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Learning Support Unit

What is a Learning Support Unit?

Bishop Barrington's Learning Support Unit is an in-school department which exists to help and support any student who is struggling to cope in school. This could be for a number of reasons such as a lack of confidence, behaviour issues, attendance issues, medical reasons or difficult home circumstances.

The aim of the LSU is to identify any barriers to inclusion in school and by working closely with the student, family, school and other agencies to support and develop the student with a view to them returning independently to mainstream education.

Learning Support Unit Activities

Breakfast Club (every morning 8:15 - 8:45)
Lunch Club (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Anti-bullying Drop In Shop (Tuesdays 12:15 - 1:20)
School Nurse Drop In Shop (Tuesdays 12:15 - 1:20)

Learning Support Unit Programmes

Confidence Enhancing Programme
Attendance Raising Programme
Behaviour Improvement Programme
Anger Management Programme
Improving Communication Skills Programme

Connexions

Moira Wilson and Sarah Costigan

The role of the connexions officers is three-fold. Moira Wilson is a careers advisor and therefore Connexions can offer careers advice to our students. The advisors also offer personal support to all our Key Stage 4 students who need it. This can involve one to one support or group work. Sarah Costigan is a specific "You Can Reintegration Coach" which means that she works one to one with students to support them after they have returned from exclusion.

Behaviour Support Service

Linda Stephenson

The behaviour support service representative visits the school on a weekly basis and works with individuals or small groups on issues which affect behaviour in school. This could range from anger management to poor literacy skills. The Behaviour Support Service also works closely with school staff and parents to develop individual behaviour plans for students who experience difficulty in a classroom environment.

Anti-Bullying Worker

Gillian Coburn and Peer Mentors

The anti-bullying service is a very important feature of the LSU provision. Gillian comes in to school on a weekly basis and works with a number of students on bullying related issues. The anti-bullying worker has also helped to develop and manage a large group of "Peer Mentors" who are older students who have been specially trained to help support students affected by bullying.

Youth Inclusion Project

Ayse Tezcan

The Youth Inclusion Project is a community based project which is designed to help disaffected young people engage with society and education. The YIP and school work closely with one another to ensure that vulnerable students are given maximum support both in school and in the community.

Access Counseller

Sue Hutchinson

Sue visits Bishop Barrington twice a week on a Monday and a Thursday. She offers a confidential and personalised counselling service covering a wide range of issues. (Sue specialises in bereavement). Counselling is offered on a one to one or small group basis.

School Nurse

Dawn Hoggart

The School Nurse visits the LSU every Tuesday. The support she offers varies depending on the need of the student, however areas which she covers may include physical, mental and sexual health, appearance, health and hygiene, diet and exercise, puberty and growth and development. Students can access the School Nurse either by attending her lunch time drop in sessions or by being referred by a member of staff for appointments.

Learning Support Unit Manager

Vicky Wilkinson

The role of the LSU Manager is to oversee the day to day running of the LSU and ensure that every child who has been referred to the LSU is supported and moved forward. A large part of this role involves contact with and co-ordination of the agencies which exist to support all students. Another major part of the role is the delivery of a number of specific support programmes designed to help students engage in mainstream education. The LSU Manager also looks after the students who are on Fixed Term Inclusion within the LSU.

Senior Learning Mentor

Charlene Bainbridge

The role of the Senior Learning Mentor is to oversee and co-ordinate the activity of the Learning Mentors who support our students. The Senior Learning Mentor is responsible for designing and organising a number of pupil support programmes designed to help students achieve their potential. The Senior Learning Mentor is also responsible for the Line Management of a selection of Primary Learning Mentors which allows her to play a large role in the pupil transition from Year 6 to Year 7.

Learning Mentors

Alex Marley and Richard Crane

The role of the Learning Mentors is to work with individual students or groups of students to help them achieve their potential. They do this by firstly identifying a studentï¿½s specific barriers to achievement and then finding ways to overcome these barriers. The Learning Mentors will generally work with a student for between half a term and a full term. Richard Crane is from St Johns Comprehensive and is part of an exchange programme. We find his input particularly valuable where a male influence is desired or required.

Parenting Officer

Catherine Taylor

The role of the parenting officer is to work in the community with individual parents and families to support them in whichever way they need. This could involve liaising with other agencies on behalf of the family or signposting family members to courses or agencies which offer specialist help.

Education Welfare Officer

Karin Shipley

Bishop Barrington's EWO plays a huge part in the LSU's effort to raise attendance levels within the school. Karin is a crucial link between school and home and helps the LSU to identify students who are at the risk of attendance issues so that we can offer support at an early stage. Our EWO also helps to deliver some of our personal development programmes.

Student Teaching Assistant

Paula Marley

Paula comes into the LSU on a weekly basis as part of her Teaching Assistant Course at Bishop Auckland College. During her time here she helps with one to one student support and helps to deliver the personal development programmes. Paula will qualify as a Teaching Assistant in 2006.