In close partnership with the rest of the teaching staff, the Learning Support department at Sevenoaks offers support and expertise to any student who may need help with their learning. We are committed to helping all students fulfil their academic potential.

At Sevenoaks we support students with a range of mild learning difficulties and EAL (English as an additional language) through a variety of approaches:

In-class help

We help to inform staff about learning difficulties and advise them about the best strategies to employ in supporting the students in the classroom through differentiation.

Individual support

Members of our team give one-to-one support lessons, weekly or fortnightly as necessary. Usually these are timetabled during a non-examined subject or a study period.

Peer support

We have an established peer academic mentoring system, pairing up strong Sixth Formers with Middle School students who may be struggling in a particular subject area.

Study skills help and independent learning

We provide a calm working area for students to work individually with the support team on hand to help when necessary. We offer study skills help to a wide range of students as and when they need it.

Monitoring

We monitor students closely for progress and vary the support they receive accordingly. We liaise closely with teaching and pastoral staff to identify difficulties so that we can act quickly to provide appropriate support.

Communication

We work closely with parents, tutors and boarding house staff to give all-round support to students.

“My son just received his IB grade, of 45. It was a triumph for him and the school, and also a triumph for the Learning Support department, who have been by his side the whole way. A massive thanks for giving him confidence and skills to unlock that dyslexic brain of his.”

Parent of Upper Sixth leaver
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Learning Support FAQ

What is the Learning Support department?

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What can the Learning Support department provide?

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What makes help from Learning Support most effective?

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Is learning support common at Sevenoaks School?

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How is receiving Learning Support viewed by the school?

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How do I know if my child needs help from the Learning Support department?

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How can I help my child access help from the Learning Support department?

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I think my child is neurodiverse. Who can I contact to discuss this in school?

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Does my child need a diagnosis to access learning support?

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Can the Learning Support department diagnose special educational needs?

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What other support or help can my child access in school?

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My child needs access arrangements for examinations. What is the process for ensuring these are in place for GCSE and IB?

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Will my child be disadvantaged by receiving access arrangements?

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My child will be leaving school for university soon. How can I ensure that they will still have access arrangements and support at university?

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Where Next?