Edmund Rice College

Special Education Needs

Provision for special educational needs is based on a whole school approach. Individual pupil needs are identified and all subject departments have strategies for addressing these needs. Key words in each subject are taught through a range of word attack strategies across the curriculum. The learning support centre provides all day teaching and learning support. learning support assistants, based in the centre, support individuals and groups of pupils both within class and for withdrawal. A wide range of needs are provided for including dyslexia, ADHD, autistic spectrum disorders etc. The learning support centre operates in close co-operation with all major outside agencies, both voluntary and statutory. Its staff ensures pupil needs are appropriately matched to outside provision. In Year 8 all pupils are assessed according to the code of practice on special educational needs, using a range of sources. Pupils with special needs are allocated to smaller classes for all subjects to assist with differentiated work. All staff are informed of all pupil needs and subject departments are advised on how to develop action plans/educational programmes. Support for pupils needs is also provided by the use of up-to-date computer technology. Literacy, numeracy and subject-based skills are taught through the use of multi-media technology. All pupils with literacy difficulties make use of this multi-media approach to improve basic skills such as reading, writing, presentation, talking and listening. Since pupils are more confident when working from their own experiences, emphasis is placed on using these in the development of the basic skills through IT. Other very specific software is used for more individual needs, e.g. spelling, where the pupil can work independently but seek support if necessary. To reinforce reading development, all SEN pupils in Years 8, 9 and 10 participate in a paired-reading scheme. Parents are encouraged to monitor and assess their child’s reading and record their views. A recent innovation has been a ‘mentoring’ scheme where our sixth formers provide help in reading and spelling. The support unit provides a range of help for those pupils who may be experiencing temporary difficulties in a particular area of the curriculum. Pupils who have difficulty completing work for exam purposes, or pupils facing social and emotional difficulties, can access the help of learning support assistants. Finally, the learning support centre contributes towards the dissemination of good practice throughout the school. The staff, under the guidance of the special educational needs co-ordinator, has produced booklets outlining strategies for addressing various pupil needs. These are available to all staff. The SENCo also provides staff training, for both teaching staff and learning support assistants, in all aspects of learning. The learning support centre has contributed to overall school development planning, providing expert advice and practical strategies for addressing literacy difficulties across the curriculum.