Skip To Main Content

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.

Y6 - Y9

A group of young students performing on stage, with musical instruments and decorative banners in the background.
St. Andrews Samakee : Skills for a Digital World

We embed the 4C’s—Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Creativity—throughout every lesson. This focus nurtures the independence and resilience necessary for our students to thrive in an interconnected 21st century world.

A group of people enjoying various water activities, such as kayaking and paddling, in a scenic tropical setting with lush greenery and clear turquoise waters in the background.
St. Andrews Samakee : Expanding Our Journey

We are excited to announce our commitment to becoming a comprehensive secondary school. From 2027/28, our Upper School will expand to include KS4, offering internationally recognized IGCSE courses to continue our students' development as confident lifelong learners.

The image shows a group of people sitting on the floor, engaged in what appears to be a discussion or collaborative activity. The background includes a couch and other furnishings, suggesting a casual, indoor setting.
St. Andrews Samakee : Taught by Subject Specialists

Our Upper School curriculum is fully aligned with the British National Curriculum. Students receive expert instruction across all subjects, from Core Academics to specialized programmes in Art, Design Lab, and Languages.

Samakee comprises four year groups, from Year 6 to Year 9 (ages 10–14).

During these years, students are taught by specialist teachers across a wide range of subjects, including the Core subjects; English, Maths, Science and Computer Science. These are complemented by our Foundation Subject programmes in History, Geography, Art & Design, Spanish, Thai, Music, Design Lab, PE and Swimming. These subjects are taught discretely to ensure depth of study and specialist expertise.

Three young boys in casual clothing are sitting together on a bench, engaged in conversation or interaction.
Two young men in athletic clothing are running on a grassy field, with tents and other people visible in the background.
A swimmer in a blue cap and goggles is performing the butterfly stroke in a clear blue swimming pool.
A young person stands in front of a large display featuring the word %22Science%22 and various scientific-themed graphics and hexagonal shapes on the wall behind them.
The image shows two women standing in a garden-like setting, with a Buddhist monk seated on a raised platform in the background.
A swimmer in a blue swimsuit is diving into a clear, blue swimming pool with lane markers visible in the foreground, and spectator stands in the background.
A young boy in a white shirt is carefully mixing liquids in a laboratory setting, surrounded by various scientific equipment and supplies.
A young boy in a blue and white jersey stands in front of a large certificate of achievement displayed on a wall.
The image depicts a group of students in a science laboratory, engaged in an experiment involving a scientific apparatus on a table. The background includes a poster displaying the scientific method.
A young boy in a green t-shirt is jumping over a series of chairs in an outdoor setting, with other people visible in the background.
Two young boys are playing on the floor of what appears to be a classroom or daycare setting, surrounded by various educational materials and toys.
The image shows a group of people playing basketball on an outdoor basketball court surrounded by trees and greenery.
A person wearing a colorful costume with a headpiece and holding a prop stands in front of a vibrant green background.
A group of people sitting in a circle on a grassy lawn, surrounded by lush green trees in the background.
A person playing a saxophone on a stage, with a drum set and other musical equipment visible in the background.
Two young students, a boy and a girl, are playing drums together in what appears to be a school or music classroom setting, with various musical instruments and equipment visible in the background.
Two young boys sitting on the floor, one reading a book and the other looking at something in his hands, in what appears to be a cozy home setting with bookshelves in the background.
A group of people, mostly young, standing on a path surrounded by lush greenery and mountains in the background.
A group of people are paddling on a wooden raft in a body of water surrounded by lush greenery.
A group of people, likely students, sitting together in front of a large, ancient-looking tree with thick roots and a lush, green canopy in what appears to be an outdoor setting.
A group of people standing in front of a large, cascading waterfall surrounded by lush, green vegetation.
A group of young children in colorful shirts are running on a grassy field, with trees and buildings visible in the background.
Two young people in life jackets and helmets standing on a wooden platform in a body of water, with a group of people observing in the background.
A group of young women in dance attire are gathered in a studio, with one woman in a red dress standing in the foreground.
Three students, two girls and one boy, are working together on a whiteboard in what appears to be a classroom setting, with bookshelves visible in the background.
UpperSchoolCurriculumBooklet202526 (PDF)

Our curriculum is fully aligned with the British National Curriculum for KS2 and KS3, providing a broad and balanced programme of study that supports both academic achievement and personal growth. Students experience a rich variety of learning opportunities that are child-centred and designed to nurture independence and resilience.

Embedded throughout the curriculum are the 4C’s – Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Creativity – essential 21st century skills that prepare our students to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

 

 

The image contains a collage of various elements, including a large text that reads %22Chapter Shake!%22 and a date of %22Year 10 in 2027%22. The background features images of people in traditional clothing, a building, and other outdoor scenes.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that from 2027/28 our Upper Phase will extend into KS4 (Years 10 and 11), enabling students to continue their journey with us into IGCSE courses. This will further strengthen our commitment to providing a British-style education that supports and develops ‘independent, confident lifelong learners.’

A more detailed description can be found in this curriculum booklet: