The government requires that 95% of 16-19 year-olds who do not have grade C in English and Maths continue to study these subjects. Effective teaching for these students, many of whom have special educational needs, has therefore become a matter of urgency. This course will provide practical guidance on enabling students to improve their performance in these key subjects. It will focus on the needs of students as individuals, as well as on the adjustments that need to be made to tackle learning difficulties, and will give colleagues practical ways of helping them. It is not intended for teachers of students whose special needs are categorised as severe or profound, but is particularly relevant to teachers of students assessed as dyslexic, or dyscalculic.

Topics will include:

• Evidence from brain research and its implications for teaching, including the work of Eric Kandel, Nobel Prize winner
• Special Educational Needs and their consequences - Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Sensitivity to Light, the Autistic Spectrum, problems with numeracy and calculation
• Assessing students’ work, getting to the thinking behind weaknesses, and positively adjusting it
• Effective teaching of Spelling, Grammar and Handwriting in the context of GCSE English
• Effective teaching of Numeracy, including Arithmetic and its application
• Assessment and feedback

Course members are invited to prepare by writing an informal assessment of the special needs of one of their students, and making an initial note of the teaching that the student most needs. Members are encouraged to raise points from these assessments during the course, and they will be considered in detail during the afternoon session. The course leader will provide follow-up to members on request, pro bono publico.

Who should attend?
The course will be of help to Heads of Sixth Form, SENCOs, Teachers and Lecturers in English, including Heads of Department, Mathematics Teachers who have particular interests in Special Educational Needs, as well as Teaching Assistants.

Programme