At Woodlands Primary School, we consider the whole child when we organise and manage learning. Our staff engage in regular professional dialogue to discuss the progress of all learners and ensure that we are Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC).
Where any potential barriers to learning are identified, teaching staff will liaise with the Pupil Support Co-ordinator, and agree a way forward to minimise the impact of these barriers. As such, differentiated and appropriately challenging learning experiences are designed to ensure learning is accessible for every learner. Our Depute Head Teacher, Mrs Gibney, has overall responsibility for Pupil Support throughout the school.
Barriers to learning can be caused by a variety of factors and we describe these as additional support needs. Children and young people can have an additional support need at any time. Being identified as having an additional support need does not necessarily mean they will need that support for the rest of their time at school. More information can be found on the Renfrewshire Council website: https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/article/3490/Additional-support-for-learning-ASN
When any barrier to learning is identified, staff will act quickly to identify the barrier and adapt planning approaches to ensure that the learning needs of every learner are effectively addressed. How the school supports your child will depend on the barriers they are facing to learning. Your child may need support for a short while or they may require ongoing, longer-term or more complicated support.
When additional support is being provided to your child, we will let you know and record this on a Child’s Plan. This is used to outline the barrier identified and the supports and strategies that we are putting in place to help remove or minimise this barrier. This plan is shared with your child as they move through the school, for as long as it is active. This ensures smooth transition of information, useful resources and strategies.
At parent – teacher appointments, you will have an opportunity to discuss this with your child’s class teacher and ensure that your voice is captured within the plan. A copy of this plan will be provided for you to keep for your own records.
We will always discuss any concerns we have about your child with you and we strongly encourage you to contact us in the same way. We value the positive impact of a good home-school relationship.
Depending on the stage of intervention, you may be invited to a Team Around the Child (TAC) meeting in the school or an arranged phone call to discuss the barrier to learning identified, gather your views and make a plan moving forward.
If you would like to discuss this, or any other aspect of your child’s education, please don’t hesitate to contact us via the school office.
If you would like further information in this area, the following websites can provide these:
- Enquire
- Contact for families with disabled children
- National Autistic Society.
Parent forums
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