ALN

Here in our ‘Additional Learning Needs’ (ALN) groups, we aim to provide those children who need it some extra literacy support in a small groups context.

Reading and writing skills underpin every other curriculum subject, so any progress made will help pupils considerably with every aspect of their mainstream class work on a day to day basis. Therefore we attach a great deal of importance to addressing any delay as early as possible. If it has been decided that your child requires additional literacy support, your child’s class teacher will let you know.

In the Foundation Phase, the ALN support teachers are Mrs Harris (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning) and Mrs Card (Wednesday afternoon,  and Friday). Mrs Burrows and Mrs Bousher teach groups in KS2.

During our group sessions, our primary aim is to ensure that our activities are as fun, varied and engaging as possible. The groups tend to vary in size between 2 and 5 children in the Foundation Phase and up to a maximum of 8 in Junior groups, so the attention given to each pupil is far greater than in a whole-class setting.

Pupils are grouped according to ability, therefore tasks are planned to meet each child’s specific needs. In KS2, the pupils are taught phonics during Read, Write, Inc activities  and by using the multi-sensory Toe By Toe reading tool. 

If your child belongs to one of these groups, we would like you to feel comfortable to come and discuss your child’s progress with Mrs Harris or Mrs Card (Foundation Phase children) or Mrs Burrows (KS2). 

Speech and Language

Wellcomm is a Speech and Language Toolkit for Screening and Intervention in the Nursery setting. It plays a crucial role in identifying children with potential language difficulties and offers a range of customised intervention activities to help support their language development.

Speech and Language Link is a package that delivers quality support for our pupils that have speech and language problems.

Our aim of using the Speech and Language Link is to extend the reach of speech and language therapists within Townhill Community School to support pupils with communication difficulties.

We currently screen all Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and ALN pupils. The assessments allow us to identify the speech and language needs of the pupils and the specific intervention that is required for their particular speech or language need.

Timetabled lessons/activities are provided for these targeted pupils to help them overcome their communication problems. The pupils progress will be monitored continually. 

Reading Eggs

Reading Eggs is a motivating, online program that builds reading skills, using a systematic and sequential approach. The program teaches pupils the key elements of phonemic awareness, phonic, sight vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.

All pupils from year 1 to year 6 (including STF pupils) are provided with log in details.  The online program is available as an App on the pupils’ class I-pads. The program can also be accessed online at home.

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