The Moon Hall Schools Educational Trust has launched a new service designed to meet an increasing need for provision for pupils with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autism and ADHD.
Moon Hall Connect will open next month alongside Moon Hall School, which serves children and young people who have a SEND in Surrey and Sussex.
The new provision is not a school, but a supplementary specialist education service that works alongside existing school placements, providing tailored educational support for children and young people from primary age through to post-16.
The centre will operate for up to 18 hours per week per pupil, offering individual programmes designed to complement existing school placements and support those whose needs cannot be fully met within traditional educational settings.
Demand for more flexible support
The launch comes in response to increasing demand from families, schools and local authorities for more flexible, accessible and specialist support for children with additional needs, including those experiencing barriers to school attendance, neurodiverse learners and young people requiring alternative pathways to educational success.
By bringing together specialist provision, examination services, access arrangements and future therapy and outreach support under one roof, Moon Hall Connect will provide a comprehensive and innovative model of educational support for the region.
The centre represents a significant investment in inclusive education and will work alongside the wider group’s established specialist assessment services to provide a seamless pathway of support for children, families and schools.
The launch will be delivered in phases, with the initial offer focused on specialist flexible provision, a dedicated examination centre and access arrangement assessments.
Future phases will introduce assessment and therapeutic services, followed by a comprehensive outreach programme supporting schools to strengthen inclusion, build SEND capacity and improve outcomes for learners across their communities.
Ongoing commitment to SEND provision
Michelle Catterson, executive head for Moon Hall Schools Educational Trust, said, “The launch of Moon Hall Connect marks a hugely exciting milestone for the Moon Hall community and reflects our ongoing commitment to improving accessibility and opportunity for every child.
“Joining our existing specialist assessment services, this new provision strengthens our ability to support children and young people at every stage of their educational journey.
“We recognise that educational needs are increasingly diverse, and schools, families and local authorities need flexible, high-quality solutions that place inclusion at the heart of everything they do.”
Lucy Pelling, head of centre, development and outreach, added, “We are seeing unprecedented demand for specialist provision across the region, particularly for young people struggling to access education through conventional routes.
“Schools are working incredibly hard to meet increasingly complex needs, while many families are searching for the right support at the right time.
“Whether supporting children experiencing emotionally based school avoidance, providing specialist intervention, delivering access arrangements or helping schools build confidence and expertise, our mission is simple: to work in partnership with the community to ensure more children can engage, achieve and thrive.”
