Specialist SEN (Sensory & Physical) School
Mary Hare has recently been re-assigned by the government as a Specialist SEN (sensory & physical) school. We pride ourselves on the expertise and knowledge that all staff possess. We also provide specialist facilities and equipment for pupils.
Group Hearing Aid
All pupils can be linked to the Group Hearing Aid via a set of individual headphones or a box (for pupils with cochlear implants). The desks have been designed for us to allow the group aid to fit neatly underneath. The teacher has a console from which they can control an individual pupil's or whole class microphone. The system is the same in every class, and it is run on software developed at Mary Hare and continually updated.
The benefits of this system are that the headphones cut out all background noise and are designed specifically for each individual pupil when they arrive at Mary Hare School. The technology will take account of their amplification needs and thus enable pupils to use their residual hearing to the optimum. This is especially useful in a teaching situation where a new topic is being introduced, or at the beginning of a lesson, or during a class discussion.
These facilities are crucial if pupils are to be allowed to use their residual hearing to the full in class discussions. The school believes that the ability of each pupil to listen to, and to be heard by, their fellow classmates is vital if language is to be taught across the curriculum and if collaborative learning is to take place within lessons.
Interactive whiteboards
Most classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards to support learning and in other instances overhead projectors enable teachers to ensure they do not face away from the pupils when talking.
If additional special educational needs are identified over and above those associated with a child’s hearing impairment, the school’s co-ordinator for special educational needs will oversee additional support and where appropriate co-ordinate the work of a classroom assistant.
Effective access to the curriculum depends on appropriate technology and teaching methods being consistently applied by every member of the teaching staff.
Classrooms are acoustically treated and equipped with group hearing aid equipment.
Class size
A standard class at Mary Hare will accommodate 12 pupils seated in a ‘horse shoe’ shape allowing full view of the teacher/s and other pupils.
