Learning Support at Grainville School

Grainville is an inclusive school, committed to enabling all students to achieve their potential through a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum that inspires, motivates and challenges. The Special Educational Needs Department supports staff and students across the curriculum and also provides additional learning support for identified students

How are students identified for learning support?

• In the Spring and Summer Term of Year 6, the SENCo and Head of Year 7 visit the primary schools to meet the Year 6 teachers and students. This enables us to identify those students who may require additional support and make plans for that support for September.
• Year 7 students take a reading, spelling and numeracy test in the autumn term. In addition, they also sit the CATs (Cognitive Ability Test). Once again this enables us to target students who may not have been identified on transition.
• Students may also be referred by a member of staff or parent/ carer. If staff or parents/carers are concerned about a student’s progress and believe that they may benefit from additional learning support, they may contact the SENCo to discuss their concerns. If necessary further assessment tests can take place to identify area of concern or need.

What Learning Support does the school provide?

Prior to transition Year 6 parents/carers and their child can request a personal visit to the school to look around the facilities and to also discuss any concerns with the SENCO or a member of the Support Team. It may also be beneficial for the student to attend for short periods during the Summer Term. This is usually arranged via the SENCO, Head of Year or Education Welfare Officer.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9)

Teaching Assistants and Key Workers work primarily in the classroom to support student's learning. Occasionally they may work one to one or with small groups out of the classroom environment.

Literacy and Numeracy Support

Tutorials are offered to those students who are identified as requiring additional help with their literacy or numeracy skills. These may take place during form time in the morning or during curriculum time for students who need more intensive support. They are held in our well resourced Learning Centre, which includes a suite of computers with literacy and numeracy programmes of support.

Many students will be familiar with the Read Write Inc programme from their primary school. At Grainville we deliver this programme to those students who require additional support to develop their reading skills and confidence. This programme is based upon one-to-one or small group reading skills on a regular basis. It has proved to be a successful programme and many teachers report on how much more fluent students’ reading is and how confident the students are to read aloud in class.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Students who have English as an Additional Language are initially assessed by our EAL teacher. For those students with limited English language the EAL Support Team and our EAL teacher will support on a regular basis. Where appropriate, one to one or small group English lessons are taught.

Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11)

Teaching Assistants and Key Workers continue to work primarily in the classroom with KS4 to support student's learning. Occasionally, they may provide support in the workplace for students following a work related learning programme or during Trident Work Experience.
In KS4, some students receive up to two hours of study support or literacy support each week.

EAL

In Year 10 and 11, students follow the Cambridge KET qualification. In addition, many of our students will take a GCSE in their first language and after school lessons are offered to help them improve and maintain this.
 

Please access the Student Support Guide for Parents for more detailed information on the support available and Support Staff to contact for any queries.