Additional Needs Department
Our overarching aim is to raise students’ achievements and ensure that young people can lead fulfilled lives in the community after leaving school. We want to ensure that all students with Additional Educational Needs
(AEN), English as an Additional Language (EAL) and those who are Gifted and Talented (G&T) are engaged and get the right support at the right time. To be able to do this, early identification and intervention, removing barriers to learning, raising expectations and achievement are at the forefront of our practice.
The academy's vision for Additional Educational Needs and disabilities sits within the context of the broader reform of children’s services, as set out in Every Child Matters (2003) and The Children Act (2004). Five key outcomes are identified for all children, including those with special or additional needs: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being.
The vast majority of students at The Bushey Academy are educated in their mainstream lessons through differentiated teaching and learning. Some students may be withdrawn for brief periods of time, for specific interventions to develop particular skills.
Provision for Gifted and Talented Students
There are several levels of provision for all students including those identified as Gifted and Talented (G&T). The levels of provision consist of a whole school, within departments and the classroom approach.
Whole academy
- A working environment where staff are aware of, and sympathetic to, the emotional, social and intellectual needs of gifted and talented students.
- A positive school ethos, where all students are encouraged to express their opinions and learn to recognise and respect differences between each other as individuals.
- Provision of extra-curricular activities, such as regular clubs or timetabled enrichment activities for groups of gifted and talented students.
- Provision of opportunities for gifted and talented students to work with others of a similar ability outside The Bushey Academy.
Within departments
- Schemes of Work will include tasks and challenges to stimulate gifted and talented students, taking multiple intelligences into consideration.
- Opportunities will be provided for gifted and talented students to work with others of a similar ability.
- The departmental register of gifted and talented students will be reviewed and updated annually.
- There will be opportunities for staff teaching within a department to meet to discuss provision for gifted and talented students in their specific subject areas. This will raise any issues about resources and staff training.
Within the classroom
- High teacher expectation and praise for achievement.
- Lesson plans which provide planned, appropriate differentiation for gifted and talented students.
- Opportunities for gifted and talented students to follow their own interests and to extend their breadth and depth of subject-specific knowledge (rather than simply accelerating their knowledge to higher National Curriculum levels), both within class lessons and also through research and other tasks to be completed outside of lessons, either by individuals or a group of pupils with similar ability.
- The use of a variety of teaching and learning styles, together with encouraging gifted and talented pupils to reflect on their own learning styles.
- Pace of lessons to match speed of individual learners.
- The use of questioning to engage higher level thinking skills.
- Target setting for gifted and talented students, with targets being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Based.
At home
- Parents/Carers will be informed of their son’s/daughter’s inclusion in any activities for gifted and talented students.
Provision for students with Additional Educational Needs
In addition to the above, help by a Teaching Assistant (TA) is provided as a means of supporting students’ learning in lessons. In class support may be assigned for literacy, language and behaviour difficulties. Students may be withdrawn for specific work to develop specific skills.
Provision for Students with English as an Additional Language
In addition to what is in place for Gifted and Talented students and those with Special Educational Needs, students with EAL have access to an induction programme and support with their homework.
EAL Support Programme
The focus of the programme is to develop oral skills and confidence, as well as introducing students to basic English grammar. Support will also continue where necessary and maybe focussed on those students who will be studying external examinations. Students have to make a commitment to attending these after-school sessions.
Supporting students‘ progress
- Individual Educational Plans (IEP) – a set of targets made in agreement with parent/carer student and staff which is reviewed regularly.
- Individual Behaviour Plans (IBP) – a set of targets made in agreement with parent/carer, pupil and staff to address a students‘ behaviour difficulty.
- Individual Action Plans (IAP) – a set of targets to aid a student new to the country, at the early stage of acquiring English. These targets are assigned with student, staff and Parent/carer in agreement.
Year 7 induction
Teaching Assistants spend the first four weeks of term exclusively observing and supporting Year 7 and reporting back to the Director of Learning for Individual Needs. This builds up a good profile and some very useful additional information to that supplied by primary schools, Cognitive Ability Tests, reading and spelling tests. The main aim being to ensure that every new student needing support is identified. As well as the obvious long term benefit to Year 7s, this extra support and attention in their first nervous week at secondary school has an immediate and visible effect in helping to smooth over the enormous culture shock of primary to secondary transition.
Access arrangements
The Additional Needs Department ensures that students in Year 10, 11 and sixth form who are entitled to readers, scribes, word processors or short breaks during public exams, are tested for their reading age, reading speed and comprehension, writing speed and legibility and keyboard skills so they benefit from their entitlement.
Useful links
Gifted and Talented information for students and parents/carers
http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/landing.aspx
A guide for parents – Special Educational Needs
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=3755
English as an Additional Language information
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/library/EALteaching/