Special Educational Needs

There are many types of special needs including Physical Disabilities, Hearing Impairment, Emotional Problems, and a wide range of Learning Difficulties. Students with a particular talent are included as having special educational needs. We have good contact with Primary schools and are normally well informed about children prior to their arrival.

Students with Special Needs are integrated into the mainstream classes. All children have special needs, but to achieve their potential some need extra support such as:

  • Support in the Classroom by an extra teacher or Teaching Assistant.
  • Individualised Learning Materials designed to give added assistance to the student.
  • Counseling and personal support for individual students.
  • Vocational Courses for pupils in Years 10 and 11 to give them relevant training for the world of work - ASDAN
  • Liaison and referral to outside support agencies such as the Educational Psychologist.
  • Short-term withdrawal to follow an individual programme addressing specific issues such as literacy and numeracy.
  • Provision of Computers to aid those with writing problems.
  • Alternative programmes of study but fulfilling National Curriculum requirements.
  • Help with Homework at lunchtimes and after school, if necessary.
  • Early morning workshops in Handwriting, Spelling, Reading and Numeracy.
  • A highly successful ICT Reading Programme.
  • An Integrated Learning System (ILS) using the computer network.
  • A wide range of additional learning opportunities to address Basic Literary and Numeracy.
  • Individual timetables.
  • Statemented students who might have the National Curriculum modified or temporarily disapplied will have an individualised curriculum plans.

Most Year 10 + 11 students with literacy and numeracy difficulties will receive in class support rather than withdrawal work. This is to avoid any disruption to the work studied for their GCSE's. Some students will also benefit from the ASDAN programme offered as an alternative to studying certain GCSE's.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Autism)

Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) share impairments in their ability to understand and use non verbal communication, understand social behaviour, and think and behave flexibly. Children with ASD's often have delayed speech while some never develop speech. Children with Asperger;'s syndrome share the same impairments but have higher intellectual abilities and better language development than most of those with ASD's.

Dyscalculia

This involves difficulty with numbers, remembering mathematical facts and performing mathematical operations. Children may have difficulties with abstract concepts of time and direction, or in recalling schedules and sequences of events.

Dyslexia

This is the most common SEN and causes difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Short term memory, concentration and personal organisation may also be affected. children with dyslexia have difficulty in remembering sequences of words or actions, mispronounce common words and reverse letters or sounds in words. They may also have poor handwriting and punctuation and become frustrated with reading.

Dyspraxia

This involves impairment or immaturity in movement often giving the appearance of clumsiness. Children may have poor balance and
co-ordination and be late in developing language and social skills.

Moderate Learning Difficulties

Children will have attainments below expected levels in most areas of the curriculum. Many will have language difficulties and a few will have low levels of self-esteem and/or concentration.

Further information

The National Autistic Society's website:
www.nas.org.uk

The British Dyslexia Association's website:
www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

The Dyslexia Institute's website:
www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk

Dyscalculia information website:
www.dyscalculia.org.uk

The Dyspraxia Foundation's website:
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

Inclusion

If you require further guidance on Inclusion please phone for inclusion policy.