Learning Support department

The responsibility of the day-to-day operation of the SEN policy lies with the Head of Learning Support, but all teachers are responsible for the provision of SEN of pupils in their forms. The Learning Support team, Ms Gill Brent (Head of Learning Support), Mrs Debbie Cooper, (Learning Support teacher in the Pre-Prep) and Mrs Sue Kay (TEFL) meet frequently and work together in a consultative role.

Small group work or individual teaching programmes will be used to address specific needs. Pupils with specific learning difficulties are taught following a multi – sensory and structured learning support programme which makes use of specialist teaching techniques. The most important aim of the learning support teaching programme however is to raise the self - esteem of pupils through positive reinforcement.

The aim of the staff in the Learning Support Department is to offer all pupils with SEN, full access to a broad, balanced and relevant education throughout the school. They maintain regular contact with parents at all stages of support and they ensure that pupils, where possible, participate in all the decision - making processes. They work in partnership with outside agencies to support pupils with SEN.

There is a whole school approach to SEN, so if a class teacher identifies a pupil with learning difficulties, he or she informs a member of staff in the Learning Support team. The Head of Learning Support or Learning Support teacher contacts the parents, to discuss the special educational provision that will be put in place. A battery of screening tests (DEST) is carried out, to find out whether a pupil shows signs of a specific learning difficulty, for example dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia. It may be suggested to parents that an outside agency, for example Educational Psychologist or Speech and Language Therapist should be consulted. An IEP is drawn up after consultation with the class /form teacher. The IEP is then signed by parents and reviewed every term.