Learning Support

The Learning Support Department supports students who have a range of learning difficulties in a variety of different ways. The most obvious is in-class support where our team of teaching assistants support the learning in main stream lessons. Some students are offered one to one support outside the classroomeither for intensive literacy teaching from a specialist teacher or froma teaching assistant who needs to explain curriculum content more carefully without the distractions of the classroom. Some students receive small group teaching for Maths at a basic level in Year 7.

There is a‘SuccessMaker’club that runs during afternoon registration in our computer room,where students in Key Stage 3 can develop their skills at their own pace.

A small group of students in Year 7 will have their humanities and languages classes together in the Learning Support Department where the emphasis will be on helping them to improve their literacy skills. There are four further basic skills classes, two in Year 8 and two in Year 9, where students follow a carousel of three activities aimed at developing their literacy skills. This format is generally liked by our students.

Additionally, the department oversees the intervention programme for studentswho come to uswith level 3 SATs. This involves small group work supporting themwith their organisation and basic learning skills. In Key Stage 4 our students tend to follow a vocational course geared to their learning needs supported again by the teaching assistants. The department refers students into the KS3 Base and the KS4 Study Centre when appropriate to help their learning experience. There is also a supervised club at break and lunch time for ourmore vulnerable
students who need a “safe haven”. There is also an SEN group in the Sixth Formfor students who need a supported environment and who are not yet ready for a college setting. These students follow the ASDAN Life Skills course and concentrate on life skills, teaching literacy and numeracy through real life situations. The students also do some work experience in preparation for their future.