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Special Educational Needs (SEN)

At Samakee, we place great importance on identifying special educational needs (SEN) early so that we can help children as quickly as possible. Once it has been decided that your child has SEN, staff working with your child take into account the Samakee SEN Policy. The policy describes how we help children with special educational needs at Samakee through a step-by-step or graduated approach.

Our graduated approach recognises that children and young people learn in different ways and can have different kinds or levels of SEN. So increasingly, step-by-step, specialist expertise is brought in to help our school with the difficulties that a child may have.

If your child does not seem to be making enough progress or needs a lot more extra help, the school may contact parents so that an assessment can be carried out for your child by a Developmental Paediatrician at Merak Clinic. This is only required for a very small number of children and is only necessary if the school cannot provide all the help that your child needs. It is usually only required for children who have the most significant and long-term special educational needs which need a very detailed assessment.

The approach may include:
an individually-designed learning programme
extra help from a learning support assistant who may be assigned to your child. This occurs if it is decided by the multidisciplinary team that your child is unable to access the curriculum independently. The decision is reached and agreed on by all people working with the child.
being taught individually or in a small group for regular short periods
drawing up a personal plan in liaison with Merak and or our Inclusion Leader, including setting targets for improvement, regular review of progress before setting new targets.
Merak HomeSchool meetings with parents, carers, Merak therapists and teachers who work with your child.

Inclusion Centre

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St. Andrews Samakee :  Individual Support

We prioritize the early identification of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our approach follows a step-by-step graduated framework, ensuring specialist expertise is brought in precisely when needed to support your child's unique learning journey.

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St. Andrews Samakee : Flourishing with Complex Needs

Our dedicated Inclusion Centre is a nurturing space offering a personalised curriculum that goes beyond academics. We focus on life skills, personal development, and individual passions for students with more complex specific needs.

At Samakee, we have our Inclusion Centre which is a nurturing space where students with more complex specific needs can flourish. Here, we offer a personalised curriculum that goes beyond traditional academics, focusing on life skills, personal development, and fostering individual passions. In this small, supportive setting, students can build confidence and independence while receiving expert guidance on their unique learning journey.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Samakee is licensed by the Thai Ministry of Education and accredited through ONESCA (Sor Mor Sor), the international schools inspection body.

A child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) if he or she has learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for him or her to learn than most other children of about the same age. It can also mean they need specific support to manage a disability that may not directly affect learning but may create a barrier to accessing a school environment.

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The image shows a group of people, likely students, engaged in a collaborative activity or discussion in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting. The foreground features several individuals seated at desks or tables, interacting with each other, while the background includes various educational materials and equipment.
A group of people, likely children, are gathered around a table working on a puzzle together in a colorful and lively classroom environment.
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Two individuals, a woman and a child, are standing on a colorful, multi-patterned indoor sports court. The background features bright yellow and orange walls, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
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Two children, a boy and a girl, are sitting on the floor and drawing on a large piece of paper together.
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Two young boys are standing in front of a whiteboard, one playing a keyboard and the other holding a microphone, appearing to be performing or presenting something.
Two people, a boy and a girl, are standing in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting. The boy is holding a tool or instrument, while the girl is standing nearby. The background includes shelves and other equipment, suggesting an academic or learning environment.
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Many children will have special educational needs of some kind during their education. Our school can help most children overcome the barriers their difficulties present quickly and easily. A few children will need extra help for some or all of their time in our school.

So special educational needs could mean that a child has:

Learning difficulties

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in acquiring basic skills at school

Social, emotional or mental health difficulties

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making friends or relating to adults or behaving properly in school

Specific learning difficulties

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with reading, writing, number work or understanding information

Sensory or physical needs

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such as hearing impairment, visual impairment or physical difficulties which might affect them in school

Communication problems

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in expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying

Medical or health conditions

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which may slow down a child’s or young person’s progress and/or involves treatment that affects his or her education.

What do we do at Samakee to help children with special educational needs?

At Samakee, we place great importance on identifying special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) early so that we can help children as quickly as possible. Once it has been decided that your child has SEND, staff working with your child take into account the Samakee SEND Policy. The policy describes how we help children with special educational needs at Samakee through a step-by-step or graduated approach.

Our graduated approach recognises that children and young people learn in different ways and can have different kinds or levels of SEND. So increasingly, step-by-step, specialist expertise is brought in to help our school with the difficulties that a child may have.

If your child does not seem to be making enough progress or needs a lot more extra help, the school may contact parents to recommend that an assessment should be carried out for your child by a Developmental Paediatrician. This is only required for a very small number of children and is only necessary if the school cannot provide all the help that your child needs. It is usually only required for children who have the most significant and long-term special educational needs which need a very detailed assessment.

 

The approach may include:

  • an individually-designed learning programme
  • extra help from a learning support assistant who may be assigned to your child. This occurs if it is decided by the multidisciplinary team that your child is unable to access the curriculum independently. The decision is reached and agreed on by all people working with the child.
  • being taught individually or in a small group for regular short periods
  • drawing up a personal plan in liaison with our SIP (School Inclusion Programme) and our Inclusion Leader, including setting targets for improvement, regular review of progress before setting new targets.
  • SIP Home School meetings with parents, carers, therapists and teachers who work with your child.
Children make progress at different rates and have different ways in which they learn best. Our teachers take account of this in the way they organise their lessons and teach. Children making slower progress or having particular difficulties in one area may be given extra help or different lessons to help them succeed.

 

NB If your child does need extra support for special educational needs or English as an additional language, additional costs may be required e.g. EAL teacher, Learning Support Assistant or SIP services.