The additional Learning Needs (ALN) department at Ysgol Bro Taf is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for pupils with diverse educational needs. Our goal is to ensure every pupil, regardless of their challenges, can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. The department is led by a team of dedicated professionals who collaborate with pupils, parents, carers and teachers to develop personalised learning plans that cater to individual needs. We provide tailored interventions, specialised resources, and a nurturing atmosphere that fosters confidence and independence.
By partnering with local support services and maintaining high expectations, the ALN department ensures that all pupils have the tools to reach their full potential. Inclusivity is central to our philosophy at Ysgol Bro Taf.
Pupil needs at Ysgol Bro Taf are largely met within the classroom through a universal provision that is clearly focused upon teaching and learning. For pupils with an identified learning need reasonable adjustments are made within the classroom to help them to overcome barriers to their learning, such as using a coloured overlay when reading, differentiated tasks or being provided with additional time when completing activities.
Pupils with identified learning needs who do not make expected levels of progress may access short-term intervention programmes that promote the rapid development of skills in areas such as reading, writing, spelling, comprehension, and the application of number.
In addition to the support provided for the development of literacy and numeracy, it is recognised that there will be pupils who require varying degrees of intervention to help them to develop their emotional literacy and secure positive mental health. We have experienced ELSA’s who provide high quality emotional support via a variety of different tools and techniques.
A child, or young person is classed as having additional learning needs (ALN) if he or she has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age. Additional learning provision is educational provision that is additional to, or different from, that which is made general for others of the same age. A child, or young person may also have an ALN if they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of facilities for education provided for others of the same age in a mainstream school.
At Ysgol Bro Taf, we are committed to identifying and meeting the needs of all pupils in order to allow them to arrive at and exceed their potential. Our school building is fully accessible for disabled pupils. We have lift access, physiotherapy facilities, and disabled toilets.
Pupils who are identified as having an ALN will be issued with an Individual Development Plan (IDP). This is a single plan that includes a description of the nature of the additional learning need and how that need will be met through additional learning provision. The nature of the provision and associated targets will be discussed with the young person and parents/guardians and relevant supporting agencies where their support is required. Listening to young people and taking their views into account to ensure effective provision and to secure progress is central to the production of an IDP. The IDP provides a record against which a young person’s progress can be monitored and reviewed over time.
Additional Learning Provision (ALP) is the additional specialist support/provision that will be accessed by a young person with ALN. The nature of the ALP that will be offered to help a pupil overcome or mitigate a barrier to learning will be described in their IDP. Essentially, ALP consists of the actions that will be taken to ensure the pupil can access the curriculum effectively and make progress.
The Nurture provision is targeted to support pupils throughout Years 7-11. It is a safe environment which is accessible for pupils to use at break and lunch times if support is required. Throughout the school day, the nurture room is used for to provide emotional support for pupils who require assistance from the Nurture Lead Miss Michelle Hughes to help overcome anxieties, worries and concerns. Within the provision you will find the Sensory Suite which is a calming area to help control emotions, refocus and regulate ready for learning.
Miss Carrieanne Hoskins is the Therapeutic coach for Ysgol Bro Taf and she is an experienced emotional literacy support assistant. There is a vast amount of therapeutic approaches available to support social, emotional behavioural difficulties as well as communication and interaction.
Lego-based therapy is a social development program that uses LEGO activities to support the development of a wide range of social skills within a group setting.
The programme is based on the highly structured, systematic and predictable nature of LEGO play which makes it appealing to pupils with social communication difficulties who are particularly attracted to systems. LEGO-based therapy also appeals to pupils with anxiety, behavioural/emotional disorders and language difficulties.
Much more than simply playing with LEGO bricks, LEGO-based therapy includes the presence of a teacher/teaching assistant who guides the pupils and encourages them to address and resolve their problems. Through LEGO-based therapy, pupils can learn to communicate with others, express their feelings, change their behaviour, develop problem solving skills and develop a relationship with the world around them.
ELSA stands for ‘Emotional Literacy Support Assistant’. Their role is to support the emotional wellbeing of pupils. They are trained by a team of Educational Psychologists and receive ongoing group supervision. ELSA support in schools is a project designed to help schools support the emotional needs of their pupils.
ELSA acknowledges that children ELSA acknowledges that children and young people learn best when they feel happier and their emotional needs are being addressed.
What can ELSAs help with?
There are a lot of emotional skills that ELSA can help with, including:
ELSA sessions will typically happen once a week for approximately six weeks and last between half an hour and an hour. During a session, the ELSA will:
Ysgol Bro Taf work closely with Nurture UK to ensure that every pupil in the school gets the support they need and has the best possible chance in life. Key members of staff have been trained to understand and use the Boxall Profile to assess pupils social, emotional and mental health needs and targeted pupils throughout will have a Boxall Profile assessment. Nurture UK have helped with the development of strategies for providing nurturing, effective support for pupils’ wellbeing, including strategies to encourage positive school engagement.
We are embedding the 6 Principles of Nurture across all stakeholders within the school to ensure that every pupil receives a consistently high level of support.
Our nurture provision staff have been trained to understand attachment and neuroscience to break down barriers to learning through targeted interventions. We provide targeted interventions that support pupils’ social and emotional skills and wellbeing including Relax Kids, ELSA, emotion coaching, PACE, support with transitions and bereavement and using Lego to help express thoughts and emotions. We ensure that our approach is inclusive to support and meet all pupils needs.
Nurture UK have provided the following training for Ysgol Bro Taf:
Ysgol Bro Taf respects that everyone has individual needs and we are committed to supporting those who may require extra care and attention. We believe the pupil should be at the centre of everything we do and our aim is to deliver a fully inclusive education provision for all of our learners.
Mrs Finney, our ALNCo, will liaise with all Year 6 teachers where information will be shared on pupils’ individual needs. ‘All About Me’ profiles and other relevant documentation will also be collected from each primary school to ensure that we have a good understanding of each individual and the best ways to support them.
An enhanced transition programme called ‘The Helping Hands Programme’ will also be available for vulnerable pupils that may require extra support with moving to Year 7. This enhanced support will enable pupils to familiarise themselves with key workers of staff and the school environment. The Helping Hands programme will ensure that vulnerable pupils will have a positive experience from their visit and will allow them to have the opportunity to build their confidence and plan for the transition. Parents and carers will also have the opportunity to meet key members of staff and discuss any concerns.
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