Student Support

Our SEND department is led by Miss Morris. We work with students to support their learning needs to enable them to be able to make progress. The team based in the Student Support Centre work with students individually, in small groups and support some lessons. Students with SEND have benefitted significantly from this support and has enabled them to make good progress, which is significantly above national averages for students with SEND.

Ofsted cited that, “Pupils with educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Those with an educational, health care plan benefit from having a key worker who advocates for them. ‘Pupil Passports’ outline pupils’ short-term targets. These guide any support and adaptations to teaching that pupils need and are implemented effectively. Well-trained teaching assistants know how to adjust their level of support for pupils. This ensures pupils with SEND understand what to do before working independently.”

If you have specific questions about the SEND provision in school, please contact Miss Morris via email on senco@richardhale.co.uk  and one of our SSC team will be in touch.

Our Student Support Centre team

Miss Morris

Head of Student Support Centre and SENCo/Assistant Headteacher

Mrs Reeves

Student Support Centre Officer

Mr Rayfield

Intervention Teacher

Mrs Wilkinson

Literacy Support

Miss Pegram

Teaching Assistant

Mr Deacon

Teaching Assistant

Mr Cunningham

Teaching Assistant

Mrs Whitehead

Teaching Assistant

Miss Risley

Teaching Assistant

Miss Soanes

Teaching Assistant

Mrs Toms

Teaching Assistant

Mrs Dupplaw

Teaching Assistant

Mr Welgama

Teaching Assistant

To view a copy of the SEN Information Report 2024, please click on the link here.

To view a copy of the SSC Parent Resource leaflet, please click on the link here.

Please click this link for further information on SEND and family support from Hertfordshire County Council

SEN Information

Dyslexia

Click here for information on supporting students with Dyslexia and literacy difficulties at Richard Hale School.

Dyslexia Assessments

At Richard Hale School we do not carry out any diagnostic assessments (i.e we do no assess any student to see if they have dyslexia or not). If you would like to arrange a private dyslexia assessment for your child, we can recommend a local assessor.

Please can you let us know if you are planning to arrange a private diagnosis so that we can support you by passing on relevant information that we have about your child (Form 8 part 1 – see below)

The JCQ exam council states that privately commissioned assessment reports that have been ‘…carried out without prior consultation with the centre [school] and without the assessor having obtained Form 8 Part 1 [from the school SENCo] before the assessment cannot be used as evidence for access arrangements and cannot be used to process an application through Access Arrangements Online, such a report may contain useful information for the centre. (JCQ p78)

For touch typing practice, please click this link https://www.typedojo.com/

Specific Learning Difficulties/Disabilities

Exam Access Arrangements

Access Arrangements for external exams are finalised when a student reaches KS4 (Y9-11) and then again in KS5 (Y12-13). This means the arrangements are in place for when the student sits GCSE or BTEC/A Level examinations. Prior to this, evidence is gathered in school to inform the application process, in line with JCQ regulations. Richard Hale recognises that students may have received arrangements at KS2, e.g. extra time. However, requirements for external exams at the end of KS4 and KS5 are much more stringent. Any arrangements from KS2 will be reviewed during KS3 as we recognise individual needs are very likely to change during this time.

If it is decided that a student requires an Access Arrangement, teachers will be asked to put this in place where possible and practical. It will not be possible for students to receive all Access Arrangements for all internal assessments. This does not mean that we are unable to evidence need when it comes to applications in KS4. We will endeavour to put appropriate arrangements in place for end of year or whole year group exams.

Local Support