Additional Leaning Needs

At Gladstone Primary School we care greatly about the welfare and education of EVERY child.

At Gladstone, we have a shared vision where staff, governors, parents and children work together in partnership to provide every child with the best education possible. We have a committed team of staff who work with our children in group settings and on an individual level. This is in order to ensure all children feel happy and secure, working within a safe environment in order to realise their full academic potential.

We have rigorous systems and processes in place at Gladstone Primary that ensures that ALL children’s attainment, progress and attendance is closely monitored, tracked and discussed at set times in the year. Appropriate provision is put in place in order to meet the needs of our children striving to break down any barrier to learning.

As a school we ensure the needs of all children through high quality teaching and learning provision. Our Universal Provision includes:

• whole class teaching

• effective differentiation

• collaborative group work

• individual and small group interventions

• appropriate and reasonable adjustments to enable access to the school environment, curriculum and facilities

During their time at Gladstone, most children will make expected progress in their learning from their starting points.  If a child is not progressing, we will gather observations, use assessment data and seek to work in collaboration with outside agencies / professionals to identify any additional learning needs. A wide range of evidence will be gathered over time, including:

• assessment tools, frameworks and questionnaires

• standardised assessments

• observational data

• formative assessments of day to day learning

• monitoring progress over time

• assessments from other agencies e.g., Paediatrician.

A child not moving forward in their learning is characterised by progress which:

• is significantly slower than that of their peers starting from the same baseline,

• does not match or better previous rate of progress,

• does not close, or widens, the attainment gap between the child and their peers, despite the provision of support aimed at closing that gap.

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Identification of Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

When pupils do not make the expected progress with Universal Provision and following thorough investigation and evidence gathering, a child may be identified as having ALN.

Additional Learning Needs (ALN) is the term now used to describe pupils who were previously known as having Special Educational Needs (SEN).