The Learning Support Faculty aspires to support all students in Commonweal achieve their potential.

Support takes many forms, below are some examples of the ways the school supports students with special educational needs.

Year 7 SEN class

There are 8 teaching groups of which one is focused on supporting students with literacy difficulties. Placements are based on Key Stage 2 SAT results, KS2 teacher’s comments, advice from our primary liaison staff and details passed on to SEN staff. The class suits students with lower general literacy levels, where work can be better differentiated to meet their needs. The class is supported by teaching assistants in most lessons.

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Year 7 Literacy Progress Units

The English department teaching assistant, Mrs Hall, provides small group booster classes for students with specific literacy difficulties. Students' needs are identified from KS2 SAT results, Primary Schools Teachers' comments and visits to our feeder schools. Mrs Hall withdraws students from their English classes in groups of 5 / 6 to work on specific elements of literacy.

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Smaller lower set literacy classes

In year 8 & 9 the school provides extra smaller lower set classes. This enables students in the lower sets to be grouped into smaller classes for their English lessons so that staff can differentiate the course to better meet their needs.

Special Examination Assessments 

Mrs Roberts assesses individual students who may require special examination arrangements. These include extra time, an amanuensis, a reader or use of a piece of ICT technology. You should contact Mrs Roberts if you have concerns about examination arrangements.

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The Physically Impaired Specialist Resource Provision

The school has further funding from Swindon LEA to place up to 15 students with physical impairments in the school. The SRP provides  teaching assistant support, specialist support in PE lessons, practical support with personal care needs and a wider knowledge and understanding of managing access to the curriculum for students with a physical impairment. The LEA is responsible for suggesting pupils for the SRP.

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The Specific Learning Difficulties Specialist Resource Provision

The school has further funding from Swindon LEA to place 20 students with severe specific learning difficulties (dyslexia) in the school.  This provides a base for the students, two teachers with specialist training, an individualised approach to their literacy skills development, in class support and support with examinations. The LEA is responsible for suggesting pupils for the SRP.

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The Visually Impaired Unit

The school has a blind student in Year 10 as well as a severly visually impaired student inYear 8. In thecoming year we will supporting another Blind student as well as another severly visually impaired student.

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Students with English as a Second Language

For students arriving at Commonweal from other cultural and educational settings, it can take some time to settle

and understand the work. We offer support and advice to students and parents with the aim of making this process as simple and positive as possible.

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“Other” special educational needs

The teaching and support staff in the SEN faculty have a wide range of expertise and experience. With the ever changing identification and provision for needs such as Aspergers, autism, dyspraxia, speech and hearing etc, we are more than willing to meet and discuss any concerns you have – either before or during your child’s career at Commonweal.

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Access Arrangements

Mrs Roberts assesses individual students who may require special arrangements to access the exams. The students have learning difficulties which have usually been officially recognised over the years and similar access arrangements (AAs) have been allowed during their school life. These arrangements may include having extra time, a reader, a scribe, use of IT equipment and arrangements depending on the need of the student. Applications for AAs are made to the relevant GCSE/Vocational Examination Boards at Key Stage 4, and to the QCA for SATs.

Contact Mrs Roberts if you have concerns about examination arrangements.

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