Extended schools, after-school clubs, breakfast clubs, and holiday clubs or playschemes, can help parents balance work and family life. They are Ofsted-regulated and offer parents and carers a cost-effective and safe solution to before and after-school childcare.  Find out more about breakfast clubs and after-school clubs at Sir Thomas Abney School here.

What specialist support does the school offer children with speech and language difficulties? 

Sir Thomas Abney is a Speech and Language language-resourced school with specialist provision for 22 children with speech, language, and communication difficulties. The school is one of two Language Resource Schools in Hackney. 

Because of the understanding we have of language disorders, we can provide specialist teaching that helps meet the needs of pupils with specific language difficulties.

As we are a mainstream school our pupils can access the National Curriculum alongside targeted support. All children who get a place in the school join in all activities and are included in mainstream classes for lessons. This helps them to experience the full curriculum.

Children are taught in small groups and get regular speech and language support. Our school's resident speech and language therapist is involved in setting targets and structuring support. Children in the LRS may receive support from the following staff:

• Class teacher
• Speech and Language Therapist
• Assistant and/or Teaching Assistant

The kinds of support offered may include the following:

• Makaton sessions with a Speech and Language Therapist (Early Years)
• Language-enriched environment e.g. visual timetables, staff trained in Makaton, and additional strategies for supporting language e.g. Colourful Semantics, Word Aware programs
• small group teaching for maths and literacy
• regular language groups
• individual language program
• individual/group Memory program
• individual speech production program
• social skills groups

How can I apply for a place at the language resource base? 

Please note that getting a place in the mainstream provision of Sir Thomas Abney Primary School does not mean a child would have an increased priority for placement in the Language Resourced provision in the school.

Getting a place in the school's language-resourced provision is decided by the local authority, the school, the local speech and language therapy team, and the parents of the child being considered for the place.

The government has asked schools to provide information about support for children with additional needs in School SEN Information Reports (SEN - Special Educational Needs). These reports are intended to explain the practical day-to-day approach taken in the school and should be written in a way that is helpful, clear, and meaningful.

You can find Sir Thomas Abney's School SEN Information Report linked below.