Learning Support
Learning Support at Rainbow
Primary
The learning support department at Rainbow is a busy place. Over fifty students receive a learning support intervention in their primary and early years. Our primary team offer in-class and small-group sessions to focus on specific areas of need. These interventions include the development of fine motor skills, memory and processing, guided reading, life skills and literacy & numeracy support. We also offer in-house occupational therapy and speech and language sessions.
Therapies
Internationally qualified clinicians deliver our therapies. The advantage of providing these at school is that our teaching staff can be part of the referral and assessment process. We can then work holistically with therapists to align our educational and clinical targets. Visiting our therapists has little impact on our student’s academic school day. No travel is involved, and students enjoy coming to the School House and its beautiful garden setting. Here, we have a fully equipped therapy room, sensory room and classroom with Wi-Fi.
Secondary
In secondary school, over forty students receive support at various levels. Most of these interventions are in class with a member of the learning support team. Here, the students can remain with their peers and subject teacher. Our department works collaboratively with teachers to offer differentiation of lessons.
At Rainbow, we understand that every child is unique. We know that there is a range of reasons why a student may not be performing well at school. Therefore, when there is a referral to our department, teachers and other stakeholders must meet and consider the child from different perspectives. We will look at a student’s academic achievements, ability to follow daily lessons and general health & well-being. We offer small-group student lessons tailored to their needs. These are life skills training, including gardening, cooking, and self-care. The intention is for these activities to be fun and informal to encourage more active participation in school. Some students are more successful with interactive learning experiences. We recognise these learning styles and want to highlight a student’s strengths. Our small group classes build positive relationships with peers and boost confidence. During the school year, we have ongoing awareness raising of issues that can impact our students’ progress. Common topics discussed at staff meetings and training are dyslexia, gaps in learning, autism, and social background.
Parents
We work with parents and guardians to ensure continued home support. Parents play an integral role in students’ success. During these meetings, we discuss how a child progresses at home and school. This partnership consolidates learning and helps us to work as a team throughout the year. We have an additional building, the School House (pictured below), which gives us more scope in our approach. Here, we can offer life skills lessons and other interventions in a quieter, more informal setting.
Assessments
Here are just some examples of the SEN – Assessment resources used at Rainbow.