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.

Online Safety

Quick Tips for Parents

How to set up parent controls on home devices

While smartphones can be powerful tools for learning, connection, and entertainment, they also come with risks such as accessing inappropriate content, excessive screen time, and online safety concerns.

Setting up parental controls is a proactive step to ensure your child has a safe and positive experience with their new device.

Hopefully, this guide will help you set up parental controls and create a safer smartphone environment

Why Set Up Parental Controls?

Online Safety

Limit exposure to age-inappropriate content and protect your child from online dangers like cyberbullying or scams

Healthy Screen Time

Manage screen time to encourage healthy habits and create a balanced daily routine.

Guided Independence

Teach responsible technology use through guided independence as your child grows and learns.

Peace of Mind

Tracking their location is also a feature many parents like for added safety.

Step-by-Step Guide for Setting Up Parental Controls

Before purchasing

Consider:

  • Models with built-in parental control features (e.g., iPhone or certain Android devices).
  • Options for entry-level smartphones or family plans with specific child-friendly features.
  • Most smartphones come with robust parental controls.

 

For iPhone (iOS Devices)

 

For Android Devices

 

Recommendation : Google Family Link

Google Family Link is a helpful parental control tool designed to support families in creating safer and healthier digital habits for children.

With Family Link, parents can:

  • Manage screen time and set daily limits
  • Approve or block app downloads
  • Filter inappropriate content
  • Monitor device usage and activity
  • Set bedtime schedules for devices
  • Help children build responsible online habits

The app provides parents with greater awareness and guidance while encouraging children to develop positive and balanced technology use.

Establish online safety Rules

  • Teach About Privacy: Explain the importance of keeping personal information private online.
  • Discuss Cyberbullying: Encourage open communication about negative online interactions and how to handle them.

As your child grows, their needs and maturity will change. Schedule regular check-ins to:

  • Adjust age-appropriate settings.
  • Encourage conversations about digital habits.
  • Empower them to make responsible decisions online.

Tips for Parents New to Smartphones

  • Model Healthy Tech Habits: Show your child how to balance screen time with other activities.
  • Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date on new apps, trends, and potential risks your child might encounter.
  • Maintain Open Communication: Encourage your child to talk about their online experiences, both good and bad.