Hollygirt is a flexible school which focuses clearly on the individual.
Within our small inclusive classes, we have been very successful in managing a variety of special educational needs, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, some children on the autistic spectrum, as well as pupils with a certain level of physical disability and those with anxiety issues.
We look at each individual to see if Hollygirt is the school in which they can thrive. We will need to ensure the diagnosed needs can be met with reasonable adjustments. Parents, staff and the pupil would be involved in transition arrangements and on entry to the school any requirements would be written into an individual plan, shared with all the teachers and subject to regular review.
Should it emerge that a pupil may need additional support, the class teacher, supported by the SENDCo, will follow a graduated response to offer a tailored programme of support. This may include, in the first instance, differentiated quality first teaching (as outlined in our provision map), support sheets and target sheets. We are also able to accommodate exam access arrangement approved resources which may include such as: coloured overlays, reader pens, laptop use, and extra time where these are deemed appropriate for the individual. For an additional charge we have limited spaces for 1-1 instruction; offering a structured approach to reducing barriers to learning and maximising progress. As spaces are limited, there is often a waiting list for this service.
The department is staffed by the Head of Pupil Support, teaching assistants and a 1:1 specialist who offers targeted support to individuals’ needs (at an additional charge).
Currently pupils in Senior School who have particular difficulties in Mathematics and English will be offered small group tuition rather than study a Modern Foreign Language in Years 7,8 and 9 and a reduced curriculum and further support is available in Years 10 and 11.
Assessment helps to inform our target setting; this will be carried out at regular intervals to determine attainment and ensure appropriate value-added progress is being made.
We currently have no additional professional services for example Speech and Language therapists, occupational therapists or Physiotherapy, though a number of practitioners work with individuals in the school by private arrangement with the parents.
We have difficulties accommodating pupils who cannot manage the physical environment unaided or who require a level of one to one assistance within the classroom beyond the provision stated above. Parents are advised to let us know before the registration process commences if they are concerned about their child’s level of need.
We have a number of pupils who are in receipt of an EHC plan and on occasions the local authority will fund a pupil’s place if it deems Hollygirt can better and more economically meet the pupil’s identified needs.
Our prospectus aims to give you a glimpse into our wonderful small school.
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