SEND

The Refocus Room is an integral part of our school’s inclusive approach to education. It supports pupils who present with SEMH difficulties. Refocus is an intervention strategy designed to help students who are struggling to manage the expectations of their mainstream timetable.  It provides a structured, nurturing environment where pupils can develop the self-regulation and academic skills required to reintegrate successfully into mainstream education where possible.

Refocus is based in T2 and students in Refocus follow a different school timetable to the rest of school. The day is divided into 3 sessions:

Session 1: 9.20am - 11.20am

This provision is overseen by the Assistant Headteacher for Student Interventions, Kelly Davies, and is led by the Refocus Room Manager and supported by a team of Teaching Assistant’s. 

Referrals to the Refocus Room are based on criteria that includes concerns around behaviour, attendance, SEMH needs. Final decisions about students who access Refocus intervention are made by SLT. Refocus intervention lasts six weeks and, at the end of this time, progress is reviewed and a decision made as to the next steps. 

 "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." — Joseph Addison

At Ludlow C of E Secondary School, we are committed to developing confident, capable readers through a three-strand approach: Reading for Pleasure, Reading for Purpose, and Support for Struggling Readers. This holistic approach ensures that every student is equipped to succeed academically and to enjoy reading as a lifelong skill.

The importance of reading effectively is incredibly significant as not only is reading ability one of the best indicators of academic success, but by promoting and generating a love of books we believe that we will open doors to our students beyond academic achievement.

 "Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while." — Malorie Blackman

Reading for Pleasure – The Form Time Guided Reading Programme

We have carefully selected a range of books that not only will improve students understanding of language, but that also increases cultural capital and enriches their life experience.  The books that students will be reading introduce a range of challenging themes and contexts to be explored and discussed. Our investment in a form time reading programme means that for our new Year 7’s, over a four-year period, students will read upwards of 20 different titles across a range of different genres. 

In addition to the form time reading programme, books have also been gifted to our new Year 7 students for them to read over the summer. 

Support for Struggling Readers

We will regularly assess the progress students are making with their reading by implementing reading tests for students. This will indicate to us the students who are in need extra support and intervention. For students who need additional support, targeted interventions are in place to build fluency, comprehension, and confidence.

There are several ways that you as parents and carers can support reading and the development of skills that support effective comprehension and word knowledge at home:

• Encouraging students to read at a set time each day so that it becomes part of their daily routine.
• Ask questions about the books being read in form about the plot, themes, characters etc.
• Approach with sensitivity the delicate themes that are addressed in some books.
• Model reading for pleasure by reading books in front of your children.

Play family board games that support the development of vocabulary and word knowledge (such as charades, Pictionary, Scrabble, Articulate, Boggle amongst many others).

Reading for Purpose

To support learning and reading we focus on the development and understanding of vocabulary in all lessons.  We embed purposeful reading across the curriculum, helping students to access subject-specific vocabulary and develop the skills needed to interpret, analyse, and evaluate information effectively.  You will find that on a regular basis extended learning at home will involve students learning how to spell, the definitions and how to apply in context a wide range of new words.  It is useful if you support your child by asking them about the new words that they are learning.