- Quality First Teaching includes planned adjustments and differentiated work to reduce barriers to learning.
- Class/subject teacher plans and oversees small group work or targeted and time limited intervention work.
- Use checklists to identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Monitor and review progress over specified period of time.
Cognition and learning
Range 1: Cognition and learning
- May be below age related and national expectations.
- Progress is slower than young people of the same age.
- Some difficulty with the acquisition and use of language, literacy, numeracy skills and/or motor coordination skills.
- Find it difficult to keep up with usual pace of lesson delivery.
- There may be evidence of a mismatch between attainment in different subject areas.
Assessment and Planning
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Refer to Newcastle Mainstream Guidance.
- Mainstream class with flexible approaches to support.
- Simplify level and pace of teacher talk.
Curriculum/Intervention
- Small group work or one to one for time limited period.
- Emphasis on identifying and addressing gaps in learning.
- May involve tracking back through earlier learning objectives.
Resources and Staffing
- Class/subject teacher makes main provision.
- Young person is in mainstream classroom for most, if not all, of the time.
- Young person should not routinely be withdrawn and taught by a TA.
- TA may support independent learning in class.
- Some additional resources and equipment to support independent learning.
- CPD opportunities to support staff’s understanding of common SENs/ Graduated Response.
- EPS/specialist teacher teams may be consulted at a general level.
Range 2: Cognition and learning
- Attainment at least 2 years below age related and national expectations.
- Well recognised and reliable tests may provide standardised scores below 85 (16th percentile).
- Progress in language/literacy and numeracy continues to be slow despite QFT and a targeted period of support.
- Some evidence of difficulties with aspects of cognition such as memory, concept development, information processing, sequencing and reasoning that impact on learning.
- Some signs of SpLD (Dyslexia) may be evident
- Processing difficulties limit independence and may require adult support in the classroom.
- May appear more disorganised compared to peers.
- Motor coordination needs/handwriting difficulties are beginning to affect progress
- Self-esteem and motivation may be affected.
Assessment and Planning
As Range 1 plus:
- SENCo/SEN team in Post 16 provision will use Post 16 assessment tools to establish a profile of strengths and weaknesses.
- SENCo assessments inform areas for support, intervention and any adjustments required to access curriculum and/or exams.
- Teaching plans reflect recommended adjustments and support strategies including deployment of additional adults.
- SENCo/SEN team in Post 16 provision works with class/subject teachers to oversee planning, review and assessment of any intervention work.
- Interventions are monitored, reviewed and adjusted on at a least termly basis.
- Use of Post 16 assessment tools
- SEN Support Plan is completed with input from parent/carers and CYP.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Refer to Newcastle Mainstream Guidance.
- Mainstream class with enhanced differentiation.
- Flexible groupings reflective of young person’s cognitive ability.
- One to one support focusses on specific targets relating to identified weaknesses.
Curriculum/Intervention
- QFT with enhanced differentiation.
- In class tasks are modified to remove barriers to learning.
- May include alternate methods to record and access text including use of ICT as appropriate.
- Will involve tracking back through earlier learning objectives.
- Small group support in class for some of the time.
- Regular, targeted small group or one to one evidence-based intervention.
Resources and Staffing
- Use of Newcastle Mainstream Guidance
- Class/subject teacher makes main provision with support from SENCo/SEN team in Post 16 provision.
- Additional advice from EPS and/or specialist teachers may be provided as part of a ‘drop in’ session or telephone consultation.
- Post 16 provisions may access SEND Outreach Service traded Service Level Agreement for motor coordination group intervention
- Young person is in mainstream classroom for most, if not all, of the time.
- Additional trained adult, under direction of teacher, provides sustained and targeted support on an individual or small group basis.
- Short term and targeted intervention programme delivered several times a week directed by teacher with additional monitoring and evaluation by SENCo and adapted as necessary.
- Additional resources and equipment to support independent learning.
Range 3: Cognition and learning
- Persistent difficulties in the acquisition and use of language, literacy/numeracy skills and appear to be resistant to previous interventions; this may include ongoing difficulties with motor coordination/Handwriting skills
- Attainment is at more than 2 years below age related and national expectations.
- Well recognised and reliable tests may provide standardised scores below 75 (5th percentile).
- Significant and enduring difficulties with several aspects of cognition such as memory, concept development, information processing, sequencing and reasoning that impact on learning.
- Signs of SpLD (Dyslexia) are evident over time and progress is slow despite well evidence interventions.
- Some adult support is required to ensure access to mainstream lessons and learning.
- Unusual profile of strengths and weaknesses requiring a personalised support plan.
- Self-esteem and motivation is affected, and young person is at risk of developing SEMH needs.
Assessment and Planning
- Following specialist advice, interventions and support are planned and reviewed by teachers, SENCo/SEN team and possibly LA specialist staff.
- Targets are individualised, short term and specific
- Use of Post 16 assessments
- Use of SpLD (dyslexia) checklists
- SEN Support Plan is completed with input from parent/carers add CYP.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Curriculum tasks are modified and adapted to address learning needs.
- Daily opportunities for some individualised support focussed on targets within SEN Support Plan.
- Flexible groupings with opportunities to work with positive peer models.
- Teaching and support staff use the developmental level of language appropriate to the child in questioning and explanation.
- Provide additional time for processing language.
Curriculum/Intervention
- QFT with enhanced differentiation.
- Tasks and presentation are increasingly individualised and modified within an inclusive curriculum.
- Alternate methods to record and access text including use of ICT as appropriate.
- Individualised programmes of intervention.
Resources and Staffing
- Main provision by class/subject teacher with support from SENCo/ SEN team in Post 16 provision.
- Involvement of education and non-education professionals as appropriate through a request to the SEN Advice and Support Allocation Panel.
- Consistent and structured environment carefully planned and monitored by class/subject teacher.
- Trained adult provides a longer-term intervention programme (during the review process) under the direction of the SENCo/SEN team in Post 16 provision and/or LA specialist staff.
- In class adult support as and when appropriate to support independent learning.
Range 4: Cognition and learning
- Significant and persistent difficulties in the acquisition and use of language, literacy/numeracy skills and/or motor coordination skills.
- Attainment is at least 3 years below age related and national expectations.
- Well recognised and reliable tests may provide standardised scores below 69 (2nd percentile).
- Significant levels of difficulty in cognitive processing requiring a high level of alteration to pace and delivery of curriculum.
- Difficulties are likely to be long term/lifelong
- High levels of support including assistive technology.
- May appear increasingly socially immature and vulnerable due to limited social awareness, difficulties with reasoning, understanding and expressing thoughts.
Assessment and Planning
- SENCo/SEN Teams take ongoing advice from LA SEN and Health specialists.
- Targets are highly individualised.
- Use of Post 16 assessments.
- SEN Support Plan is reviewed and adjusted with input from parent/carers and CYP.
- Termly reviews with parent/carer and CYP involvement.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Mainstream class predominately working on modified curriculum tasks.
- Daily opportunities for individualised support focussed on targets within SEN Support Plan.
- Any intervention work is delivered by skilled practitioner best placed to deliver positive outcomes.
- Opportunities for multi- sensory teaching and learning will be in place.
Curriculum/Intervention
- QFT
- Tasks and presentation are increasingly individualised and modified to reduce impact of processing difficulties.
- Alternate methods to record and access text including use of ICT as appropriate.
- Tasks and presentation are personalised to young person’s needs and monitored regularly i.e., weekly.
- Access arrangements and adjustments are part of everyday learning and practice (normal way of working).
Resources and Staffing
- Main provision by class/subject teacher with support from SENCo/ SEN team in Post 16 provision and ongoing advice and support from education and non-education professionals.
- Consistent and structured environment carefully planned and monitored by class/subject teacher.
- Clear monitoring of effectiveness of interventions by SENCo and LA SEN specialists.
- In class adult support as and when appropriate to support independent learning.
- Smaller groupings or higher young person/staff ratio.
- Additional SEN training relating to general and specific learning needs is accessed from specialist teams.
- Access to assistive technology must be made.
- Concrete objects and visual resources to support learning.
- Post 16 provision may require some additional resource to implement package of support.
Range 5: Cognition and learning
- Cognitive impairment that is a lifelong disability and significantly impacts on social development and independence and requires specialist teaching.
- Moderate or Severe Learning Difficulties
- Complex needs identified
- Very small steps of progress are made.
- Significant and persistent difficulties in the acquisition/use of language/literacy/numeracy skills, with the curriculum and community activities.
Assessment and Planning
- Targets are individualised, short term and specific e.g., using the Engagement Model
- Progress is closely monitored and tracked
- Utilise special education and outside professionals for assessment and advice
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Modified curriculum tasks
- Frequent small group work with specialist teacher and specialist support staff
- Teaching focus on specific provision targets
- Carefully planned curriculum and targets ensures young person experiences success
- Simple language level with instructions chunked
Curriculum/Intervention
- Modified curriculum
- Tasks and presentation increasingly individualised and personalised to the young person’s needs
- Highly adapted teaching methods incorporating the use of learning aids and multi-sensory teaching as standard.
Resources and Staffing
- Level of adjustment and specialist teaching across the curriculum is significantly greater than is normally provided in mainstream settings
- Consistent structured environment
- Smaller groupings/higher staff to young person ratio
- Sometimes young person is withdrawn from class to access activities; these are carefully monitored and planned by class/subject teacher to meet a specific target
- Additional adult trained to deliver interventions and support
- EPS and/or specialist teachers (in Post 16 provision or from LA) are consulted on a regular basis and may monitor and review progress and set medium- or long-term targets.
- Concrete objects and visuals aid teaching and learning
- Use of assistive technology
- Apply for High Needs funding if required.
Range 6: Cognition and learning
- Severe and persistent difficulties in acquisition and use of language/literacy and numeracy skills within the curriculum and out of community activities
- Severe or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties have been identified which are lifelong
- Complex needs are identified.
Assessment and Planning
As Range 5 plus:
- Long term involvement of specialist provision and appropriate non- education professionals
- Targets and outcomes identified through an Education Health and Care Plan
Teaching and Learning Strategies
- Extremely modified and individualised work
- Small group and daily one to one work developing basic skills
Curriculum/Intervention
As Range 5 plus:
- Access to aids personalised to young person’s needs
- Extreme modification of curriculum
Resources and Staffing
- Staff need to be trained and have experience working with young persons with high level of cognition and learning needs
- Access to extra staffing to support young persons in times of crisis and accompany young person on outings and trips
- Appropriately trained staff to deal with medical and physical issues
- Group activities carefully monitored to ensure young person is not isolated or excluded
- Emphasis on using real objects and experiences for all activities
- Specialist ICT resources
- AAC systems to support communication environment
- Specialist equipment to promote self-help, physical access and mobility
- Appropriate indoor and outdoor provision in a safe and secure setting
- Specialist hygiene facilities if required
- Access to specialist educational and non-educational services in accordance with EHC plan if appropriate