Support Department

The aim of the Support for Learning Department is to provide all pupils with an equal opportunity to fulfil their maximum potential.

Support for Learning (SfL) provide a service to pupils, staff and parents/carers by:

1)           Ensuring the provision of an appropriate curriculum for all pupils by:

·       Co-operative teaching: SfL teaching staff work co-operatively with departments to deliver an appropriate curriculum for all pupils.

·       Direct teaching: Where appropriate small groups of individual pupils may be given direct tuition by SfL staff. This may be as a result of difficulties with classwork, prolonged absence, basic literacy or numeracy work etc.

·       Liaison with outside agencies:  SfL staff liaise with a range of professionals e.g. educational psychologist, speech and language therapist to ensure effective communication.

·       Consultancy:  Staff advise subject teachers, primary school staff and senior management to ensure that the needs of all pupils are met.

·       Staff development: SfL department has an important role in ensuring that all staff share expertise with colleagues and that current recommendations/legislations are given appropriate consideration.

2)          Allowing parents/guardians and pupils to participate where appropriate in decisions concerning pupil’s educational provision.

3)          Providing appropriate services giving due regard, without discrimination, to disability, gender and linguistic background of pupils involved.

4)          Promoting quality provision for meeting the needs of pupils requiring additional support within a mainstream setting.

5)          Promoting the policy of inclusion.

6)          Providing where necessary, in-class support delivered via Learning Assistants or Support Teachers to enable pupils with Additional Support Needs to achieve their full potential.

In line with the 2000 Act, education is to be provided in a mainstream setting unless certain exceptions apply. These are usually short term interventions.

Where appropriate the SfL department is involved in delivering  literacy training (Toe by Toe) to individual pupils and may occasionally extract pupils from mainstream classes to focus on particular learning issues (e.g. handwriting, spelling, essay writing etc.)

The SfL staff base is located in room 22. There is also a small teaching room nearby (room 26) within the Pupil Support area of the school.

Resources:

SfL operates within an integrated support team which includes: Guidance, Inclusion and Additional Support Needs.

SfL Staff: 4 teachers and 5 learning assistants.

The Support for learning Department runs a homework club Monday to Thursday from 1.00pm to 1.30pm. This is held in room 23.

The club is open to all, but it is necessary for pupils to register with SfL and obtain a pass that will allow them access to this part of the school over the lunch break.

The club is supervised by Learning assistants and/or SfL teachers who can give assistance with homework. There are also a number of board games etc. available and 4 computers where pupils can do research for projects, type up essays or log on to ‘gridclub’.