Learning Support

Core Curriculum

The CC group is a ‘stage not age’ provision that has been formed to ensure that we are meeting every child’s individual additional needs in relation to their complex SEND. There are three classes in total which have a maximum capacity of 10 students. 

Teaching is personalised to their academic ability and follows their personal EHCP requirements to ensure we are effectively individualising their learning experience. CC students learn through a completely different timetable and curriculum to the rest of the mainstream school at Rainford and there is a heavy focus on Literacy, Numeracy and Life Skills.

Staff

Mrs K Thomas: [email protected]

Miss A Drewett: [email protected]

Miss H Greenway: [email protected]

Ms D Bedgood: d.bedbood@@rainford.org.uk

Ms S Bates: [email protected]

Miss Z. Shaw: [email protected]

For any additional queries, please contact: [email protected]

Facilities

We have three classrooms along the Learning Support corridor that are readily adapted depending on the ever-changing needs and progress. Learning here is very sensory and practical and provides learners with opportunities to celebrate their strengths across the curriculum as well as targeted curriculum based interventions.

Every morning, the students complete Sensory Circuits to consider those students with Sensory Diets in place and we also regularly take part in the ‘Daily Mile’ initiative at students’ pace to promote health and wellbeing 

Support

Where students need a completely separate approach to their learning, our staff work on a 1:1 basis developing students individually. Physio and Speech and Language support also takes place as needed for students with varying SEND.

TA’s are there to help students reach their full potential whether this be through 1:1 support, group support or emotional and behaviour for learning strategies. Students will be chosen to do interventions ranging from handwriting and punctuation to times tables. There is no set range of interventions as they are all catered towards the individual needs within a class.

Curriculum outline

Literacy

In CC, we cover everything from Phonics to Entry Level GCSE according to the personalised needs of each child. As a result, students will become more literate citizens and ready for the wider working world. 

Literacy intervention on a weekly basis to all students as a 1:1 session allowing continued personalised progress.

Maths

CC Maths covers everything from basic number skills to Entry Level GCSE according to the personalised needs of each child. Students sessions are planned in carousel style to provide a mixture of both teachers led, group work and independent tasks that meet National Curriculum requirements and guidelines while also developing students’ basic skills and confidence across the varying topics within Mathematics.

Catch Up Numeracy intervention is delivered twice weekly to all students as a 1:1 session allowing continued personalised progress.

Life Skills

KS3 students experience 4 hours of Life Skills per week. This is vital to preparing them for adulthood and successful integration into society both during and after life at Rainford High. Life Skills is again personalised learning according to their stage and age along with their aspirations. Learners have access to cooking and technology facilities for a double session every week where they experience the independent cookery, hygiene and safety skills needed as they mature.

In KS4, students work towards completing an ASDAN Food Wise certificate to consolidate and build on all of the practical and theoretical skills they have acquired on their journey at Rainford High.

Other subjects

Along with Science, PE, Humanities and Creative sessions. CC students learn through a completely different timetable and curriculum to the rest of the mainstream school at Rainford. This changes based on teacher assessment and ever changing children needs for example:

  • Music
  • Makaton
  • Dough Disco  
  • PE 
  • PSHE
  • Enrichment

As students progress through the years, we look at alternative qualifications suitable to individuals for Maths, English as well as their interests and a Personal Development Programme.

Extra-Curricular

CC students are welcome to attend a weekly Brick Club (Lego) as well as a Boccia and Kurling Club ran by our team. 

The Learning Support department and Rainford High is dedicated to providing an inclusive school for all and will continue to celebrate diversity.

Excel 

Overview 

The Learning Support Department have formed the Excel classes to ensure that we are meeting every child’s individual additional needs by providing an environment and education which closes gaps from Key Stage 2 and offers a more personalised learning approach. We offer smaller class sizes of up to 18 where primary trained teachers develop the skills that were not met in Upper Key Stage 2, as well as differentiating the mainstream curriculum. This allows a focus on closing academic gaps and allowing a more sensory, calm and visual environment, while also keeping in touch with what the rest of their year group are learning. 

Although Excel pupils stay as a class throughout the school day they will be part of a form, which gives them chance to socialise out of the Excel class. This will also be the case for their PE lessons. 

Staff 

Mr M Blackwell, [email protected] 

Ms N Donaldson, [email protected] 

Mr R Stow, [email protected] 

For any additional queries, please contact: [email protected] 

Facilities 

We have two dedicated classrooms on the Learning Support corridor, as well as the Everyone Succeeds Centre (ESC) where students are welcome if they require a quieter, more secure atmosphere at break and lunch times. There is also a dedicated computer area the pupils can access during break times and will be used during some lessons to aid learning. 

Support 

Excel classes always have a minimum of 1 Teaching Assistant in each lesson as well as the class teacher. TA’s are there to help students reach their full potential whether this be through 1:1 support, group support or emotional and behaviour for learning strategies. The Teaching Assistants are also there to deliver focused and targeted interventions to close gaps in learning within English and Maths. Students will be chosen to do interventions ranging from handwriting and punctuation to times tables. There is no set range of interventions as they are all catered towards the individual needs within a class. Each individual pupil will also have a key worker who they can build a positive relationship with. The Key worker is there to support pupils and parents/guardians. 

Extra-curricular 

We offer a weekly SEND homework club which is staffed in the Library to help student’s complete independent study and a games club.  

Pupils are also welcome to join in any extra-curricular activies available after school.  

Curriculum outline 

English 

The English Excel class follows a scaffolded approach of the schools English curriculum. We will look at the same genres of books, poems and extracts as others in the year group but at a more supported level. The Excel lessons are tailored to each class and cover gaps in learning from KS2. Students are prepared and supported for assessment through breaking learning down into understandable and accessible stages and through different representations and ways of delivery. For example, if Year 7 are studying Shakespeare, the Excel class will read simplified texts, watch animated versions and do a range of visual representations of the story before delving into the language and features. 

As we feel reading is important Excel classes have an extra English lesson where they work at improving their reading skills. This is done on a carousel of reading, comprehension and SPaG activities with consideration of individual needs. We encourage reading at home. 

The students’ progress of their reading and spelling age will be regularly reviewed, together with their overall progress in English against the criteria in the following Progress Ladders

Maths 

Maths Excel classes follow the same ‘Maths Mastery’ scheme as the rest of their year group, but learning is made a lot more practical using a bigger range of resources to understand every concept. Particular attention is also focused on the skills that the students can be challenged in as well as those that they access confidently. In addition to this, students do a lot of basic skills and life skills learning within Excel, developing confidence in topics such as money and measures, ready for their adult life. Learning is simplified yet still challenging to ensure that gaps in learning are not being forgotten. 

The students’ progress in their numeracy skills will be regularly reviewed, together with their overall progress in Maths against the criteria in the following Progress Ladders. 

Humanities (Year 7) 

Humanities Excel classes follow KS2 & 3 Geography, History and RE objectives but with a heavy Maths and writing focus throughout each lesson. This is to ensure that students are continuously improving their Numeracy through problem solving and data handling skills as well as having more writing practice than just in their daily English lessons. The coverage of KS3 objectives is extremely practical and relevant for the students within the class. 

PSHE 

PSHE is taught in form time twice a week, this is our whole school approach to PSHE but Excel will also have an additional lesson each week. In PSHE the pupils will addresses the key concepts, skills and attributes that are needed for students to develop in these three core themes: Health and Wellbeing; Relationships and Living in the Wider World. 

PSHE allows us to safeguard pupils, support their spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development and prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. 

Other Subjects 

Even though the Excel classes are mainly based with their English and Maths teachers, they also do other subjects with teachers around the school as referenced below. Good practice is regularly shared between the Learning Support staff and other subject teachers to ensure consistency and that learners’ individual needs are truly being met. These other subjects are all giving students opportunities to think about what suits their learning style, preparing them for picking their curriculum ready for GCSE’s and their future careers. 

Science, Technology, Music, P.E., Drama.