LEARNING SUPPORT
The Learning Support Department provides support for students with different Learning Needs, from average to high ability and across all year groups. Teaching staff receive training on meeting the needs of pupils with a Special Educational need in the classroom and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCO) ensures all teachers are aware of the needs of the pupils in their classrooms in order to inform Quality First Teaching.
Any exam concessions are in place in the classroom as the normal way of working. For students with a high level of need a Pen-Portrait will be created ensuring staff have a clear picture of need, of strengths and weaknesses including strategies to support in the classroom.
The Learning Support Department is located next to the International Study Centre. There are 3 small classrooms to enable small group teaching. Some students with dyslexia may opt for additional support in the form of Dyslexia Support Classes (DSC) for literacy and study skills rather than learning a foreign language, charged at an additional termly fee.
These classes are taught by qualified specialist teachers and work on basic literacy skills such as reading comprehension, reading for meaning, spellings, touch typing, sentence structure, paragraphing and essay writing and revision techniques. The groups are kept small in order to allow targeted support and have 3-6 pupils per group.
WEEKLY PROVISION
Pupils who attend the Dyslexia Support Classes have 1 single lesson a week of dyslexia support mathematics in the Learning Support Department taught by a member of the Maths Department.
In addition, in year 8, a language is introduced and taught in a multisensory way, focusing on the speaking and listening aspects of language learning and also covering cultures and traditions. This is delivered by an experienced Spanish teacher. The department is also able to offer British Sign Language (BSL) as an alternative to Spanish, giving students the opportunity to learn a language using visual and kinesthetic learning and without the need to focus on written language at all.
ONE TO ONE SUPPORT
In addition 1:1 support is provided for those who require a more bespoke and targeted approach, charged at the published fees. Taught by qualified, specialist teachers, these sessions work on the individual needs of the student and their curriculum, from mentoring support, to targeted literacy, or study skills for exam subjects.
Before registering your child for a place at Kent College we recommned that you contact us with details about any learning support requirements that your child may have and provide us with any reports or assessments that have been completed. These will be reviewed with our SENDCO Mrs Wade, who may then also want to meet with you. In this way we can ensure that Kent College can cater for your child's needs and deliver the best provision possible.
