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The Department
We have two dedicated resource/teaching room at present. Resources consist of a very wide range of phonic resource materials as well as spelling, vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension materials. An up to date bank of testing materials is available. We use the latest IEP software and attend the British Schools of the Middle East meetings for exchange of relevant information and sharing of visiting specialists.
Staffing
Our present small, closely knit team consists of the Head of Learning Support, who assists through intervention in the medium of English three teachers and an Arabic support teacher (who is also qualified in English), associated with the Arabic and Islamic subjects. The majority of in-class support is for the core curriculum in key stage 3, but other key stages are supported as the need arises. Learning Support staff also teach basic literacy skills to small groups of students in years 7 - 9 and teach a spelling programme to all key stage 3 students. Weekly departmental meetings ensure that future planning is discussed, as are whole school and departmental issues and also our links with subject departments. It is important that applicants are sufficiently confident and experienced in being able to suggest effective methods of delivering the curriculum to the full spectrum of ability and to sensitively assist both teachers and students.
Years 7 - 9
In consultation with English, Mathematics and Arabic Heads of Departments, we scrutinize entrance tests, Midyis and standardized tests for indicators to any further necessary testing, support or intervention. Findings are submitted to the Headmistress and teachers who are delivering the curriculum to these students. If necessary students then have ‘Extra English’ classes rather than French in which programmes of study are devised to develop their basic skills and confidence.
Years 10 and 11
Support is provided in these years when necessary and within staffing constraints, to enable the students to perform to the best of their abilities in their chosen subjects and to express themselves adequately in both spoken and written Arabic and English. We are pleased that specific times for ESL have been set aside within the English Department with a recent additional member of their department addressing this separate need.
ICT
Sites for grammar, spelling and phonic work have been useful. The use of computers in spell-checking work provides confidence in composition and gives further reinforcement of the skills the students acquire in ICT lessons.
Teacher familiarity with IEP software (IEPWriter 2) makes for ease of IEP production and all staff use and develop resources for the interactive whiteboard.
To view the job description for the Head of Department please click here.
To view the details for the support for the Head of Learning Support please click here.
To view additional information on the Learning Support department please click here.
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