Learning Support

BSAK has a resourceful and friendly Learning Support team to help students from the age of eleven to eighteen.

The Learning Support teachers and assistants are patient, dedicated and experienced in finding solutions to the difficulties faced by young learners in busy classrooms. We like to help students build on their strengths and reach their goals in a practical, sensible way.

● We support students who experience a range of specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. Other students have difficulties with speech, language and communication, managing anxiety or social relationships. ● We provide targeted interventions in order to equip students with the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to access the curriculum to the best of their ability and with confidence. ● Learning is active and enjoyable, and develops visual and auditory processing, phonological skills, memory and concentration. ● Learning Support students follow personalised programme of study during which they work on reading techniques to develop a love of reading and to enable them to read actively for different purposes. They learn how to plan and shape their writing to meet a range of requirements, and to improve their technical accuracy. They also learn techniques to help them cope with examinations, alternative revision skills and how to manage their workload more effectively. ● Sixth Form students who have largely embedded their strategies for increasing autonomy throughout secondary school, continue to be monitored, tracked and mentored by the department. In some cases, classes are also scheduled to ensure continuous well-being. Learning Support remains a hub for space and support for all our students, many of whom have worked alongside us in secondary school and remain a welcome part of our cohort.

AIMING HIGH

Two of our main priorities are showing students how to persevere when they experience difficulties, and that there should be no limit to their aspirations, whatever those may be, whether achieving an award in Music or winning a Poetry performance competition. Together we create a secure learning environment so that students acquire the courage to take risks and accept challenges. They realise that they are expected to try their best, to stretch themselves and that the Learning Support team is there to help them to build a reliable problem-solving repertoire.