Regents Park Community College

The aim of the college's Special Educational Needs policy is to secure the best possible provision for all students with special educational needs in order to maximise their achievement. Students with a wide range of needs are welcomed at Regents Park, e.g. learning difficulties (both general and specific) hearing, vision and physical disabilities.

We believe that all students are of equal value and are entitled to a broad and balanced curriculum which is differentiated to ensure maximum progress.

All teachers are responsible for planning work which is both challenging but manageable for all pupils whatever their abilities or disabilities. Staff of the Learning Support department work with teachers to support the development of an appropriate curriculum and to help individual students in class.

In order to work on the development of specific skills, some students also receive individual or small group tuition. This tuition mainly takes place during morning registration or at lunch time so that withdrawing students from class is kept to a minimum. As well as direct tuition to improve reading, spelling and numeracy skills, lunchtime activities such as Play Reading and Games Club are also offered. Students experiencing difficulties with homework are welcome to come along to Homework Club which takes place twice a week at lunchtime.

Close liaison with Junior Schools means that most pupils with special educational needs are already identified before they arrive at Regents Park. However all students in the college are monitored throughout their time here to make sure that any difficulties affecting their learning are dealt with effectively whenever they arise. Parents are informed if any special provision is being put in place for their daughter and parents views are sought when students' progress is reviewed. Parents are welcome to contact the Learning Support Co-ordinator by letter or telephone at any time.

The following websites have useful information for parents and enjoyable games to improve young peoples literacy, numeracy, thinking and subject skills:

www.parentcentre.gov.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/

www.linktolearning.com  (Canadian but lots of relevant activities)

Spelling

• Encourage your son or daughter to refer to the spelling page at the back of her Planner.
  
   
• Encourage his/her to learn spellings corrected in her work which should be written on a Spelling Page at the back of each exercise book.
  
   
• When he/she has spellings to learn at home, remind her that the most effective way of learning them is by the:
  STUDY SAY COVER WRITE CHECK method.
  
   
• If your son/daughter finds spelling difficult, they will need to work on any spelling lists they are given at least 3 times per week. (They may be able to look at them once the night before a test and get them right but the words will not be stored in their long term memory.)