Learning Development

At Shiplake College, our Learning Development Programme adopts a comprehensive, whole-school approach to special educational needs. Our dedicated Learning Development Department collaborates with all other departments to support pupils with specific educational needs, primarily focusing on SpLD - Dyslexia. We provide regular professional development opportunities for staff to enhance their understanding of these needs.

Team Approach to the Learning Development Programme

Our Learning Development Department excels in supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties, boosting their attainment, confidence, and self-esteem. Through a 'team' teaching model, we offer flexible and diverse learning opportunities. Our team includes specialist teachers and secondary curriculum teachers who help pupils grasp and review key curriculum areas, develop study skills, and build confidence. We continuously assess and monitor pupil progress to ensure each student's academic needs are met.

The Director of Learning Development leads our department, with each Teacher of Learning Development planning and delivering lessons in collaboration with subject teachers, ensuring comprehensive support for all pupils.

Assessment Prior to Entry

Shiplake College embraces an inclusive approach to educating pupils with special educational needs. Our initial formal assessment and thorough information gathering, including assessments and interviews, allow the Headmaster and the Learning Development team to review each pupil’s individual needs. This process helps determine if Shiplake College is the right learning environment, considering social, emotional, and academic factors.

Having an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is not a barrier to entry, as each pupil is assessed individually. However, not all who undergo assessment will gain entry, as we must ensure we can meet the needs of pupils with an EHCP.

The Learning Development Department focuses on academic support, while pastoral needs are managed within a pupil’s house and overseen by the academic tutor and Housemaster.

Current Capacity of the Learning Development Department:

• Year 7: 8 places
• Year 8: 8 places
• Year 9: 16 places
• Year 10: 16 places
• Year 11: 16 places
• Year 12/13: Places allocated as needed

At Shiplake College, the low pupil-teacher ratio allows for a more individualised approach across age ranges. Pupils in the Learning Development programme are taught in small groups, as the department does not offer formal 1:1 support.

Three to four teachers are timetabled to work simultaneously with groups from Year 9 to Year 11, while two teachers are allocated to the smaller Year 7 and Year 8 groups. In this rotational system, all pupils are taught the same material throughout the week by different teachers, providing flexible and individualised teaching approaches.

On entry, pupils are assessed and offered a Core/Learning Development place or a Monitor place.

Core/Learning Development Lessons

• Year 7 and 8: 4 periods per week of specialist teaching, in place of a variety of academic and enrichment activities.
• Year 9: 4 periods per week of specialist teaching instead of Modern Foreign Languages and some enrichment activities.
• Years 10 and 11: 4 periods per week in place of a single GCSE option subject.
• Years 12 and 13: Typically, 2 periods per week during private study time, or 4 periods if needed, especially for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans.

Focus of Support

• Years 7, 8, and 9: pupils focus on developing their literacy skills, including spelling, reading, comprehension, punctuation, grammar, and writing. As they approach their exams, study skills and thinking skills are also supported. The department encourages and assists pupils with organisation skills, helping them improve their personal organisation. Efforts are made to boost pupils’ self-confidence and overcome barriers from earlier difficulties and low self-esteem.
• Years 10 and 11: pupils build on their skills to maximise their educational experience. Under the guidance of Learning Development teachers, they review core GCSE work, facilitating the teaching of study skills such as note-taking, revision, and examination strategies, including effective use of exam access arrangements. Pupils receive positive feedback as they tackle various learning tasks aimed at developing their skills and self-confidence. They also learn to assess their performance and review their action steps. Promoting pupils’ self-belief to become successful learners is a key aim.

Learning Development in the Sixth Form

From Years 7 to 11, the Learning Development Department helps pupils develop strategies and skills to overcome their individual learning needs as they prepare for and navigate their GCSEs. In the sixth form, pupils’ needs change, and they often require less intensive support. Instead, they benefit from subject-specific strategies such as structuring essays, planning coursework tasks, and conducting effective research.

Recognising the changing needs of older pupils, our Sixth Form provision is different. Pupils in Years 12 and 13 are offered support on an ‘opt-in’ basis, choosing to receive two lessons of ‘guided study support’. Year 12 pupils who received extra support for their GCSEs are encouraged to reflect on their need for this extra support. Pupils may then ‘opt-in’ if they feel this guided study support will be beneficial or choose to move away from the Learning Development programme.

The Sixth Form provision closely mirrors what is offered at universities. By helping our Sixth Form pupils take more responsibility for their learning, we aim to build their confidence in working independently. Guided study support is pupil-led, with teachers available to advise and guide pupils and ensure prep and coursework deadlines are met.