Teaching and Learning Skills Support
The Teaching and Learning Skills Support (TLS) was established at Christs Hospital School in September 2009.
The service is currently managed and delivered by Mr Jonathan Lewis (Teaching and Learning Coach).
The service is designed to meet the unique learning styles and specific needs of all students at CH. TLS provides support for study skills and techniques, provides information and procedures to develop effective and positive approaches to learning.
Academic coaching support is provided according to the needs and wishes of each student. There are individual tutorials, paired sessions, small group and large group sessions. The setting is dependent on pupil preference and availability.
There are several pathways to TLS support: Students can make self referrals to TLC for assistance with a specific learning skill or task. Students also identify areas of specific concern with an area in their learning process. There are also students who attend TLS support because they have a specific assessment of need identified by Specialist teachers or outside professionals. The length of intervention depends on the severity of need and the application and determination of the individual. Academic staff may identify students who they feel would benefit from TLS support.
The TLC (Teaching and Learning Coach) Records are available to all Teaching staff and updated every half term. Teachers are made aware of which students are receiving TLS support and at what level. They are also made aware of the student’s personalised targets/areas of priority. “Top tips” are also shared with staff about the learning preferences and needs of each student. Teachers are supported in the identification of possible need through consultation of the “CH Assessment Profile” and reference to “SUBTLE@CH” (Supporting and Understanding the Behaviours in Teaching and Learning Education) a comprehensive guide to specific learning difficulties and interventions.
TLS support provides students with the opportunity to join TLS groups in their year group: a programme aimed at developing positive approaches to learning with students who find difficulties in their academic and social life at School. Students are supported twice a week and encouraged to plan, achieve and review their own learning targets. Progress is monitored every three weeks.
The TLS approach aims to support the needs of the individual in the pursuit of personalised learning goals. The support is designed to identify any need swiftly and to create with the student a plan in which to manage/overcome the area of need.
Jonathan Lewis BSc Econ, PGCE.
(Jonathan has been a Head of History in Secondary Mainstream Schools and also a Deputy Head teacher in a Special Needs School )