Learning support

Learning Support is a thriving, vibrant yet comforting environment for all those who need support to achieve their very best. A combination of highly experienced and well qualified full time and peripatetic teachers offer support both in small groups and individually to suit students learning needs.

They lead them through the challenges of GCSE and A level, often achieving success far beyond expectations by determining individual learning styles, supporting organisation, and developing study, literacy and numeracy skills, often within the context of curriculum subjects. The provision of appropriate access arrangements for examinations is a priority of the department. Our ‘open house’ policy allows students access to the department from early morning to late evening.

The Learning Support team also teach a wide range of subjects up to GCSE including English, Mathematics and Science allowing for individually designed programmes to range from those which are highly supported to those where students able to ‘drop-in’ when necessary but otherwise manage well without timetabled support.

Students are not withdrawn from other lessons but opt into Learning Support in place of one or more subjects. Learning support is timetabled for two hours per week in the First Year, rising to three hours through the GCSE years. Dedicated Sixth Form learning support is timetabled around A level subjects. Sixth Form students can also come for support during their private study periods. The department also offers evening prep support for boarders and, during flexi-time sessions, for day pupils on two or three days per week.

We are fortunate to have a Speech & Language Therapist employed by the Trust who carries out assessments, prepares detailed programmes, and works directly with students. She also takes small group activities focusing on social awareness skills. The department liaises closely with John McKeown Associates who provide a range of services including educational psychologists.

Contact with parents is actively encouraged; parents’ support is seen as invaluable and crucial to the work of the department. The SENCO, Linda Gillham, appreciates early contact with parents to discuss individual learning needs on 01323 443815 or email linda.gillham@stbedesschool.org

Learning Support is available in place of one or more GCSE subjects and is available throughout the Sixth Form. Individual programmes of study are prepared and reviewed termly.

Criteria for choice of Learning Support:

• Learning support is desirable for any student who has or has previously had during their GCSE's:
• Difficulty with literacy skills including reading comprehension and writing tasks
• Organisational difficulties
• Slow processing and work rates
• Weak revision strategies
• Difficulty with understanding and information retention
• Difficulty with Maths
• Particularly disappointing examination results

Advantages to students:

The likely improvement in quality of work and GCSE results:
Improved study skills
Increased independence
Improved self esteem

Exam concessions:
The most appropriate examination concessions for each student will be considered and practised in all school and public exams; additional time, use of readers, typists, and word processors can all be considered where specific difficulties exist. Once a history of use of concessions is established they can be continued through Sixth Form courses and into Higher Education. Funds are available through LEAs to support students at university.

Programmes of study:
Individual programmes of study are planned with students in consultation with subject teachers, tutors and parents. Targets for each student are then set. The programmes are reviewed at least every term. They might include:

• Continuation of higher level literacy skills
• Revision strategies
• Examination techniques
• Over-learning subject topics
• Advanced study skills
• Support with organisation of self and work
• Development of appropriate working practices
• Essay planning and writing
• Note taking techniques such as mind mapping
• Additional Maths support
• Additional English support
• Determination and practice of examination concessions
• Updating assessments