SEN

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Our aims in Learning Support are:-

• to recognise and identify those learners with additional needs and analyse their areas of weakness.
• to provide for the needs of those learners with additional needs through the delivery of a carefully structured, differentiated curriculum.
• to help learners attain their full potential and make progress in literacy and numeracy, giving individual help where necessary.
• to establish a sense of security for learners.
• to recognise the achievements of learners with additional needs and raise their self-esteem through positive reinforcement and differentiation.
• to seek the help of the Sixth Form in enhancing the education of learners with additional needs as well as all other agencies.
• to encourage learning areas to provide adequate support and resources for learners with additional needs.
• to implement the SEN and Disability Act 2002.

Our learners, who are identified through primary records and recommendations, or through information from the Area Special Needs Officer concerning statemented children, are placed in small groups where necessary to work with the differentiated schemes of work. They are also given support in class by either learning support assistants or sixth formers.

The Area has a comprehensive range of structured programmes which have been developed in-house and are fully differentiated. These cover functional skills in Reading, Spelling, Handwriting, Writing and Mathematics. In addition, we are helping other departments develop their differentiated schemes of work. Thus, learners work at an independent level and make progress through a programme of study which leads, in small steps, to the next level. We have a peer tutoring scheme – which involves learners working with Sixth Form students. Additionally, we run a successful lunchtime Social Skills Club, Homework Club and Handwriting classes.