Learning Support

Introduction

The Learning Support Department offers additional help for all students in their everyday school life so that they can achieve their full potential. Students accessing Learning Support may have special/additional educational needs or just require support with very specific areas of their learning, for example handwriting.

Learning Support also works to raise awareness of learning difficulties and disabilities throughout the school and serves as a resource for staff, providing advice on how to support students with a wide range of needs.

Support Offered

Learning Support is personalised and may take the form of in-class support, Learning Support lessons (usually timetabled against languages), access to the reading programme and Keyskills Club.

The department has experience in supporting students of all abilities with dyslexia, dyspraxia, visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical impairments, ADHD and autism. Whatever the nature of the support required, the team aims to build self-esteem and develop skills that will allow students to become more independent.

Students with statements or accessing Learning Support lessons all have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students are encouraged to take an active role in negotiating and working towards the targets set within this plan. IEPs are shared with all teaching staff and contain strategies which teachers can use to help students achieve their targets. Regular assessments are conducted to track progress and assess for exam access arrangements.

Staffing and Facilities

The team includes two full-time Learning Support Teachers, three Learning Support Assistants and a Learning Mentor.

Located centrally, Learning Support boasts two well-equipped, full-size teaching rooms. Both rooms have interactive whiteboards and are fitted with individual work stations, complete with PCs installed with a range of software available to support students’ learning, including spelling, typing and mind mapping programmes.

Other resources include a collection of reference books for reluctant readers and a variety of games/activities to develop fine motor skills, organisation, numeracy, literacy and social skills.