The Learning Support Department aims to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively support students with SEND. The aim is to enable all students to be able to access the curriculum and make progress. We also coordinate adaptive support and intervention for identified students.
The Learning Support team ensure that staff are briefed on the learning needs of each SEND student. We achieve this in a variety of ways, including Pupil Passports, SEND Support Plans and the SEND register. The use of Ordinarily Available Provision together with specific practical strategies best support our students in accessing the curriculum. The Learning Support Department works in liaison with the Head of Department to create a collaborative approach when supporting students with SEND.
Students on the SEND register have a pupil passport which clearly sets out their needs and what helps them to learn. Students with an EHCO have an individualised support plan which details targets and support strategies which enable them to make progress against their identified outcomes.
Where an Educational Psychologist Speech and Language or Occupational Therapist reports highlight a need for specific speech and language or OT programmes, students are withdrawn for a specific period of time to develop skills through target-led games and activities. These sessions are delivered by an ELKAN trained Learning Support Assistant (LSA). The nature of the sessions is formed through a conversation between the LSA and the Speech and Language or Occupational Therapy team. These are organised on the basis of the needs of the students and so may only run for a short period of time.
Some of our students may require more specific help with basic skills. In the past, we have run withdrawal groups to improve basic literacy and numeracy, to help with an aspect of a student's ability to read, whether that be reading speed, comprehension or age, as well as sessions to support Social Emotional Mental Health.
A significant amount of our work takes place within the mainstream classroom, where we aim to give the student access to the curriculum, by working closely with subject teachers.
Support staff may:
Help outside lessons for all students
Identified students are welcome to spend time, during morning break and lunchtime, in our department with prior arrangement where there will be a member of staff available to discuss problems, help with homework queries, or, just offer a listening ear.