Policy
Our ethos is to create a learning environment whereby all children whatever their barrier to learning can succeed and fulfill their potential. We are very proud of the job we do for supporting young people with additional needs.
We have a dedicated team of Teaching Assistants (TAs’) led by the SENDCo and 3 Assistants who all have additional responsibilities.
Bideford College works closely with its feeder primary schools to identify students who will find it difficult to reach age appropriate target grades. These students will be offered additional support with their English and Maths and may be part of our Accelerated Learning Group. All year 7, 8 and 9 students gain further support during their fortnightly library sessions with an Accelerated Reader programme designed to support their reading and understanding and these year groups are encouraged to ‘Drop Everything And Read’ (DEAR) in a bid to further enhance their reading skills. The library support us in this by recommending books and rewarding students who review books using the ‘Big Up a Book’ scheme, pass quizzes on the books they have read or show a marked improvement in their termly STAR reading tests. The library also celebrate any students who achieve Accelerated Reader ‘Word Millionaire’ status during the academic year.
If you have any queries or concerns please feel free to contact Rachel Vowles, SENDCo.
Support for students with physical issues:
We are proud of our links with the community and in particular the Therapists who provide valuable training in areas such as physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
This enables SEN staff to continue with programmes of therapy under their guidance.
Exam Support
The Learning Support department offers help in exams to students throughout the College. This means students in Years 10 and 11 have some sort of extra support in exams.
Students are monitored from the time that they begin college; in Year 9 students are screened and if eligible are tested for exam concessions in Year 10. The exam support for some students does extend into sixth form.
A letter is sent out to parents of students at the beginning of Year 10 who have been selected for exam concessions, which will outline what help will be available to their son or daughter.
For many students this help is essential to ensure that they reach their full potential. The help is enhanced by the assistance of a group of very experienced volunteers and invigilators. As much as possible volunteers that help with reading and scribing are matched to students. The student then becomes very familiar with their helper and settles easily and quickly into each exam with the comfort of knowing who is going to be there for them.
Further information and support services parents/carers can access in Devon: “The Local Offer”
In order to ensure you are fully informed about what is available for children with Special Educational Needs / Disability, we have provided links to some websites, including the Devon Local Offer which we hope you will find helpful:
Devon Local Offer Website: https://new.devon.gov.uk/send
Devon Information and Advice (DIAS) website (formerly Parent Partnership): www.devonias.org.uk