Learning Support

Learning Support at St Mary’s                                                  

At St Mary’s we are committed to providing an inclusive curriculum to ensure that all of our pupils are able to access the broad, challenging and engaging curriculum in school to the best of their abilities and allow them to achieve to their full potential. For some children this will require additional help for some of their time here in the form or learning support. 

We have a small, quiet, well-equipped room known as ‘The Garden’ which is used for small group and individual teaching as well meeting with parents. 

Learning support takes many forms from 1:1 support and small group work to individual ‘chats’ and booster sessions, support within the classroom and a thriving early bird handwriting club. The Garden room has bright displays of the wonderful work that goes on in whatever form it may take! 

1:1 Learning Support 

All our learning support teachers have specialist qualifications in helping children with specific learning difficulties in literacy and maths. Individual multi-sensory programmes of support are devised to ensure we use all the learning channels (visual, auditory and kinaesthetic). We utilise each child’s strengths whilst working on their weaknesses.

 We have a wide range of games, activities, and resources including ICT to support our teaching for both literacy and numeracy, all of which are available for teachers to use in class with individuals or groups of children and there is close liaison between our learning support teachers and the other staff. 

Special Educational Needs Register 

Children who require frequent support above and beyond that provided in the classroom or have some emotional or behavioural needs may need to be placed on our Special Educational Needs Register. All schools must have an SEN register. Pupils are categorised into stages of need, this ensures they are given targeted support in the form of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and this is reviewed regularly with full parental involvement. Our school has due regard for the guidance in the Code of Practice which accompanies the SEN and Disability Act 2001.

 We also liaise with outside agencies such as Speech and Language therapists and help to implement their advice within school. All staff have recently undergone training in aspects of SEN and all teachers are kept fully informed of the additional needs of any children on the register. 

Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) is Mrs Bodle, an experienced teacher who has additional qualifications and experience in working with children with SEN. 

If you have any concerns at all then please have a chat with Mrs Bodle and together we will work out the best course of action for your child.