Epsom College

The philosophy of the Learning Support Department is that all pupils can improve and achieve given the appropriate support for their special educational need, (SEN). At Epsom College, qualified and experienced specialist teachers are able to provide for a wide variety of mild SEN: dyslexia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s Syndrome, AD(H)D and other behavioural, social and emotional needs. On average, 8% of pupils have individual support. Within the Learning Support Department is an English as an Additional Language, (EAL), section. On average, 9% of pupils have EAL. Many of these pupils take specialist EAL lessons instead of a Modern Language. Learning Support staff provide additional support for EAL pupils in English Literature. Private tuition is also available. The generic provision is one of personalised learning. Teaching programmes are customised and take various forms: literacy or spelling programmes for pupils with dyslexia; handwriting, touch-typing and organisational support for those with dyspraxia; support programmes for pupils with AD(H)D; exam and revision technique; study skills and time management. The SEN provision often includes a counselling element. The aim is to produce confident independent learners who can invoke learned strategies and techniques automatically across the curriculum. Integral to the practice is close liaison with parents, Housemasters/mistresses, tutors, subject staff, the Medical Centre and other agencies. The Department maintains an SEN Register of all pupils with special educational needs. This list includes a description of the need, and strategies for supporting the pupil in class. LS staff are able to provide more detailed advice to staff and parents, as required. Literacy screening of all pupils on entry ensures that no difficulty goes undetected. Appropriate action is taken if there is a cause for concern. All LS staff are qualified to administer specialist SpLD assessments to tertiary level. This includes testing for access arrangements for public examinations. Occasionally, a recommendation is made for more specialist input, for example, from an educational psychologist. Specialist intervention and tuition consist of 30 weekly lessons of 45 minutes. These lessons are always arranged in consultation with the pupil and are outside the academic timetable and extra-curricular activities. Other programmes of support are offered according to need and can last from 6 to 12 weeks. The cost of these extra lessons is billed at the end of the term.