At The Abbey Senior School we have a qualified support teacher (OCR Diploma Level 7) who works closely with any girls who have dyslexia or other identified learning difficulties.
Staff are made aware of all those who have learning needs and given information on exactly what these are and advice on how to help in the classroom. Those who need individual support are allocated a lesson once a week with the support teacher. Most of these lessons are one-to-one and held at a time when the girl will not miss another lesson – usually lunchtime or before or after school. The one-to-one lessons are tailored to each individual girl and there is no additional charge.
The support teacher is a maths specialist as well as a dyslexia specialist and, when necessary, will also help with other subjects giving revision and study skills advice. A few girls (those who have an identified difficulty leading to trouble with learning foreign languages) are allowed to study just one modern foreign language rather than two in Upper IV (Year 9) and receive extra language support to help with the language they are still studying.
There is also an EAL teacher who develops a tailored programme of support if required.