LEAPS – Individual Learning

We are firmly of the belief that learning support is the responsibility of every teacher and classroom assistant and so our approach is holistic and thorough.

At St Mary’s we consider each student as an individual and we therefore tailor our additional support provision to each learner’s unique needs. We support students with a variety of neurodiverse conditions and learning differences to achieve their full potential; these include dyslexia, dyspraxia, Autism Spectrum conditions, hearing loss and mental health issues.

We have vast in-house expertise in the LEAPS Team, with three Specialist Teachers who are also Level 7 qualified Specialist Assessors with SpLD practising certificates. We offer a warm and welcoming environment in which learners can seek support.

The highly qualified members of staff work with each learner’s class teachers to help raise her self-esteem and to empower her to recognise and celebrate her personal achievements. To help facilitate this, the LEAPS Team will create a Provision Passport setting out recommendation for teachers. The learner’s own voice and opinion is very important to the process and we will look to identify each student’s learning preferences to help inform her provision.

In addition to this, our staff use their wealth of experience and knowledge of specific learning needs to encourage students to understand their skills and learning differences well enough to become confident, independent learners.

In the Prep Department, learners can benefit from in-class support, small group sessions, online learning platforms or individual interventions dependent upon each individual’s requirements.

In Senior House, the type and amount of support is also dependent on the needs of the individual.  The use of Assistive Technology is encouraged to facilitate learning, such as word processing and text-to-speech software.  Other forms of support can include literacy support using an online learning platform, face-to-face specialist dyslexia or study skills support.

In addition, the daily Lunch With LEAPS club offers all learners a welcoming space to go to each day, should they wish to participate in the array of different activities available, from crafts to board games.

Where necessary, and where appropriate evidence has been gathered, Access Arrangements for examinations are applied for and put in place.  Assessments for these are carried out by our in-house specialists.

At St Mary’s School, the LEAPS Team works hard, with the support of every member of staff, to encourage individual success; develop an understanding of difference; and promote acceptance.  This culminates with our annual participation in Neurodiversity Celebration Week.