Learning Support Policy
There is a Special Educational Needs Policy, which all members of staff are expected to read. All of the issues below are described more fully within the Policy. The aim of this SEN policy is to ensure both a common awareness of steps taken to identify, assess and provide help for SEN pupils, and to ensure a consistent response in all aspects of the pupil’s learning.
Pupils have a learning difficulty if they:
- have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of pupils of the same age;
- have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of educational facilities of a kind generally provided for pupils of the same age in schools.
All pupils who have learning difficulties and disabilities are identified within the SEN register.
- This gives a brief description of the learning difficulties of each pupil;
- All pupils on the SEN register are placed on a ‘stage’, to indicate the degree of difficulty and level of provision given;
- “School Action” is the monitoring stage. On this stage, a pupil’s difficulties may not be severe enough to warrant lessons within the LSD. However, all members of staff have a responsibility to monitor the progress of pupils identified on this stage and to inform the LSD if they feel there is a need for extra support;
- School Action Plus identifies pupils who need specialist support from the LSD. Most pupils are offered one or two lessons a week;
- The School’s Admissions Policy permits the annual intake of a very small number of pupils (approximately 5) with a greater level of difficulty. These pupils do not take a second language and receive lessons from the LSD instead.
The SEN register includes guidelines on how to support pupils with specific learning difficulties.
All members of staff are expected to be aware of any pupils with special educational needs, to respond appropriately in their teaching, and to report to the Learning Support Department of any concerns of pupils who are not already noted in the SEN register. Staff will also apply whole school policies (particularly Literacy and Marking) designed to provide a consistent approach to support all pupils.