SEND
Meet the SENCO
Mr Pitts has proudly been the SENCo at HWSF since 2019 and has worked with SEND students since he left the University of Leeds with a History Degree. He was awarded a Distinction in the National Awarded for Special Educational Needs at the University College London which included an essay paper on supporting students with Autism (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on an Educational Health and Care Plan in sixth form settings.
He is usually found in the Garden Room on the Sixth Floor with a cup of tea and some colourful socks. The Garden Room is an area within the school, which is exclusive to those with SEND, and acts as a quiet place for comfort, support and study away from the busyness of HWSF corridors.
Mr Pitts can be contacted by email at j.pitts@harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk
Our Offer
As a sixth form Free School working with students across multiple London boroughs, we work collaboratively with a wide range of local authorities and their respective local offers.
For more information, please refer to our policies and/or contact Mr Pitts, SENCo, directly at j.pitts@harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk.
Supporting the identification of SEND
For the majority of students joining the sixth form, SEND will have already been identified during their secondary schooling. If this is the case, they should identify this on their application form and bring evidence of this with them on enrolment day and notify Mr Pitts, SENCo, as soon as possible.
If you feel your child has barriers to learning which have not yet been properly identified, then please complete the Parent and/or Carer SEND referral by clicking here, and get in touch with Mr Pitts, SENCo, directly.
Transition Support
For many students leaving Secondary School and starting Sixth Form, it can be both exciting and daunting. It can involve a different journey to school, meeting new people, getting used to new environments and a change in routines. This pack is designed to help you manage some of these challenges and includes advice about how you can access support so that you can make the most of your time at Harris Westminster Sixth Form.
For many students leaving Harris Westminster Sixth Form and starting university can be both exciting and daunting. It can involve a move away from home, meeting new people, getting used to new environments and a change in routines. This pack is designed to help you manage some of these challenges and includes advice about how you can access support so that you can make the most of your time at university.
Student Testimonial
“The Garden Room was there for me when I needed respite but also varied in purpose. It was the best place to air my frustration at the wider world, talk to a member of staff, or a quiet place where I could do work in a place less anxiety inducing than other areas in the school. When issues were either more serious, urgent or needed a conversation I had access to my Head of House, the SENCO and the Designated Safeguarding Lead, all of which provided varying levels of support at different points.
Advice for new SEND students would be, always talk to someone even when the problem seems insignificant or small, because having a member of staff be aware is the best safety net, even if nothing happens. There are really good people in the school and depending on who you feel safe with or think would best help, there is never nobody. Try to also go to societies and clubs because it helps with integrating into the school and makes classes and the rest of the school feel less scary”.
HWSF Alumni, 2023
Additional SEND Resources
The National Autistic Society, 393 City Road, London ECIV 1NG Tel: 0845 070 4004 Helpline (10am–4pm, Mon–Fri) Tel: 020 7833 2299 Email: nas@nas.org.uk Website: http://www.nas.org.uk
ADD Information Services, PO Box 340, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 9HL Tel: 020 8906 9068
ADDNET UK Website: www.btinternet.com/~black.ice/addnet/
SEBDA is the new name for the Association of Workers for Children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Website: www.awcelod.co.uk
Scope, PO Box 833, Milton Keynes MK12 5NY Tel: 0808 800 3333 (Freephone helpline) Fax: 01908 321051 Email: cphelpline@scope.org.uk Website: http://www.scope.org.uk
Fragile X Society, Rood End House, 6 Stortford Road, Dunmow, Essex CM6 1DA Tel: 01424 813147 (Helpline) Tel: 01371 875100 (Office) Email: info@fragilex.org.uk Website: http://www.fragilex.org.uk
The MLD Alliance, c/o The Elfrida Society, 34 Islington Park Street, London N1 1PX Website: www.mldalliance.com/executive.htm (For Semantic Pragmatic Disorder)
AFASIC, 2nd Floor, 50–52 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DJ Tel: 0845 355 5577 (Helpline 11am–2pm) Tel: 020 7490 9410 Fax: 020 7251 2834 Email: info@afasic.org.uk Website: http://www.afasic.org.uk
Royal Institute for the Deaf (RNID), 19–23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL Tel: 0808 808 0123
British Deaf Association (BDA) 1–3 Worship Street, London ECZA 2AB
British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD), The Orchard, Leven, North Humberside, HU17 5QA Website: www.batod.org.uk
Royal National Institute of the Blind, 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE Tel: 020 7388 1266 Fax: 020 7388 2034 Website: http://www.rnib.org.uk
MENCAP, 117–123 Golden Lane, London EC1Y 0RT Tel: 020 7454 0454 Website: http://www.mencap.org.uk
The British Dyslexia Association Tel: 0118 966 8271 Website: www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk
Dyslexia Institute Tel: 07184 222300 Website: www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk Website: www.dyscalculia.co.uk
ICAN, 4 Dyer’s Buildings, Holborn, London EC1N 2QP Tel: 0845 225 4071 Email: info@ican.org.uk Website: http://www.ican.org.uk
Tourette’s Syndrome (UK) Association PO Box 26149, Dunfermline, KY12 7YU Tel: 0845 458 1252 (Helpline) Tel: 01383 629600 (Admin) Fax: 01383 629609 Email: enquiries@tsa.org.uk Website: http://www.tsa.org.uk
Please see here for information on our SEND policies and procedures.
