2018/19

Staffing

Two HLTAs work with the year 7 Nurture and Fresh Start groups. Learners are identified for these groups using primary SATs scores, Star Reader results and CAT scores.  Those with scores below a level 4c/100, who are also vulnerable or not yet robust enough for a full mainstream environment, spend the majority of their week in the Nurture group, attending only their Maths, English and PE lessons on the mainstream timetable.  Learners who have slightly higher scores, but are still among the ‘red’ results from the Star Reader test are then placed on the Fresh Start programme, which is a part-time programme, focusing on phonics to improve reading and writing, as well as some numeracy which mirrors the maths mastery approaches.

Year 7 curriculum

A new Year 7 curriculum has been introduced this year grouping History, Geography, RE, PDE and IT into ‘my world’ and rotating Art, Design Technology and Drama on a carousel as ‘create’. Students study two projects a term that encompass both ‘my world’ and ‘create’. The principles of literacy and numeracy underpin the curriculum and it has been designed to support and accelerate the learning of students, particularly those that are part of the ‘catch up’ cohort. There are two Curriculum Leaders for this project.

Maths and English

All students eligible for catch up premium are targeted for intervention in Maths and English.

All catch up students receive a KS3 revision book in Maths, English or both.

As part of the year 7 curriculum evening, parents are informed of the techniques used to teach literacy and numeracy so that they can support their children at home. They are also made aware of teaching materials on the school VLE firefly which parents can use to identify what their child is learning throughout the year.

English

Bedrock Vocabulary

One lesson per week in years 7 and 8 is now devoted to the Bedrock vocabulary programme. This teaches students new vocabulary and root words that will build on their existing lexis and ensure that students have the Tier 2 and 3 vocabulary that allows them to develop their literacy skills for the future.

Bedrock is also used at Year 9, and beyond for intervention and to further support with literacy.

Reading intervention

Students identified as catch up from their KS2 Reading tests and further assessment with their class teacher, receive one to one and small group intervention both from learning support, Teachers and HLTAs within English. Students are assessed termly and intervention groups adapted accordingly.

Maths

Numeracy

Learners have 8 Maths lessons per fortnight all of which focus on the Maths Mastery programme, starting with basic underpinning concepts before moving learners on.  These lessons are co-taught by the Maths Department and Learning Support, to ensure that any work that continues within the Learning Support Department follows the Maths Mastery techniques.  This not only allows students the opportunity for repetition and reinforcement, but ensures a consistent approach in Maths.

Numeracy intervention

The progress of catch up students is consistently monitored following each assessment and data point. Students are then identified as requiring intervention and teachers able to adapt their lessons accordingly. Students are given access to the PiXl Maths and timetable apps which reinforce the basic numeracy elements.