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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.

Samakee Houses

A group of people are playing basketball in a brightly lit indoor court with a colorful mural on the wall.
St. Andrews Samakee : Fostering Teamwork and Spirit

Belonging to Nightingale, Einstein, or Shakespeare gives every child a smaller school family.

A mosaic sculpture depicting three stylized human figures in a minimalist, abstract style, set against a plain background with a clock on the floor.
St. Andrews Samakee : Leadership Through Responsibility

House Captains gain valuable leadership experience by organising events and supporting younger students

House System at Samakee

The House System is a long-standing British school tradition designed to build community, encourage teamwork, and promote a healthy sense of competition. Every child belongs to a “House,” which becomes their smaller school family within the wider community.

At Samakee, we embrace this tradition. Our three Houses—Nightingale, Einstein, and Shakespeare each have a distinctive t-shirt in blue, red, and green, available from the school shop. Students wear these on Fridays and for special House events.

This structure encourages teamwork and friendly competition, rewarding children's involvement in all aspects of school life. The system is led by our House Captains, who take on additional responsibilities, such as organising events and counting points. They also play a vital role in supporting our younger students during inter-house events, helping to foster a strong sense of leadership and community.

A young child with curly hair is holding a whiteboard with the word %22Oxford%22 written on it, surrounded by other children in a classroom setting.
A group of children in blue shirts are gathered around a table, intently focused on a project or activity they are working on together.
The image shows three people, two adults and one child, working together on a craft project involving a colorful fan-like structure on a table in front of them, with a world map visible on the wall behind them.
The image shows several children in red shirts engaged in a hands-on activity, with one child holding a yellow object and another child observing intently.
Three smiling individuals, wearing blue shirts, are holding colorful dreamcatchers in an outdoor setting with trees and a building visible in the background.
The image shows three young students in green shirts, one of whom is holding a document and appears to be discussing it with the other two students in an outdoor setting.
A group of young people in green shirts standing together on a grassy field, with a building and blue sky visible in the background.
A group of young people, both boys and girls, are gathered together in what appears to be a lively and energetic setting, with some of them engaged in a playful interaction or activity.
A group of young children, wearing colorful shirts, are seated on a blue and red rubber surface in an outdoor setting with lush greenery and a fence in the background.
A group of children in blue uniforms are engaged in an arts and crafts activity at a table in a classroom setting, with shelves and other classroom materials visible in the background.

Nightingale

Einstein

Shakespeare