‘The needs of the pupils are always central’
Ibelieve that all young people, regardless of their academic ability or disabilities, should be empowered to make decisions over their own lives and advocate for themselves,” says Dr Emily Haddock, new headteacher of Kisharon Noé School. Dr Haddock has always worked in special education. Even her teacher training was conducted through a graduate teacher programme in an outstanding SEND school. She was SENCo in her NQT year and became deputy head in her second year of teaching at an independent special school.
Becoming head, at 27, of a brand new special free school made her the youngest headteacher in the country. Her experience includes improving a large residential SEND school which she upgraded from inadequate to outstanding. After some time off, to travel and work as an educational consultant, she returned to teaching and took the role at the Kisharon Noé School.
Explaining its ethos, Haddock says: “The needs of the pupils are always central to the decision-making within the school, and we are very aware of the responsibility we have in ensuring that the highest standard of teaching, learning and therapy is always achieved. We strive to ensure meaningful collaboration between home, school and professionals… all working together.
“My doctoral research was how to do this when working with complex nonverbal young people, whose views are even more important to gauge.”
“I was ready for a new and exciting challenge and when I visited the school and met the children, governors, staff and parents I was blown away by their commitment and passion for highquality education. I was excited to be a part of their plans and support the school in becoming the best it can be.”
A year ago, the school opened its new building, a £13.5 million project — which took two years to complete and five from conception – combining modern facilities with a Grade II listed setting.
Classrooms have height-adjustable desks, there are interactive screens, break-out areas and specialist lighting and there is a variety of outdoor spaces to meet different ages and needs.
A cutting-edge hydrotherapy pool with light settings and seabed murals by Kisharon designers has been built to stimulate imagination, creativity and mobility.
Facilities include a sensory stimulation room, a dedicated area for rebound therapy, physiotherapy rooms and a food tech space with adjustable worktop heights and slide ’n’ hide door ovens designed for young people using wheelchairs.
Teaching and therapy spaces also have hoist tracking in the ceiling, as do several hygiene rooms, tailored to different ages, around the building.
On her vision for the school, Haddock says: “I believe it can be a flagship SEND school with an outstanding curriculum which meets the needs of our Jewish cohort.
“Since the start of the new September 2021 term we have been putting this into action and know that our children will rapidly catch up from the missed learning and socialisation opportunities caused by Covid.”
Those wishing to apply for September 2022 should contact the school to arrange a tour: 020 8455 7483, office@kisharonschool.org.uk
On a separate site Kisharon also has a nursery for early years education that supports both mainstream and SEND children. The Kisharon’s Tuffkid nursery has an integrated approach to Jewish learning through play. To enquire for September 2022 places: 020 8201 8488, tuffkid@kisharon.org.uk