Learning Support
The Learning Support Department is staffed by qualified Special Needs teacher and ten Teaching Assistants. We support students both in-class and in small groups withdrawn to the Learning Support Area for more intensive help.
Students from the lower sets in Years 7 and 8 come to use a computer programme called “Successmaker.” This is an “Integrated Learning System” that is set at each individual’s own level and supports them with work in Reading, Spelling and Mathematics. We are able to track the students progress, enabling us to celebrate their successes and offer extra support in any areas of difficulty.
In addition to “Successmaker” we have a selection of support programmes, such as:
- Wordshark, a programme to support spelling and reading
- Numbershark, a programme to support Maths skills
- Talking Clocks, this helps students tell the time
- Life Skills, this poses money related problems
- Educationcity, a programme with interactive games to support Literacy, Maths, Science and French.
We also have a selection of high interest/low reading age books with interactive computer support to help some of our more reluctant readers. This is in addition to a wide variety of Maths and spelling games to help the students learn in a challenging and enjoyable way.
The Department runs a Homework Club every lunchtime offering computer access and support for any student to use. Support is also available after school on a “drop-in” basis.
Support is available throughout the school, from Year 7 to Year 11. Some students will require support during their examinations, they can be assessed in school and Access Arrangements can be applied to the Examination Boards for such arrangements as:
- Use of a Word Processor
- Up to 25% extra time
- A Reader
- A Scribe
These arrangements are available for students when the examination is designed to test their subject knowledge, rather than their Literacy skills.
Support is also available for students who have English as an Additional Language, either as an intensive course for students with very little English or as language support for students who have more English, but may need further help with specialist subject words.
Parents are invited into school twice a year to meet the support staff and discuss the students’ progress and any difficulties they may be experiencing. But the staff are available for any other meetings that parents or carers may wish to have at any other time during the year.
Care is taken to help Year 6 students make a smooth transition to High School. Primary schools are visited and the Year 6 SEN students are invited into Palatine for extra visits to meet the SEN staff to give them greater confidence for the beginning of Year 7.
The Department hopes to care for all the students we work with, helping them develop into a confident learners who areprepared to make the most of their strengths.
