Learning Support

Here to help

Learning Support is led by Mrs. Heather Brookman, a teacher qualified in teaching Special Needs. She is assisted by Mr. Kevin Kneale who works one to one to help pupils that need extra maths support.

This well resourced department is housed in a suite of rooms close to the Sixth Form area, comprising an office, assessment room and classroom with four networked and one free standing computer.

The school is committed to ensuring that all pupils with special needs, whether intellectual, emotional, physical or social, receive appropriate educational provision. For all pupils the purpose and goals of education should be the same, but the help that pupils need in progressing towards them may be different. The aim of the Department, therefore, is to offer support to any pupil found to have learning difficulties affecting either reading, spelling, writing, maths or achievement. It works in close co-operation with all other departments to assist pupils to fulfil their true potential in each subject area. Pupils are regarded as needing learning support if they have a learning difficulty which calls for special educational provision to be made. This usually follows if they have a reading and spelling age significantly below their chronological age or if they are under performing generally academically. Some pupils struggle with their speed of processing, with organisation or concentration or in the presentation of their work and so require support.

The Learning Support Department attempts to identify the pupils' needs via Screening Tests in Year 7 and uses a structured Referral System. How we do it? A staged approach is used to meet the pupil's needs. Stage 1 being identification of a problem; Stage 2 (School Action) involves a school assessment of the pupils' difficulties and places a pupil on the Learning Support timetable for a course of lessons. Stage 3 (School Action Plus) a child may be referred to an educational psychologist for further assessment. Pupils on the Learning Support timetable are usually withdrawn from lessons not requiring examination. Individual Education Plans (IEP) are written to cater for individual needs. These IEPs are available to all staff and help to identify the specific area in which the pupil has a learning difficulty and provide short and long-term targets to meet those needs. In lessons, pupils work on identified areas of weakness, often making use of the computers and software now available.

Staff

Mrs. Heather Brookman Head of Learning Support/ Special Needs Coordinator/SENCO

Policy documents

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