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Special Educational Needs

In September 2014, a new Code of Practice for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) became law in England. It covers all schools and settings that cater for children and young people from 0 to 25.

Merry Hill is a two-form entry, mainstream, inclusive community Infant School with a 60-place Nursery class.

At Merry Hill, we support and value the abilities of all the pupils in the school including those with special educational need and disabilities and provide a broad and balanced curriculum for all our pupils.  Our commitment to inclusive practice is set out in our SEN policy.

Key people at Merry Hill are:

  • Mrs Fay Summers is the SENCo
  • Dr Daniel Ruddock is the governor with responsibility for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
  • Ms. Melissa Adams is the Headteacher

All of the above are contactable through the school:
Email: admin@merryhill.herts.sch.uk; Phone: 0208 950 2166

SEN Provision at Merry Hill

A key part of the SEN Code of Practice is to make it easier for parents and carers to have information about the provision on offer in schools. Every school has been asked to write and publish information that explains how we identify and meet the needs of children with special educational needs or with disabilities.  You can read our SEN Information Report and details of the Local Offer by opening the pdf link below.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Inclusion Award

One of the main benefits of inclusive education is the recognition and nurture of diversity in communities. Inclusion brings different children together in a classroom, and through carefully planned and adapted provision, allows everyone the opportunity to grow and learn. We have dedicated time to training our staff and developing our practice here at Merry Hill, and we believe that inclusion is a strength of the school. As such we are keen to validate our excellent inclusive practice by working towards the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Inclusion award (SENDIA). We aim to achieve this award by evidencing strategies and provision already in place and by further developing this practice through a working party consisting of parents, a governor representative, teaching staff and our SENCo, Mrs Summers. Please click on the pdf files below to see an outline of the award and the objectives we need to achieve.

HAND Hertfordshire Additional Needs Database

Hertfordshire’s database for children and young people aged 0-25 who has additional needs or a disability which has a substantial impact on their every day life.

For more information on how HAND can help you please see the pdf link below.

To join HAND or subscribe to their monthly newsletter please follow the link below.

What is Delivering Special Provision Locally (DSPL)?

DSPL is a Hertfordshire-wide partnership approach where parents, staff in early years settings and schools further education colleges, local authority officers and representatives from other agencies, work together as part of an Area Group, reviewing and developing the range of provision and support services available to their local community that:

  • Meets the needs of children and young people with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND), aged 0-25, as close to home as possible;
  • Improves outcomes for wellbeing and attainment;
  • Widens choice for children and parents/carers;
  • Removes barriers to learning;
  • and uses resources more effectively.