Learning Support
Miss E Fisher (Co-ordinator)
Some students come to Witchford with physical and medical needs that require specialist provision and support. They may well have additional needs, such as developmental disorders, emotional or behavioural difficulties. The majority of students requiring extra support have specific learning difficulties relating to their ability to read and write.
The Learning Support Department supports students with a Statement of Special Educational Needs within the classroom. A dedicated team of Teaching Assistants provide literacy, numeracy and ICT support to all students on the Special Educational Needs Register in Language Workshops, Skills Clubs, Key Skills lessons and Out Of Hours Learning Clubs. Every student on the Register has an Individual Education Plan that is reviewed at least twice each year.
Within the first few weeks of attending Witchford, all Year 7 students are given a reading and spelling test administered by the department. All students with a reading or spelling age at least 3 years below their chronological age are offered support. These tests take place twice in Year 7 and in Year 8. Students in Year 9 are tested in the Spring Term using a standardised test that determines the degree of examination support each student is entitled to. This may include access to a scribe, 25% extra time, access to a separate room, a reader, and any physical alterations to the test paper itself.
In Key Stage 4, students with a Statement of Educational Need are supported within the classroom and are tested by an outside agency to determine the level of support required in GCSE examinations. This usually takes place before the end of October in the Autumn term. Any specialist examination access arrangements continue as the student progresses to Year 11.
The Learning Support Department works in conjunction with a number of outside agencies, including The Hearing Support Service, Speech and Language Therapists, Clinical and Educational Psychologists (based locally and internationally), Student Support Services, Connexions Advisors with specialist knowledge and organisations associated with Autism, Tourettes Syndrome and ADHD.