Pownall Hall School

Special Education Needs

Provision for learning support is excellent and was highlighted as a strength of the school in our ISI inspection report. This provision works sensitively to support the ethos of academic excellence, which is the main strength of the school. Children’s progress is carefully monitored throughout the school and close liaison is maintained between form teachers and the SENDCo regarding any difficulties that may have arisen. Further assessment can take place in school by the qualified SENDCo or by an educational psychologist who is invited into school. There is close communication with parents, and meetings are held to devise targets for IEPs. In class support is provided in many lessons, and one-to-one support is available in a bright and welcoming department. We expect all to achieve well in mainstream classes and do not have any children with severe learning or behavioural difficulties. We have experience of, and have supported, children with mild cases of paediatric arthritis and muscular dystrophy. However the pupils currently in the school do not present severe difficulties; they mainly have specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD. In the long term, pupils usually make sufficient progress to learn effectively without specialist support and follow the appropriate timetable for their age group. The provision of the extension of children’s learning, ie: for Able, Gifted and Talented children is excellent.