Learning Support and ELT

Pupils with additional needs are supported to achieve their own potential through our dedicated Learning Support team which consists of four members of staff. Our team works in colourful rooms where students can feel confident that they will gain the individual support that they need. Westonbirt offers the following LS support in school:

• Handwriting programmes 
• Social skills support
• Numeracy and literacy skills
• Study skills support
• Dyslexia support
• Small group support in English
• Small group study skills 

Any additional academic support is provided by the individual academic departments and organisational support is provided by the pupils’ tutors. Westonbirt offers small classes meaning open and structured support can be offered in a relaxed atmosphere, where students can grow in their own confidence and self-esteem.

Our Head of Learning Support can screen for additional information following entry if required. The Head of Learning Support liaises with the LEA for pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and, where necessary, supports applications for Statements of Special Educational Need/EHCPs. 

Teachers work closely with the Head of Learning Support and the rest of the team if and when they become aware of problems which may be associated with specific learning difficulties. If concerns are reported, further information about the pupil’s general progress is sought from their colleagues. 

Support is normally provided through classroom and homework differentiation. Teaching staff are provided with an outline of the pupil's difficulties and guidelines for supporting the pupil’s individual learning. Dedicated classroom assistants are not offered routinely for learning support unless through the provision of a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an EHCP. With parental permission, we give all pupils identified from screening further testing in-house to investigate relative strengths and weaknesses within the pupil’s learning profile. However, it is sometimes necessary with parents’ agreement, to refer the pupil to an Educational Psychologist or other outside professionals for a more detailed assessment or diagnosis of needs. We circulate the guidelines based on the professional assessment to all teachers involved.

ELT

Westonbirt offers specific English Language Training to all overseas students who require language support. 

Entry to Years 7-10

All candidates whose first language is not English must take the school’s English Language Examination. In addition, they will also take the school’s Mathematics test. Their timetable will be designed to match their level of English, which must be strong enough for them to join mainstream lessons in all of the core timetabled subjects. They will also be required to take the weekly number of chargeable English Language lessons recommended by the school’s English Language Training (ELT) Department.

Entry to Year 12 – Sixth Form

Candidates for Sixth Form who have not been educated in an English medium school for at least three years are required to submit an IELTS Certificate to gain entry, with a minimum level of 6.0 in the Reading and Writing Sections. They will take the school’s age-appropriate ELT test, and may be required to take some additional tests in the subjects chosen for AS level. They will also be required to take the weekly number of chargeable English Language lessons recommended by the school’s English Language Training (ELT) Department.