Literacy Support Service

The Literacy Support Service provides specialist support for pupils in primary schools with literacy difficulties. The Service works closely with teachers from the Dyslexia Day Centre and is based at Le Rondin School & Centre.

What the Literacy Support Service offers

• Advice to headteachers, staff and parents on strategies and resources for mainstream primary school pupils with literacy difficulties
• School-based training on strategies and interventions to improve the acquisition of literacy skills (reading and spelling) and on recognising and responding to dyslexia
• The assessment of literacy skills for mainstream primary school pupils (Years 1 to 6) identified as having difficulties acquiring literacy skills
• Small group targeted teaching programmes for pupils at School Action Plus
• Support for pupils working within a structured phonics programme in school
• Ongoing monitoring and reviewing of pupil's progress in acquiring literacy skills
• Specialist staff to work with primary school pupils recognized as having a Specific Literacy Difficulty

Who is referred to the Service?

• Pupils within the primary sector who are considered by the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to have a literacy difficulty
• Pupils identified as having a special educational need in literacy as a result of screening or assessment

The Role of the Literacy Support Service

Your child may be referred to the Literacy Support Service following a graduated response by the class teacher when various strategies have been employed and when the SENCO feels that an additional view would be useful in planning for the needs of a pupil with literacy difficulties.

When concerns are expressed by a school or parent about a pupil regarding unexpectedly poor performance in Reading and Spelling, evidence to support these concerns needs to be gathered. This may include results of any assessments over a period of time, exemplar material and information from parents about development and family history of literacy difficulties.

Advice from the Literacy Support Service (LSS) Teachers or from the member of staff from the Dyslexia Day Centre may be of help.

If intervention by the school at School Action of the Code of Practice does not produce any noticeable improvement then a referral to the Literacy Support Service should be made giving as much detail as possible. Referrals should always be made through the SENCO.

At School Action Plus, pupils whose learning is limited by literacy difficulties may be offered support by staff from the Literacy Support Service or may be given the opportunity to access the programme taught in schools by the Dyslexia Day Centre teachers during normal school hours.

How Can We Help?

If you think your child has a difficulty acquiring literacy skills:

• Talk to the class teacher

They may with your consent

• Ask the School Nurse to conduct a hearing and vision test
• Discuss with the school SENCO
• Contact the Literacy Support Service

The Literacy Support Service Team

The team consists of:

• Head of Service
• 7 support teachers
• 1 teaching assistant

The team works together with

• Dyslexia Day Centre
• Educational Psychology Service

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