Learning Support

The Learning Support Department is the largest in the school. There are over sixty Teaching Assistants (TAs), two bi lingual assistants, two language assistants and six teachers.

What do we do?

  • Help and support students with learning difficulties
  • Help and support students with Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia)
  • Co ordinate the support, teaching and learning of Deaf students
  • Co ordinate the support, teaching and learning of physically impaired students
  • Co ordinate the support, teaching and learning of students with language and communication problems
  • Co ordinate the support, teaching and learning of students who are new to English and / or have English as an additional language

How do we do it?

  • Close links with primary schools before a student starts at school
  • Testing students when they start at our school
  • In class support to help students access the curriculum
  • Support teachers, by working alongside students in class, helping to differentiate work and advising on the needs of individual students
  • Supporting deaf students with signers in class and individual support lessons
  • Providing physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and support within the class for physically impaired students
  • Withdrawal sessions to develop a student`s literacy skills using Successmaker, an individualised learning programme to support students.
  • Providing a reduced curriculum for certain students for whom the full curriculum is proving too much
  • Providing language support to help students for whom English is an additional language
  • Close and regular links with outside agencies, medical staff and other professionals
  • Careful advice and support for Transition at 11+, 16 + and 18+
  • Liaison with parents

Facilities

  • Purpose built physiotherapy room
  • Well resourced teaching/literacy room
  • Two small quiet rooms, for exams, individual work and visiting professionals
  • Separate room where deaf students are sometimes taught, furnished with suitable materials

Courses / Opportunities we currently offer

  • ASDAN Bronze and Silver Awards
  • Sensory Integration
  • Deaf awareness
  • Dyslexia Club
  • Homework Club daily
  • Physiotherapy

Who to contact?

Hugh Heraty Teacher
Maggie Keber Ethnic Minority Support / English as an Additional
Language Coordinator
Richard Laxton Teacher
Simon Knighton Learning Support Leader/Curriculum Area Leader
Teresa Quail Teacher of the Deaf
Ruth Swann Deputy Curriculum Area Leader