. Assessments, where necessary, are arranged in accordance with the requirements of the Education Act 1996 working to a specific timetable.

The team arranges and co-ordinates the assessment by individual professionals across a range of agencies and can assist with telephone and written queries about the progress of a child's assessment. If a Statement of SEN is necessary this is produced and sent out by the Team. Pre-arranged appointments can be made.

The special provision, is usually extra support in mainstream schools. For a small number of children, it will be appropriate for them to transfer to one of the LEAs own units or special schools. In very few cases, children and young people require placement at a day or residential school outside of the borough. The team will maintain the records for each child's statement and any subsequent reviews. If further assessment is necessary, they will arrange for this to take place.

Parents, who are concerned about their child's educational progress, should discuss the matter with the Headteacher of the child's school.

The Support for Learning Team is the monitoring part of the service. It's role includes representing the LEA at the Annual Review for children who are subject to a Statement. At the Annual Review everyone present will consider the progress the child has made and discuss the mapping of funding to needs and recommend any appropriate changes. Annual Review is an opportunity to celebrate success and maximise the potential for future progress. To help schools with this process the LEA is committed to attend as many Annual Reviews as possible.

Following the Annual Review, if changes have been made, parents may receive an amendment sheet to attach to their child's statement, which sets out the money the school will receive for the child in the coming year.

The Support for Learning Team can give parents guidance on delegated resources and how they are used by schools in the most appropriate way, to meet each child's individual needs.

The Support for Learning Team provides advice and training for school as well as maintaining statistics related to pupils with SEN.

Contact Details

       Guildhall 2
       Kingston
       KT1 1EU

Telephone: 020 8547 4615/4619

Fax: 020 8547 5246

Julie Ely: Head of Assessment and Support for Learning
Email: julie.ely@rbk.kingston.gov.uk            
Telephone: 020 8547 5269

Linda Walsh - Statutory Assessment Team Manager
Email: linda.walsh@rbk.kingston.gov.uk               
Telephone: 020 8547 5254

Debby DaSilva - Support for Learning Team Manager
Email: debby.dasilva@rbk.kingston.gov.uk                
Telephone: 020 8547 5265

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The Primary Behaviour Support Service is centrally funded by the LEA. The Secondary Behaviour Support Service is a buy-back service offered to schools from within the Social Inclusion Service. This means that schools can opt to spend the budget they receive for children at 'School Action Plus' on buying in support from these services.

Both services support children with behavioural, emotional and social needs, usually for one term in the first instance. The Behaviour Support Service provide qualified teachers with experience of working with pupils with behavioural, emotional and social needs within mainstream schools. These teachers will agree with the school how much time is required in each case, liaise with the school throughout their involvement and then evaluate that involvement at the end of the agreed time.

Whilst in a school supporting a child, they will undertake to:

• Work with individual pupils or groups of pupils with behavioural, emotional and social needs.
• Offer advice to staff working with pupils with such needs.
• Provide training for schools on a range of issues in relation to supporting and raising the achievement of pupils with behavioural, emotional or social needs.

The way to ask for our involvement is through your child's school or nursery.

Contact Details

       Dukes Centre
       Dukes Avenue
       Kingston
       KT2 5QY

Telephone: 020 8547 6680                    
Fax: 020 8439 7794

All LEA'S employ Educational Psychologists (EP) who have qualified and worked as teachers and are graduate psychologists with additional training in child and educational psychology. In Kingston, each EP covers an area and is responsible for providing a service to children being educated in the LEA schools in that area. Each EP also has responsibility for pre-school children living in that area .

We have knowledge and experience of

• how children and young people learn and what they may expect to learn
• different schools and how they work to support pupils
• a wide range of special educational needs
• how the education system in Kingston works and how laws affect provision and services for children and young people, including those with special needs.

We work with children and young people aged 0-19 who may have difficulties in one or more areas, such as:

• general development and learning
• behaviour and/or emotions
• social relationships
• physical skills
• hearing or vision
• medical problems affecting learning

Essentially we work alongside parents and school staff to resolve difficulties or provide support. With parental permission we may also make contact with other agencies involved with a child or young person to ensure that all aspects of a child's needs ( which are considered to be affecting his/her education ) are addressed. We visit schools regularly to consult with SENCO's and other staff about their concerns about pupils. Our work is prioritised in liaison with the school SENCO's.

Depending on the kinds of concerns and age of the child, we may :

• talk to the staff who know the child or young person best
• look at teacher records of their assessment and any IEP which may be in place
• talk to parents and listen to their concerns
• work directly with the child or young person e.g. through classroom or playground observation, or activities to assess specific skills and abilities.
• talk to  the child or young person about their understanding of the concerns
• liaise with other professionals e.g. therapists, paediatrician, etc.
• support the school in setting up or revising Individual Education Plans

EPs may also:

• work with groups of people e.g. on anger management or self-esteem
• provide training to pre-schools and schools on a range of issues, e.g. emotional literacy or assessment
• work with groups of parents on a range of issues e.g. behaviour management

Parental permission will always be requested before an EP works individually with a child or young person. Parents have the right to be present when an EP works individually with their child and this should be discussed with the school and/or EP.

The way to ask for our involvement is through the child's school or nursery. Requests for involvement with pre-school children are generally made through consultation with the Pre-School Co-ordinator. If you are not sure how to get help you can telephone or write to us directly.

Contact Details

The Moor Lane Centre
Moor Lane
Chessington
KT9 2AA

Telephone: 020 8547 6699                    

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The Parent Partnership Service provides impartial information, advice or support about educational matters, to all parents of children with special educational needs. It operates an open referral system for parents, who can contact the service co-ordinator if they have concerns about their child and his or her education. Referrals from professionals are only accepted when parents have been consulted and the service co-ordinator works closely with parents at every stage. As part of a flexible range of services, the Parent Partnership Service can:

• give information, advice and support over the phone, through leaflets and information sheets and in person
• give parents information about other agencies and voluntary organisations
• help parents express their views in reports and letters or at meetings and help them understand reports, letters etc. and if necessary, attend meetings with parents
• give training to professionals on working effectively and communicating positively with parents
• ensure that parents' views inform and influence development of local SEN policy and practice
• work to resolve disagreements between parents and the LEA or schools

Contact Details

Main Contact - Parent Partnership Officer : Anne Frayda

The Moor Lane Centre
Moor Lane
Chessington
KT9 2AA

Telephone: 020 8934 6378
Email: anne.frayda@enhanceable.org
Website: www.enhanceable.org

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The Pre-School Support Service provides advice and support to parents and professionals on the early education of young children with special educational needs.  It operates an open referral system and parents or professionals can contact the service co-ordinator if they have concerns about a child’s development in the pre-school years.  Referrals from professionals are only accepted when parents have been consulted and the service co-ordinator works closely with parents at every stage.

The Pre-School Support Service Co-ordinator also provides advice and training on special educational needs to early years practitioners and helps to build the links between home/pre-school and school.

Contact Details

The Moor Lane Centre
Moor Lane
Chessington
KT9 2AA

Telephone: 020 8547 6698                    
Email: ann.macpherson@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

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If a child’s special needs are identified at a very early age then they may receive help from the Portage Service.  Portage is a home teaching service for pre-school children whose development is delayed.  A trained Portage Worker will visit the home on a weekly or fortnightly basis and work alongside parents to provide activities that will stimulate their child’s development and support early learning.  Portage has an open referral policy and parents and professional can refer children for consideration.

There is no lower age limit for referral and Portage home visits discontinue when the child starts in a pre-school or nursery for more than three sessions per week.

The Kingston Portage Service is registered with the National Portage Association (www.portage.org.uk ).

Contact Details

The Moor Lane Centre
Moor Lane
Chessington
KT9 2AA

Telephone: 020 8547 6698

Email: ann.macpherson@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Both of these services are buy-back services offered to schools from within the Social Inclusion Service. This means that schools can opt to spend th

e budget they receive for children at 'School Action Plus' on buying in support from these services.

The Primary Learning Support Service aims to:

• Support schools in addressing the learning needs of pupils at School Action and School Action Plus
• Work with individuals or small groups of pupils
• Offer advice to staff on working with pupils who present with a variety of learning needs
• Identify and assess learning needs
• Provide INSET for teachers and teaching assistants on a range of issues as requested by the school.

Primary Schools can buy Speech and Language Teaching from the Social Inclusion Service to complement the Speech and Language Therapy and Teaching Services offered to schools by the Speech and Language Education Service:

• Advising and supporting Speech and Language IEP targets
• Advising and making suggestions for strategies for adults working with pupils who have been identified by the Speech and Language Therapy service as having a specific difficulty.
• Working with a designated member of school staff to set up social communication skills' groups of four to six children

The Service will:

• Provide experienced teachers who have additional qualifications in teaching pupils with special educational needs
• Provide a contact person for the service
• Involve schools in an evaluation process at the end of the support time

The way to ask for this service is through your child's school or nursery.

Contact Details

       Dukes Centre
       Dukes Avenue
       Kingston
       KT2 5QY

Telephone: 020 8547 6680                
Fax: 020 8439 7794

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The Service for SI promotes good practice for children with hearing and visual difficulties, through a high quality Service which enables these children to gain the skills they need to achieve their educational potential.

The Service works with families and educational settings for children and young people aged 2- 19 years (hearing impaired) and 0- 19 years (visually impaired).

All the Service staff are qualified teachers with additional qualifications and experience in their specialist areas. The staff for SI work alongside parents and schools to provide support and help to resolve any of the child's specific challenges.

• Information is shared with parents about the child's sensory impairment and the educational implications.
• Information is shared about local and national family support groups
• Families are helped to support their child at home to develop early and on-going learning skills.
• Up-to-date advice and information is offered about the child's eye/ear condition
• SI staff will listen to parents' concerns about their child and they will try to offer solutions
• With parents' permission, SI staff work alongside other professionals involved with the child-paediatricians, audiologists, ophthalmologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, rehabilitation and mobility officers
• SI staff work on specific programmes with pre-school children in the home and they liaise with nurseries and playgroups
• The SI staff liaise with SENCOs, Class Teachers and Support Staff in schools
• Advice about specialist aids to help the child at school is suggested

Contact Details

The Moor Lane Centre
Moor Lane
Chessington
KT9 2AA

Telephone: 020 8547 6698
Service for Visually Impaired: Barbara Nixon
Service for Hearing Impaired: Beverly Westwood and Melissa Heavans

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Our mainstream education service supports pupils with statements at School Action Plus from KS1-3. We are a team of Speech and Language Therapists, Speech and Language Teacher and Speech and Language Inclusion Assistant who support school staff in devising and delivering appropriate IEP targets for children with speech and language communication needs. We can deliver inservice training and help school set up social communication, good listening and other small group activities.

Contact Details

       The Dukes Centre
       Dukes Avenue
       Kingston
       KT2 5QY

Telephone: 020 8547 6669

Speech and Language Therapist: Linda Talbot

Telephone: 020 8547 6670             
Email: linda.talbot@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Speech and Language Therapist: Sarah Church

Telephone: 020 8547 6671                   
Email: sarah.church@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Speech and Language Teacher : Mark Bryant

Telephone: 020 8547 6672                   
Email:  mark.bryant@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Speech and Language Inclusion Assistant: Val Edwards

Telephone: 020 8547 6670                       
Email: val.edwards@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

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There are a number of local and national voluntary groups and parents groups who are especially helpful sources of information, advice and support for parents. Some are associated with particular difficulties or disabilities and others address more general issues affecting disabled children and young people and their families.

Some national organisations are specifically dedicated to special needs in education and related issues.

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