Special Educational Needs

The department offers support to students in a number of ways:

Individual: (Literacy, Numeracy, Study Skills Physiotherapy, Medication, Physical Difficulties, Listening and Counselling, Support with Transition)
Small Group: (Learning to Learn, Literacy, Study Skill, Dyspraxia, Numeracy, Behaviour Support, Life Skills, Personal Social Development, Homework Support, Art and Music Therapy, Gardening, Independent Travel and Forest school.
In Class: All Curriculum Areas, covering the whole age range.

The aim of the department is "to ensure that all students with additional needs, (needs which are beyond the differentiation and normal classroom strategies adopted by teachers), are identified, referred, appropriately supported and that such needs are reviewed in a timely manner in order to ensure that all targeted students can make academic progress and add value to their personal expectations".

 

In Class Support

Learning Support Assistants offer in-class support covering all subject areas, working collaboratively with teaching staff to meet students’ educational needs and raise standards. Learning Support Assistants offer subject specialism, and aim to support students to reach their true potential. Students’ academic performance is monitored and additional support is offered if required.

 

Nuture Group Provision

Our new Pavilion building now supports Key Stage 3 Nurture groups – Year 7, 8 and 9.   The Pavilion is open before, during and after school to support students’ academic, personal and social skills.   Its aim is to provide support for vulnerable students and acts as ‘stepping stone’ for the transition between primary into secondary school.   Specialist staff offer differentiation in terms of level, pace and approach in order to meet the individual needs of students whilst developing independence and inclusion with the mainstream school.  Students in the nurture group benefit from having the same teacher for English, Geography, History hence reducing the number of teachers and subject rooms students need to access across the academy site.

The Pavilion is a fully accessible building for disabled students.  The building consists of three larger than average classrooms that look out over and enclosed gardens and the school field.   Toilet facilities include a disabled toilet.   There is also a kitchen area that can be used to support breakfast club and social times but also offer opportunities for life skills.   Students are able to socialise in the garden area during the summer time.

 

The Learning Support Unit

Our Learning Support Unit (LSU) continues to provide excellent support for students finding it difficult to cope with mainstream lessons and offers individual and small group support covering all curriculum aspects as well as personal and social development.   Whilst being separate from the mainstream school it boasts a self -contained safe environment with a small enclosed garden, greenhouse and access to a kitchen area.  Students are referred to the LSU through the SERG referral process.   Specialist staff offer support for identified students with an individualised program of support this ties in with the students SEN plan.   The support plan is then reviewed at the end of the intervention and the student is then supported back into mainstream lessons.  Specialist support staff are well trained and work closely with other agencies to promote learning for all and establish positive outcomes for individual students.

 

Physiotherapy

Some of our students have Individual Physiotherapy Programmes to develop fine and gross motor skills. Staff work collaboratively with the Physiotherapy Services to achieve this. Within every department, we provide access to ground floor classrooms to support our students with physical difficulties. We encourage able bodied students to support students with physical difficulties to move around the school site.

 

Modified Sports

Our students benefit from accessing a range of modified sporting activities. These include: Boccia, Table Cricket, New Age Kurling, Wheelchair Basketball, Archery, Fencing, Swimming, Adapted Athletics and Tag Rugby. This gives our students the ability to experience the thrill of competition, and develop friendships with peers from other schools whilst improving their confidence and physical abilities.

 

Independent Travel

The Independent Travel Programme helps students to travel safely to and from school. Activities include planning safe routes, map reading, road safety, understanding the 24 hour clock, handling money, and reading bus timetables. This helps students to build confidence and gain greater freedom in the wider environment.

 

Skills For Life

The main aim for the Skills For Life Programme is to help students develop new skills, becoming independent and increasing their self-esteem. This includes activities such as: cooking, food hygiene and safety in the kitchen. Students are given experience in shopping on a budget and handling money, both in shops and at the local bank.

 

Students With Medical Needs

Some students require medication during the school day. At King James I Academy we have members of staff designated to support individual students throughout the day, enabling them to attend lessons as normal.