Learning for Life (SEND)

Learning for Life students will be enroled on one of 3 pathways:

• Discovery,

• Aspire and

• Transition.

Students in Aspire and Transition will be supported to achieve a range of functional skills qualifications ranging from Entry Level 1 to Entry Level 3. Units will cover a variety of skill areas; including Social skills, pre-employment skills and Personal Skills embedding Literacy and Numeracy, Arts and Crafts, ICT, Environment and Community, Performing Arts and many more subjects.

Students in Discovery will have a bespoke programme focussing on communication, independence and preparation for adulthood. There will be a strong focus on their EHCP targets and in preparing them to progress on to the Aspire pathway when they are ready. Regardless of the pathway, all students will be supported by our skilled careers team, so that they can access work experience opportunities tailored to them.

The curriculum is modular and all classes will embed English, Maths, IT, PSHE, sport, outdoor learning, community access and creative activities within the offer. This is to ensure that our curriculum is always broad and robust. Every Learning for Life class is supported with the Total Communication approaches advised by our team of Speech and Language Therapists.

Wherever possible, when students are ready, they are supported to access the wider curriculum of the college. We are proud to say that every year students from Learning for Life are able to progress on to Level 1 courses and study alongside mainstream peers.

In Learning for Life we offer a wide range of BTEC courses from Entry 1 to Entry 3. We can also offer personalised qualifications around individual interests and skills.

For students that are not following an accrediation pathway, we use the RARPA approach. RARPA stands for Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement. It’s a way of assessing learning that focuses on each learner’s individual goals. Instead of just using tests or grades, RARPA helps track progress by setting personal learning targets, reviewing how well those targets are met, and celebrating achievements along the way. It’s especially useful in Learning for Life, where learners may have very different starting points and needs.

Support is provided by a permanent team of highly skilled and specialist Support Staff. Learning for Life benefits from an on-site Team of Speech and Language Therapists, school nurse, external agents and professionals and a skilled SENCO. We have staff who are trained in First Aid, personal care, hoisting, de-escalation and communication systems such as PECS and Makaton. Weekly training is provided to ensure their skills are up-to-date.

The Haringey Multi-Disciplinary Team called MAG meet regularly to discuss clinical matters that may impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service.

In addition, the Team Manager of Haringey’s Disability Children’s Team and the Curriculum Manager meet every month, to discuss safeguarding matters. Close and well-established links with Haringey’s Social Service and Adult Disability Teams, help with the transition of students aged 18 to Adults Services and address issues which require intervention or referral from the department.

An annual review will take place for each learner over the course of the academic year, with Year 14 (leavers) being prioritised.  The focus of the review is to consider progress. We will look at how support is allocated and whether changes need to be made to the learning programme. In Learning for Life, the Parents/Carers are a key part of our Team around the child and will always prioritise listening to their voices and needs.

1. Notice. Families will be given two weeks’ notice of the review date. We strongly encourage students and families to attend. Reviews can take place in person, by telephone or online eg Teams or Zoom. Please let us know if you need any special arrangements.

2. The Meeting. People who may be at the review meeting include:

• The parent/carer (advocate or translator, if required)
• The student
• A relevant teacher, the SENCO, or another person responsible for the provision of education for the child or young person
• A representative from the placing local authority
• Any other person who the child/young person, the parent, educational setting or the Local Authority consider appropriate, for example a Therapist.

3. The Report. If the meeting is held at the school, the staff have two weeks after the meeting to prepare a report and send a copy to everyone who was invited. This report must set out any amendments that were recommended and note whether everyone at the meeting agreed to them or not.

4. The Decision. Based on the review, your local authority must decide if they are going to change anything on the plan, or end the plan entirely – the latter of which should only happen in rare cases. They must let you and the educational setting know within four weeks of the review meeting.

If you do not agree with the Local Authority decision, they must tell you about your right to appeal; if they are going to make changes, they should do that without delay and an updated plan should be issued.

Information on our Transition ProcessFor more information on the Learning for Life (SEND) you should contact:

Louise McLaughlin, Director for Inclusion and Head of Learning for Life

louise.mclaughlin@haringey6.ac.uk

02083765934

Simon Tracey, Curriculum and Learning Manager for Learning for Life

simon.tracey@haringey6.ac.uk

0208 376 5953Ada Gokay, Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO)

ada.gokay@haringey6.ac.uk

To support our parents/carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, we have provided information known as The Local Offer which signposts SEN provision offered in Haringey for those children and young people.   

The information below will focus on specialist SEN provisions and  employment programmes between the ages of 16-25 years old. 

Specialist SEN Providers

Below is a list of specialist education providers for children and young people with special educational needs.

Area 51

Area 51 is an Independent Specialist Provider for young people who have severe, complex or profound learning difficulties. They deliver full-time courses in preparation for life and work, enabling our young people to make a successful transition from childhood to adulthood.

You can find out more on the Area 51 website

Ambitious About Autism

TreeHouse School

TreeHouse School is registered with the Department for Education as a non-maintained special school. The school was founded in 1997 by parents of children with autism. TreeHouse School provides children with the specialist, intensive and integrated support to enable them to learn, thrive and achieve.

You can find out more about TreeHouse on their website

Action for Kids

Action For Kids has been helping transform the lives of young people with physical and learning disabilities, across the country, since 1991, through the provision of mobility equipment, learning, training and support.

You can find out more on theAction For Kids website 

Barnet and Southgate College

Barnet and Southgate College’s Supported Learning Department based in the new Centre of Excellence helps learners develop vital communication, independent living and work skills to equip them with the best chance of being economically active and building a life in their local communities. 

You can find more on the Barnet and Southgate website 

The Harington Scheme

The Harington scheme provides training for people with learning disabilities and other support needs in horticulture and retail.

You can find more on the Harington Scheme website

The Holmewood School

Private school for young people up to 19 years old with high-functioning autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and other language, communication and social difficulties. Includes students funded through their EHC plan.

You can find more on the Holmewood School website

Southover Partnership

Southover Partnership is a group of private schools which offer full time education placements for students with statements and Education and Health Care (EHC) plans up to 19 years old. For young people on the autistic spectrum, have ADHS PDA, and other social, emotional or mental health needs.

You can find more on the Southover Partnership website

Development and Learning Opportunities (DALO)

DALO provides a programme for young people with learning disabilities. This can be funded by social services as part of your support plan

You can find more on the DALO website

New City College – Hackney

New City College, Hackney run variety of courses are wrapped up with additional hours to focus on independent living skills. These include skills such as travel training, alongside speech and language development and educational psychology support with specialists who our students love to work with.

You can find more on the New City College website

Employment Programmes

Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to work for a real employer, earn a real salary and gain a recognised qualification whilst gaining valuable workplace skills and experience. 

Anyone living in England, over 16 years old and not in full-time education can apply to be an apprentice.

Traineeships provide a mixture of learning and work experience for young people aged 16-25 who may not be sure what they want to do, or whether they have the skills and understanding that employers might be asking for. Many colleges and training providers offer a range of traineeships or supported internships and mentoring.

You can also find out more on the traineeships website

Young people with special educational needs or disabilities who need information, advice and guidance on a range of issues including careers can visit:

Mencap: Bell Brewery, 676 High Road, Tottenham - email: haringey676@gmail.com or tel: 020 8365 0251

Tottenham Hotspur Foundation: email: foundation@tottenhamhotspur.com or tel: 020 8365 5138

Action for Kids: Ability House, 15A Tottenham Lane, Hornsey N8 9DJ - call on 020 8347 8111 or text on 07949 245 131

You can call or contact them directly.  If you have an education health and care plan, you can ask your SEN officer to send on your plan to the organisation to help them understand your needs better and show your strengths and areas you might find challenging.

Haringey Local Authority also has a team of Adult Employment and Learning Advisers who are professionally qualified to:

Help adults at any stage in their lives, to make the right choices about skills, careers, and qualifications

Support all learners on a Haringey Adult Learning Service (HALS) course to help them get the best out of their course, and plan what they want to do after their course

You can find out more on the HALS webpages.