Thornton College has a well-established Learning Development Department trained to teach and support children with various learning needs. Thornton College has also been recognised by NACE (National Association for Able children in Education) for supporting all children, particularly those who need additional, more challenging work to ensure that they continue to excel on their journey of learning.
The Learning Development Department is an intrinsic component of life at Thornton College. It enables pupils to be supported both academically and emotionally and helps them to develop confidence and achieve to the best of their ability. The aim is to nurture and support any child who experiences difficulty in any aspect of learning. The department is also able to support children with various specific learning difficulties including dyslexia and neurodivergence. The department is based in an easily accessible room which provides a flexible, well-resourced environment for teaching, studying and assessment purposes.
Children who need additional support are identified through a variety of ways and provided with the appropriate support as early as possible. Specific support mechanisms and programmes are in place that address each individual’s changing needs throughout their time at Thornton College. Individual Education Plans (Pre-Prep and Prep) and Individual Pupil Profile Plans (Senior) are created for some students to create personalised targets which are reviewed termly with parents. The Head of the Department communicates regularly with teachers and welcomes parental contact as collaborative working ensure that students achieve to their best potential.
Thornton College uses a range of standardised tests including the Cognitive Abilities Tests to provide a learning profile. Specialist screening tests and testing for examination arrangements can also be carried out. Parents can also be supplied with details of how to engage Educational Psychologists who are able to undertake a full educational psychological assessment and report.
Teaching Assistants provide support both within the classroom and in specific learning support sessions taking note of individual needs in order to strengthen delivery of the main school curriculum. By working closely with class teachers and using a variety of resources, Teaching Assistants ensure that the appropriate support is given to help pupils optimise their learning and maximise their potential.
The benefits offered by the Learning Development Department are set out below:
- Tuition from Learning Development Co-ordinator and Teaching Assistants
- Support to develop organisation skills and study and examination techniques
- Teaching Assistant Support in a variety of lessons
- Supervision of homework tasks after school
- Regular support sessions to develop reading fluency and comprehension and mathematics
- Computer programmes to aid reading, grammar, spelling, and mathematics
- Regular communication with teachers and parents
- Annual standardised assessments to monitor progress
- Head of Learning Development determines if exam access arrangements are available for external examinations in accordance with JCQ regulations.
- Carry out assessments to determine if special access arrangements are available for external examinations
