'Support for learning difficulties may be required when children and young people learn at a  slower pace  than their peers, even with appropriate scaffolding . Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including  moderate learning difficulties (MLD),  severe learning difficulties (SLD),  where children are likely to need support in  all areas of the curriculum  and associated  difficulties with mobility and communication, through to  profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD),  where children are likely to have severe  and  complex  learning difficulties  as well as a physical disability or sensory impairment. 

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD),  affect one or more specific aspects of learning. This encompasses a range of conditions such as  dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.' 

Code of Practice 2015

At Reading Girls' School, most students with Cognition and Learning needs are supported through in-class strategies, including differentiated teaching and resources provided by the classroom teacher. For those with more significant needs, additional support is offered through a range of interventions tailored to individual abilities. 

• Reading skills development
• Literacy sessions
• Numeracy sessions
• Executive functioning skills

The SEND Department also collaborates with external agencies, such as Educational Psychologists and Speech and Language Therapy, to ensure students receive the targeted interventions they need to reach their full potential.

Learning difficulties can be mild, profound and / or specific. This means it will take students longer to learn new skills than their peers and may need information scaffolded and chucked more than others, for example, breaking instructions down into 2-step instructions. 

Mild Learning difficulties (MLD)

Profound Learning difficulties (PMLD)

Specific learning difficulties (SpLD), these can include:

Irlen Syndrome is a type of visual or perceptual processing disorder. Someone with a visual or perceptual processing disorder has difficulty making sense of visual information.

Dyslexia - This can affect a student's ability to read, write, spell and recall information. It is thought about 10% of people have dyslexia.

Dyscalculia - This is a persistent difficulty in understanding and recognising numbers. 

Dysgraphia - This is an impairment of writing and forming letters 

Dyspraxia - This is a condition that affects a student's fine & motor skills, they cannot co-ordinate their movements in line with their peers. This affects all aspects of their lives such as sport and writing,

Visual Perception difficulties - This is difficulty processing visual information such as pictures. Students may find it difficult to copy information, infer from pictures, complete puzzles. 

Auditory Processing disorder - This is difficulty understanding sound and spoken words

Language processing disorder - Often students will find it hard to speak fluently answering questions and find it hard to organise their thoughts in writing and when speaking. Students may also struggle to understand spoken language and follow instructions. 

Useful website links:

Below are links to website parents / carers may find useful to support their child:

British Dyslexia association - https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/how-can-i-support-my-child

Yale Centre for Dyslexia - https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/how-can-i-support-my-child

Action4youth - https://www.action4youth.org/

Brain Balance (dyscalculia) -  https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/practical-ways-parents-can-help-child-dyscalculia

 Dysgraphia support - https://www.additudemag.com/how-to-improve-handwriting-dysgraphia-treatment/

Visual Perception - https://www.spd.org.sg/improving-your-childs-visual-perception-skills/

Auditory processing  disorder - https://www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support

Language processing disorder - https://action.org.uk/research/developmental-language-disorder