At Heron Academy, we have a number of professionals who work alongside our teachers to further enrich our pupils time in school.
We offer the following Therapies;
Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT)
Speech and Language Therapy Services are provided to Heron Academy through the company Therapy Links UK. We provide communication support within a universal, targeted and specialist model. In this way we are able to support the communication needs of the students in a responsive and effective way. The Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist at Heron Academy is Gemma Britten.
Please click here for more information.
Occupational Health (OT)
Our onsite Occupational Therapist supports students to ensure they develop independence in everyday activities and access the curriculum. The input may include:
- Completing specialist assessments and interventions based on an individual needs including both functional skills and sensory processing difficulties.
- Promoting independence through developing activities of daily living e.g. feeding, drinking, dressing, toileting and play skills.
- Supporting with developing skills for the community and transitions to further education.
- Provision of equipment to promote function and assist with activities such as cooking and eating.
- Referrals to the community occupational therapy team for seating and upper limb management.
Input may involve both direct and indirect support.
Direct support may include group based sessions or 1-2-1 interventions.
Indirect support involves consultations with other professionals working with the children, providing advice and therapy programmes to be completed throughout the school week.
Vision Impairment Service
My name is Debbie Whymes and I am a Qualified Teacher of the Vision Impaired (QTVI). I visit Heron Academy on a weekly basis to work with children and young people with vision impairment (CYPVI). I work with parents, teachers, and teaching assistants, to support CYPVI as well as liaise with professionals from health, social care, education and the voluntary sectors such as Speech and Language Therapists, RNIB, Guide Dogs, and CENMAC. I make referrals to CENMAC to assess CYPVI for advice on Assistive Technology (AT) for learning as well as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for communication. In addition, I contribute to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and Annual Reviews, and support transitions into and between schools, colleges and key stages.
The support given varies depending on the needs of the child and degree of vision impairment. Support can include any of the following:
- Observations of CYPVI in their home/school environment.
- Conduct Functional Vision Assessments (FVA).
- Plan and deliver bespoke intervention programmes that stimulate and develop vision.
- Advise on the implications of visual impairment and suggest strategies to help.
- Support the use of assistive technology (iPad, Eye Gaze), to ensure access to the curriculum.
- Teach specialist skills such as Moon, Braille and touch typing.
- Adapt visual curriculum materials e.g., Timetable symbols into finger pad-size objects of reference and provide specialist equipment e.g., an audio ball
- Support the social and emotional wellbeing of vision impaired pupils.
Evelina Community Services
The Evelina Community Services offers comprehensive health support to Special Educational Needs schools in Lambeth and Southwark, including Heron Academy. Our dedicated health team, comprising paediatricians, physiotherapists, dieticians, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and school nurses, focuses on managing children and young people with complex health needs. Our goal is to address health issues, promote independence, enhance the transition to adulthood, and ultimately improve the quality of life for both the children/young people and their families.
Neurodevelopment Paediatricians
Dr. Hemavathy Palanyiaya (lead clinician for Heron Academy) along with Dr. May Yip are both Consultants in Neurodevelopmental Paediatrics who deliver regular clinics at Heron Academy. They assess and manage children with complex health needs, supported by the wider multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, and complex needs nurses.
Qualified Teach of Deaf
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy support and intervention for children and young people at the Heron Academy is provided by the Evelina London Community Service. The team works alongside the Community Paediatric team, as well as the nursing team other allied health professionals working in the school.
The physiotherapy team work closely with the Heron Academy staff to ensure that children and young people with physical disabilities are able to reach their full potential.
The physiotherapists assess and support children with both mobility and complex physical needs. This includes the assessment and provision of specialist equipment for standing, walking and sitting in order to support the child’s postural needs. As well as regular monitoring of their functional ability and movement.
Physiotherapy programmes and advice are implemented throughout the child’s day and across the week by school staff to maximise opportunity for active participation in school life.
Lambeth Hearing Support Service
My name is Olive Knight and I am a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf (QTOD). I work for Lambeth Hearing Support Service (LHSS). Heron Academy is on my caseload. I provide Deaf Awareness Training to groups or individuals on how to best give the Deaf Young Person full access to speech and sounds in their environment. I work with the school and parents to achieve this. I have always been very welcomed in the school and teachers always take on the advice that I give thus enabling the students to flourish.
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