Ms G Le Grande	senco@southfieldsacademy.com
Ms S Setaki	stela.setaki@southfieldsacademy.com
Ms AM Hall	anne-marie.hall@southfieldsacademy.com
Ms K Hill	katy.hill@southfieldsacademy.com
Ms S Sulliman	sabrina.sulliman@southfieldsacademy.com

The SEN Department supports teaching and learning of students with special educational needs, including those with EHCPs, in the following areas:

• Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) including dyslexia, Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN) and dyscalculia
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH)

The SEN Department is located in the heart of the school and is easily accessible to both students and staff.

Our approach

Our approach is based on thoughtful planning to meet the changing needs of individuals and groups of students through monitoring and assessment as part of the whole Inclusion Department and in partnership with teachers, families and professionals to enhance understanding of students and implement complementary provision.

What we do

As a department, we deliver small-group interventions as well as targeted in class support from support staff.  The SEND department delivers training to the whole school and organises external practitioners to deliver Continuing Professional Development training to ensure the needs of our students are understood and effective, up-to-date, practice is implemented.

We work with other professionals such as Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

As a school we work within the Wandsworth guidance on provision for children with Special Educational Needs in mainstream schools which explains the ways pupils/children/students with different additional needs are provided for within the school.  We also follow our ‘Equality and Disability’ policy and we also have an ‘Accessibility’ plan.

Visit Wandsworth Family Information Service.

Who we are…

Within the Inclusion Department we have 6 qualified teachers and two specialist support staff with a range of experience and specialist knowledge of the needs of students with SEND:

• Ms Sarah Gray, Deputy Headteacher Teaching & Learning
• Ms Gemma LeGrande, Assistant Headteacher – SENCO
• Ms Stela Setaki: Resource Base Lead
• Ms Katy Hill, SEMH – Interventions Lead
• Ms Sabrina Sulliman: Lead Practitioner, Literacy and SEND Intervention Lead

We also have a team of highly qualified and skilled support staff and administrative assistants who work closely with students and staff.  Many are educated to degree level with a broad range of work based experience.

Teaching and learning support staff work with students both within lessons and through one-to-one or group interventions.

Visit Wandsworth Family Information Service.

Contact information

If you have any queries please contact senco@southfieldsacademy.com 

To visit, please book through our Academy website.

Welcome to the DHSC   

The Deaf and Hearing Support Centre (DHSC) is a vibrant, well-established and valued part of our school community, dedicated to supporting deaf students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).    

We understand that deaf children and young people have unique needs, especially during their secondary school years. That is why we offer a holistic, personalised approach, one that nurtures each student’s strengths, helping them to grow into confident, capable young adults.  

About Us   

The DHSC is a well-established part of Southfields Academy where deaf students learn in a mainstream school with access to a deaf peer group and specialist provision.  

We are a caring, dedicated, highly skilled and experienced team of qualified teachers of deaf children and young people (with additional specialisms in audiology and dyslexia), teaching assistants and a specialist speech and language therapist.  

The DHSC provides excellent facilities. The Centre is an acoustically treated environment with designated rooms for audiology, teaching and speech and language therapy. There is a wide range of technology available to support students’ learning and access including up-to-date personal radio aid systems.  

As the DHSC is managed and resourced by Wandsworth Sensory Support (WSS) it means the Centre also has access to a wider range of resources, specialist staff and facilities.   

Our Offer   

We start with an in-depth understanding of a student’s strengths, needs, and aspirations. We work closely with families to gain a holistic view of each student. Every student has a personalised learning programme, co-developed and regularly reviewed by DHSC staff, students and parents.   

We are proud to foster a school-wide culture of deaf awareness and inclusion promoting positive attitudes towards deafness.  Students access a mainstream curriculum for the majority of lessons. The support students have in their mainstream lessons, and the time they spend in the DHSC, is based on their individual needs. Support in the DHSC can include:  

• one-to-one and small group teaching   

• speech and language therapy   

• curriculum support (pre and post tutoring)   

• targeted interventions (such as vocabulary enrichment, study skills, smiLE Therapy)  

• Personal Audiology Awareness (PAA)   

• access arrangements for examinations  

The DHSC is open at break times and after school so that students can complete homework (with support if needed), play games and spend time with friends.  

Deaf students need access to specific knowledge and skills in order to prepare for adulthood. The DHSC covers the Specialist Deaf Curriculum Framework (SDFC) which is designed to support the personal, social and academic development of deaf students. Travel training, My Life My Health, the use of assistive technology, understanding schemes such Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) and Access to Work are just a few examples of the areas covered.  

Our expectations are high. Academically, students take a range of courses leading to qualifications including GCSEs, BTECs and A’Levels. Socially, students are fully included within the life of the school, be it taking part in clubs (such as football, coding, science and drama), joining Academy initiatives, going on school trips or residential holidays. For families, there is a wide range of information and activities through the Centre and its link to Wandsworth Sensory Support.  

The Academy has other specialist provision on site (The Achievement Studio) which caters for students with speech, language and communication difficulties and/or autistic spectrum disorders.  Deaf students with additional needs access this provision, if necessary, and staff from the two centres work together to ensure specific needs are met.   

The DHSC team works with a range of external professionals to create a holistic and well-rounded approach to each student’s development. We collaborate with educational psychologists, National Deaf CAMHS, audiology and auditory implant services, as well as voluntary organisations such as the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS). These partnerships help us provide tailored support that meets the academic, social and emotional needs of every student.  

Celebrating Success   

At DHSC, we are proud of everything our students achieve whether it is in the classroom, on the sports field, or through creative and personal projects. Previously one student also achieved “The Wandsworth Young Person of the Year” award for Outstanding Achievement.  

Students who have attended the DHSC have gone on to a range of destinations including university, further education and apprenticeships and employment. Examples of courses studied include Law, Aerospace Engineering, Airline and Airport Management, Business and Computing Systems and Interactive Media and Law.    

What our students and families say about us.  

“It’s great to have the DHSC. All the staff know about deafness and you get the extra help you need.” Year 8  

   

“Staff here support you with your commination and other needs. I’m making really good progress. I’m more confident now. My grades have gone up and my English has improved.” Year 11  

   

“Staff here go the extra mile to support us. They are extremely accommodating and willing to help you with whatever you need. There is also the lovely space of the DHSC for extra support.” Year 12  

   

“What makes Southfields a good school for deaf students is that all teachers are given training to support us in order to achieve our goals.” Year 13  

   

“The Centre has been with us every step of the way. The staff listen and understand and they really support you and your child. They are so knowledgeable and skilled. My daughter has made the most amazing progress here.”  Parent  

Visiting the DHSC   

The welcomes visits to the Centre if you would like to arrange a visit please contact:  

Anne-Marie Hall, Teacher in Charge of the DHSC.  

Email: anne-marie.hall@southfieldsacademy.com   

Telephone: 020 8875 2600 extension 2210   

Introduction

The Achievement Studio (TAS) is a supportive resource base for students aged 11–19 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN).

We primarily support students whose EHCP identifies needs in Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Facilities

TAS is located at the heart of the school, making it easily accessible while providing students with a dedicated, quiet space designed to meet their individual needs.

Our facilities include:

• A sensory room
• Rooms for 1:1 and small-group interventions
• A classroom for small-group or individual learning as required
• A communal area for supervised peer interaction

Our Offer

TAS is designed to help students access a full mainstream education. Students follow the mainstream timetable and are expected to attend all lessons, while also benefitting from:

• Personalised interventions
• Break-time activities
• A safe space whenever needed

Interventions and Personalised Programmes

We provide a wide range of targeted interventions, tailored to meet individual needs. These include:

• Daily Break Club – structured activities at both breaks, led and supervised by TAS staff
• Speech and Language Therapy – delivered by our specialist therapy team
• Communication Skills and Language Enrichment – programmes that build on therapy and strengthen social interaction
• Transition Group – supporting a smooth and successful move from primary to secondary school during the autumn term
• Learning Skills – literacy, numeracy, and communication support, with a focus on building vocabulary for academic subjects
• Life Skills – small-group sessions to develop independence, prepare for Key Stages 4 and 5, and support preparation for adulthood
• Social Skills – small-group sessions to develop confidence and positive peer relationships
• In-class support – targeted support within mainstream lessons
• Key Worker support – regular check-ins, advice, and personalised guidance
• ELSA support – emotional literacy interventions led by our trained ELSA TA
• Psychoeducation – supporting students to better understand and manage their diagnosis

Staff Team

Our dedicated staff team includes:

• A Resource Base Lead with specialist knowledge of ASD and SLCN
• A Specialist Teaching Assistant
• An ELSA Teaching Assistant
• Three Teaching Assistants
• A Speech and Language Therapist (in school once per week via Love to Communicate)
• Two Speech and Language Therapist Assistants (in school three times per week via Love to Communicate)

Together, our team delivers tailored support and targeted interventions to help every TAS student thrive both academically and personally.

Applying for a Place

If you think TAS may be right for your child, the process is as follows:

Step 1: Arrange a Visit

Contact the Base Manager to arrange a visit. You will be shown around TAS and have the opportunity to ask any questions.

Step 2: Contact Your Case Manager

After your visit, contact your Case Manager (from the Special Needs Service in your home borough) to let them know you are interested. They will need to send a formal consultation to the school. Please note, we cannot process applications without the correct paperwork from the Local Authority.

Step 3: Next Steps

If the Academy responds positively to the consultation, you are welcome to arrange a second visit with your child.

Admissions Criteria

• TAS can accommodate up to five students per year group.
• Priority is given to students with an EHCP or Statement issued by Wandsworth.
• However, all applications are considered on an individual basis, taking into account the needs outlined in each student’s EHCP or Statement.
• A place will be offered where we believe TAS and Southfields Academy are well placed to meet your child’s needs and support them to achieve academic and personal progress.