Welcome to the Learning Support Department
The Convent of Jesus Learning Support Department is a vital part of the school, contributing to the development of literacy for students who have difficulties with reading and provides general help and support for students to allow them to access their normal curriculum. Support is offered at all Key Stages.
Staff
The Department is made up of:
Ms S Long :SENCO, Head of Learning Support/ ASDAN/Success Maker Teacher
Ms T Matthews :Reading Recovery /Learning Support / Success Maker Teacher
Mrs J Lyskawa :EAL/ Success Maker/ Mathematics teacher
Mrs A Gallivan :Learning Support Assistant
Mrs M Holloway :Learning Support Assistant
Ms C Rampaul: Learning Support Assistant
Ms Asma Khalid: LSA
Ms Kanika Royer: LSA
Ms Shilpy Saini: LSA
Expectations
Every lesson you will need to bring the following:
- Exercise book
- Pen
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Rubber
- Any work you need support with.
Presentation
It is expected that students write a title, the date and c/w (for class work) at the top of every piece of work. All titles should be underlined with a ruler.
Scheme of Work
Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9)
Candidates for support are chosen at the beginning of the year when the pupils are given CATs and the Suffolk Reading test. Any pupil’s with reading ages below 8 are noted and Pupil’s with the lowest reading ages are retested individually using the New Reading Analysis (NRA). Then Miss Matthews, the department’s Reading Recovery teacher administers the tests and analyses the results. In consultation with Miss Long the SENCO Reading groups are formed. The Rainbow Reading, Thrass, Literacy progress units on spelling and phonics, reading comprehension and Precision teaching Programmes are used to promote and teach reading skills and strategies.
The Rainbow Reading Programme
After an initial test girls can work at their own pace through the reading levels.
- White (5-6 year level)
- Red (6-7 year level)
- Orange (7-8 year level)
- Yellow (8-9 year level)
- Green (9-10 year level)
They are tested on each new text to ensure they are working at the correct instructional level and reading targets are set and discussed and recorded in their books at least once a week during conference time with the teacher. Hearing a new text with a tape and tape recorder promotes fluency and independence. Pupils can choose text related activities to complete in class and at home.
These include….
- Copies of text to re-read at home.
- Comprehension Questions.
- Cloze procedure activity sheets.
- Writing Activities based on text.
- Word searches and spelling lists related to text.
- Sequencing puzzle type activities related to text
- Reading Dice game related to text.
Classes are taught in small groups of 2-6 pupils and girls are offered two to three 50-minute lessons a week at Key stage 3. At the end of each term students are again tested on the New Reading Analysis for their new reading accuracy and comprehension age so progress can be measured.
Homework is set once a week at Key Stage 3 and is based on texts read from the Rainbow reading programme.
Thrass and Precision teaching Programmes
The Thrass vowel phonemes ( sounds) are taught to support the Rainbow Reading programme through the Precision Teaching method and by learning the Thrass vowel phoneme rap. Girls are given a bank of phonemes to learn. They are tested regularly over and over and then taught any phonemes they didn’t know with singing, flashcards, repetition and over learning.
In class Support
Girls with statements of special educational needs are allocated support hours delivered by the learning support assistants, learning support coordinator and learning support teacher. Support is delivered in class mainly, with some occasional small group withdrawal when needed based on the days lesson withdrawal occurs from. Girls are helped with coursework and organisational skills
Homework club
For an hour after school each day help and support with homework is offered in the library (or various rooms) with Homework club. This is led by the learning support assistants Ms Eileen Quinn, Mrs Corinne Rampaul and Ms Katherine Anglan. Miss Long also offers an ASDAN catch up and assistance class for an hour after school on Tuesdays.
Key Stage 4 (Year 10-11)
In key stage 4 there are three types of support offered:
- In class Support
- Curriculum Support Classes
- ASDAN courses
- Homework club
In class Support
Girls with statements of special educational needs are allocated support hours delivered by the learning support assistants, learning support coordinator and learning support teacher. Support is delivered in class mainly, with some occasional small group withdrawal when needed based on the days lesson withdrawal occurs from. Girls are helped with coursework, behaviour and organisational skills
Curriculum Support
By taking one less GCSE subject pupils can chose Curriculum Support as an option which allows them to spend three lessons a week receiving help from the learning support teacher and assistants, with coursework study and revision skills. During one of the lessons each week the ASDAN Personal Finance course is offered and taught by the learning support coordinator which teaches the pupils about money related issues. By completing various research tasks throughout the year girls can earn the Personal Finance certificate.
Support programmes :
Year 7
- Rainbow reading Programme
- Thrass vowel phonemes
- Precision Teaching.
- Reading Comprehension
- Phonics literacy progress unit
Year 8
- Rainbow reading Programme
- Thrass vowel phonemes
- Precision Teaching.
- Phonics literacy progress unit
Year 9
- Rainbow reading Programme
- Thrass vowel phonemes
- Precision Teaching.
- Reading Comprehension
- Phonics literacy progress unit
- Behaviour and Social skills interventions
Year 10/11
- In class Support
- Curriculum Support Classses
- ASDAN courses
- Homework club
