Learning Support
Self-confidence is a superpower, which underpins the ability to learn. Our pupils will have developed the confidence in their own abilities to have achieved their personal potential at BHGS and will have aspirations for the future.
Intent Statement
It is important to recognise that the students on whom we focus will experience substantial barriers to learning in many varied ways. We work with everyone to ensure that all students can overcome these difficulties and make excellent progress in their education. We will empower them to be resilient and develop their abilities so that they thrive in education and beyond.
At KS3, our curriculum focuses on English and Maths. It is designed to accelerate their learning of the basic skills within each area and support the mainstream curriculums. This is accomplished through a determination to cater for the individual.
The KS4 curriculum is the Prince’s Trust Achieve programme. The programme is made up through delivering a range of units and modules which contribute towards a recognised Prince’s Trust qualification and the personal, social and health education of students. All of the units help students to develop skills in key curriculum areas, preparing them to succeed in whatever they choose to do next. The menu of units available is split into 6 modules: Skills for school, Personal and social development, Life skills, Active citizenship, Enterprise projects, and Preparation for work.
For our identified students with SEND, we work with outside agencies to deliver student-centred interventions. These are based on assessments, referrals, and a sound knowledge of the individual needs and difficulties. Support may be accessed across a range of disciplines including Speech and Language, physical therapies, specific learning difficulties, and psychotherapies. The skills and abilities learned will be transferable and supportive in education and for life.
The aim of the Learning Support Faculty is therefore to coordinate and assist teachers in the provision of support for individuals, groups and classes so that the most appropriate education can be provided for all pupils. In particular, we aim to improve and embed basic skills in literacy and numeracy, and develop independence and personal skills for study and for life.
We have a team of Learning Support Assistants who provide in-class support across the school. This can greatly assist pupils in their learning by helping them to organise their work and their thoughts, enabling further explanations with more levels of questioning, and ensuring that pupils are prompted to produce the best work that they can. The team also deliver booster sessions and catch-up groups at Key Stage 3. One third of their timetable is taken for cover supervisory work. In this way they get to know the subject curriculums well and can link students’ learning outside of the classroom to their mainstream work. The Learning Support team runs the homework clubs for the whole school, a dedicated support club for students with SEND, as well as taking on duties and being involved with enrichment clubs
Curriculum
KS3
Literacy, including reading for meaning, and writing skills.
Numeracy, including skills for life as well as the development of all areas of understanding in Maths.
KS4
We deliver the Prince’s Trust Achieve Programme. This is a portfolio assessed set of activities under such headings as Independence, Healthy Lifestyle, Managing Money, and Community Project. This is a Level 2 assessment resulting in Certification.
The Prince’s Trust Achieve Programme
Aim:
The Prince’s Trust offers young people the opportunity to achieve a qualification in Personal Development and Employability Skills (PDE) whilst participating in the Achieve programme. The qualifications recognise a breadth of personal skills, qualities and attitudes valued by employers across a range of sectors, giving the learners the opportunity to:
- Develop their own personal growth and engagement in learning
- Engage in learning that is relevant to them and support their development of personal skills and attributes that are essential for employment and working life
- Prepare themselves for progression into further education programmes, apprenticeships or other work-based learning
- Develop their literacy, language and numeracy skills
Curriculum:
The Achieve programme curriculum promotes a flexible approach, using relevant, experiential learning to support young people to achieve a range of personal and employability skills and gain qualifications. The modules from which we will build the programme of study are;
Personal, Social Development – Develops personal, communication and social skills in a range of situations.
- Planning for Personal Development
- Teamwork
- Participating in Sport
- Interpersonal and Self-Management Skills
- Personal Project
Life Skills – Giving young people the tools to handle a range of relevant life situations.
- Money Management
- Preparing for a Health, Active Lifestyle
Active Citizenship – Helps young people to engage with and influence community issues.
- Supporting Others in the Community
- Undertaking a Community Project
Enterprise Projects – Young people learn and practise commercial and creative skills.
- Undertaking and Reviewing Your Enterprise Project
Preparation for Work – Identify strengths and interests, and develop core employability skills.
- Career Planning
- Work Experience
- Customer Service
- Practising Leadership with Others
- Presentation Skills
Assessment is through an externally-moderated portfolio of work which is completed over a 2 year period. The level of qualification depends on the quality of work produced.
Visits/Extra Curricular
The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme contains a number of activities that are take place outside the classroom designed to enable learning from ‘real-world’ situations. This includes gardening, visits to specific places on the High Street, and visits to student-selected educational sites of interest.
Further Information
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/unlock-your-potential/explore-your-potential
Students are carefully selected for Learning Support and the Prince’s Trust option. For further information, please contact Simon Lister, Head of Learning Support (by emailing admin@bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk).
