At the Waingels College we welcome students with special educational needs as part of our community and we aim to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity and access to engage in a broad and balanced curriculum. We celebrate the success of all our students and aim for all students to expect progress, achieve and overcome barriers in learning.
Some of our students will need additional support to ensure access to the whole curriculum. To achieve this, we work in partnership with parents and carers, valuing their views and contributions and keeping them fully involved in their child’s education. The child is also involved, where possible, in decision making about their support. We believe that the effective education of students with SEN can only be achieved through a whole College approach endorsed enthusiastically by all staff.
At Waingels College around 17% of the College is identified as having a particular need, that requires support or intervention. These needs range from specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia, to social and communication difficulties such as Asperger’s Syndrome. We also work with students who have moderate learning difficulties, physical difficulties and hearing and visual difficulties. We also support students with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
There is also a team of Intervention and Inclusion Para-educators (IIPs), to support students in the classroom. IIPs are not allocated to single students. A student with a statement will experience several IIPs in a College week. All IIPs undergo extensive training and meet to discuss students on a regular basis.
The team consists of a SENCO, IIP Administrator and Assistant IIP Administrator.
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Mrs Jane Jennings
IIP Administrator |
Mrs Sonia Hall
Assistant IIP Administrator |
Identification/Support
Early identification of students with needs ensures that appropriate support can be put in place on transition to and through secondary school. This is achieved through visits to primary schools to determine the needs and support that have been provided and needs to be continued into secondary school. This process begins in Year 5; we offer visits to the College and are happy to attend annual review meetings or other meetings in the primary school.
Please email Learning Support at support@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk if you would like to arrange a visit to Waingels College for you and your child to discuss what we can offer and how we can provide for your child.
On arrival, all Year 7 students are tested to ascertain their literacy levels and determine whether there needs to be any additional literacy support. Literacy support is offered to all students throughout the College, One to One sessions can be organised; dyslexia support sessions, spelling support, reading support, comprehension support and hand writing support. All these sessions are run by our Literacy Specialists, Anne Palmer and Nikki Girdler.
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ANNE PALMER |
NIKKI GIRDLER |
All sessions are run in a distinct classroom (come back to see comments from our own students). Sixth Form students also run a Reading Buddy scheme at break times.
We also provide support on an individual and group basis for students who have difficulties with Maths. These sessions are run by an experienced intervention IIP.
Students with Asperger’s and other students can attend Chill Club, a break time and lunchtime club, as well as receive early morning support.
We also run social and emotional skills development programmes.
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Anger management
Friendship skills and social skills
Social skills for students with Asperger’s
Self-esteem and confidence building sessions
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The Learning Support Department works closely with all teachers and pastoral staff to provide support and training.
The College follows a waved approach to support.
The Learning Support Department also undertakes assessment for specific learning difficulties and arranges exam concessions for all students at Waingels who require them. |
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All staff can raise concerns through an internal system – SAM; each zone has a meeting every half term, with staff making referrals to this meeting, raising their concerns. These are then discussed and a plan of action organised for that child.
We work extensively with outside agencies – Educational Psychologists / Occupational Therapists / CAMHS, for example.
We also offer support for parents in the local area.
A Homework Club is run by IIPs from 8.10 - 8.35am Monday to Friday and from 3 - 4pm Monday to Thursday
Access Issues
Waingels College is one of the preferred secondary schools in WBC for students with a physical disability. The creation of a new College has enabled the school to be built with access in mind.
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There is an automatic door opening system to all of these main areas for students with mobility problems.
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Benches have been put around the site to provide resting points for these and other students.
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There is a new medical room, where physiotherapy sessions can take place.
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Each zone has a disabled toilet.
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Each zone has a lift
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Each zone‘s access has been designed for wheel chair access
Dyslexia
Waingels College aims to be Dyslexia Friendly. We aim to boost self-esteem and concentrate on the strengths of our students. We do this in various ways:
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Encouraging the use of the computer for classwork and homework
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Allowing extra time for tasks, tests and homework where appropriate
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Small sets in core subjects English, Maths, Science & Languages
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Being flexible about the way tasks are presented – eg using mind maps, concept maps or diagrams
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By offering differentiated tasks and materials
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Dyslexia trained specialist teacher
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Reading buddies
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Small booster class with Learning Support Manager
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Homework Club for students
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IIPs in some classes
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Appropriate concessions for exams
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College links for vocational courses
A selection of these will be used as appropriate.
(We do not have a separate resourced unit for withdrawing students as we aim for inclusion within mainstream classes wherever possible).
Golf Extreme Activity Equipment
Sand Martins Golf Club has kindly donated £400 of Golf Extreme activity equipment to the Waingels College. The funding has come from the charity 'The Children With Special Needs Foundation' which Sand Martins support.
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The charity aim to raise funds to support individuals, groups and colleges, in their request for equipment, holidays and tuition, as well as providing essential care for children with special needs in the local area.
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This equipment gives many students the opportunity as both an individual and team player to gain confidence and co-ordination, which they may lack and is a valuable resource to the College. This equipment will provide many students with a more varied and interactive approach to learning in Physical Education.
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The Golf club has also given 4 of our students, scholarships to the Golf Course.
