Achievement Support
The Achievement Support team has a cross academy role which focuses on ensuring that all learners feel comfortable in and around the school. Our primary goal is to support the work of Sport and the six colleges by assisting students and their families in the pursuit of learning and social development. Aspects which we lead on are:
- Ensuring the welfare and progress of students who have Additional Educational Needs [AEN], such as learning needs or a disability.
- Promoting the progress and wellbeing of students identified as Able, Gifted or Talented.
- Fostering links with external partners and specialists in order to harness additional expertise for our student body.
- Monitoring and promoting the progress and welfare of children and young people who have a care placement.
- Ensuring the safeguarding of all young people through the co-ordination of our Child Protection Service.
- Delivering a bespoke curriculum for students with learning difficulties in Years 7 and 8 and co-ordinating
support for other identified students in their core classes.
- Procuring personalised programmes and courses of study in addition to that provided by the academy itself.
Further information is available from Veronica Giaquinto, Achievement Support Manager and Margaret McKeown, AEN .
Achievement Support Programmes
Key Stage 3 [Years 7 and 8]
Some pupils, for a variety of reasons, take a little longer to learn skills or even get stuck with one particular area of learning. In Year 7 we aim to deliver a programme which places specific emphasis on key skills.
What are key skills?
Key skills are considered to be the necessary skills which are essential for for learning to take place. These skills include Communication, Numeracy, Information Technology, Working with Others, Problem Solving/Questioning and Improving Learning and Performance.
In Years 7 and 8 it is our aim to focus on literacy skills. In particular, we will be working on:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
We emphasise each of these skills when teaching a range of subjects; including History, Geography, RE and Personal and Social Health Education [PSHEE].
Why are Key Skills so important?
These skills form the basis for our pupils’ future. It is vital that they acquire these skills so that they can:
- Succeed in education and work
- Function successfully in society
How will you know if your child has improved?
At the start of the year we will measure their attainment in reading and spelling. We will then be re-testing to check exactly how much progress has been made.
Key Stage 4 Programmes [Years 9-11]
Achievement Support continues the emphasis on the development of essential key skills and students may choose from two courses:
- Certificate of Personal Effectiveness [COPE]
- Functional Skills
Both courses run over three years and students build up modules of work and, in the case of Functional Skills, take annual assessments in ICT, English and Maths.
For more details please see the Key Stage 4 Handbook.
The Learning Centre
Some students may require additional support at Key Stage 4 and an individualised programme of learning. The Learning Centre, which opened in July 2011, is managed by Miss Giaquinto and her team and is designed for this purpose.
For more details please contact her on 01733 426060 Extention6195 or by email at veronica.giaquinto@thomasdeaconacademy.com
Who is involved in the delivery of these programmes?
This year the Achievement Support team comprises of:
Veronica Giaquinto – Achievement Support Manager [veronica.giaquinto@thomasdeaconacademy.com]
Margaret McKeown - AEN Co-ordinator [ margaret.McKeown@thomasdeaconacademy.com]
Chris Martin – Year 7 Course Tutor [christine.martin@thomasdeaconacademy.com]
Claire Scane – Year 7 Course Tutor [claire.scane@thomasdeaconacademy.com]
Bernie Walding – Year 8 Course Tutor [bernie.walding@thomasdeaconacademy.com]
Melvyn Slote – Course Tutor COPE Years 9, 10, 11 [melvyn.slote@thomasdeaconacademy.com]
In addition to this highly experienced team we have a strong team of Teaching Assistants, working in tandem to support your child.
Each teaching group is no bigger than 15 pupils and managed by the class teacher and up to 2 teaching assistants.
What can you do to help
There are a number of ways you can help your child:
- Attend Achievement Support meetings and celebrations.
- Attend Parent/Carer review meetings with your child and form tutor and feel free to comment on how you think things are going.
- Ask them about the work that they are doing, get them to talk about it and explain things to you.
- Encourage your child to attend the Homework Club held every Tuesday and Thursday after school in Achievement Support.
Contact Miss Giaquinto or Mrs McKeown should you need any further information or explanation.