Learning Support

Learning Support

Learning Support Department plays an essential role at Salcombe. Our Upper and Lower School SENCO's assist those for whom work is made more challenging by Dyslexia or similar learning difficulties. The SENCOs work in close conjunction with subject and form teachers to ensure that support is provided when and where necessary, and within the context of the broader curriculum. Where intensive support is required as in support in most if not all subjects then a separate charge is made for this to cover additional teaching support. Please enquire at the School Office for this charge.

All SENCOs are fully qualified teachers with classroom experience and have an additional qualification in teaching children with Specific Learning Difficulties as recognised by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DfES).

Referrals

Children will be referred to for Learning Support by their Class or Form teachers, or subject teachers, if there are concerns that they are having more difficulties in the classroom than their peers. These difficulties could be in a variety of areas including spelling, reading, number, organisation, presentation and lay out of work, or study skills. Children for whom English is an additional language may also be referred for support.

A referral form is sent to all of the child's teachers so that there is an opportunity for a full picture of strengths and weaknesses to be obtained. A SENCO, will then carry out an assessment, having first requested permission to do so from the parents. Following this, a copy of the assessment is sent to the child's parents and tutor, along with an invitation to meet with the SENCO and Form teacher for a discussion.

If the conclusion is reached that help is needed from the Learning Support Department, then the number of lessons per week is decided. The maximum number of lessons currently on offer is two per week. These can be individual, or shared with another child, or a combination of both.

Feedback

Full reports are written at the end of the Winter and Summer terms. Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns as they arise by making an appointment via the School Office to speak via the telephone or to come in and meet their child's Learning Support teacher at any time.

Learning Difficulty History

It is essential that parents give copies of any Educational Psychologist's or other, assessments carried out on their child prior to their entry to Salcombe. We also need to receive copies of any assessments carried out while the child is at School if they are not arranged by us.