Learning Support (SEND)
The College prides itself in giving high quality support to individuals with learning difficulties, disabilities, or other additional needs, including emotional, medical, social or behavioural. By providing the right type of support, we work hard to enable you to achieve excellence and reach your full potential. Full details can be found in our Disability Statement.
To assist the transition arrangements for students with EHCPs and to ensure that the college is able to fully meet any additional support requirements, we require that you apply by the 31st of March prior to the academic year that you wish to start. This allows the college to work in keeping with the best practice recommended in the SEND Code of Practice (2015):
- 7.10 Colleges should be involved in transition planning between school and college so that they can prepare to meet the student’s needs and ensure a successful transition into college life.
- 8.22 Where a change in education setting is planned, in the period leading up to that transition schools should work with children and young people and their families, and the new college or school, to ensure that their new setting has a good understanding of what the young person’s aspirations are and how they would like to be supported. This will enable the new setting to plan support around the individual.
Keeping you Safe
The College has a responsibility to provide you with a safe learning environment in which to study. The College provides a fully trained team of safeguarding personnel who are available during college working hours to help you with any safeguarding concern you may have - these may include: any form of abuse, money worries, family issues, homelessness or concerns about becoming radicalised or drawn into extremist behaviour. All staff are required to follow the College’s Safeguarding Procedures at all times.
How will the College know how well my child is doing, and how will they inform me about this?
Teachers monitor student progress in each lesson and track progress through internal assessments. The college also uses a tracking and reporting system to review progress and behaviour via a monitoring system, which enables regular communication with parents based on collected data.
Additionally, the college schedules termly review meetings, and for students with an EHC plan, an Annual Review is conducted to further discuss progress and needs.
Who should I contact if I have any questions or concerns about my child’s SEND?
If a student has been identified as having SEND, the first point of contact should be the SENCo. If parents or carers have concerns regarding their child’s progress or suspect their child may have SEND, they should reach out to the child’s Professional Development Coach (PDC). For additional information, parents can contact the SEND department directly at 01279 868210.
What support and training within the college is available to parents and carers?
All information about the college, including SEND support and general resources, can be accessed on the Harlow College website. Parents can also receive additional support and guidance for a child with SEND through the Essex County Council Information, Advice, and Support Service.
For specific concerns, you are encouraged to contact your child’s class teacher directly.
Further information about services available in Essex can be found on the LOCAL OFFER website: Essex County Council: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) | Essex Local Offer
