Inspectors have recognised a Shropshire college for the support it provides to students with dyslexia highlighting how it helps them to “discover strengths they didn’t know they had”.
The Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils (CReSTeD) has re-registered Ellesmere College as a Category DU (Dyslexia Unit), applauding the way the school is “very dedicated to getting the best out of individuals” and remarking how “parents all commented about the improvements in their children’s confidence and happiness”.
The college welcomed CReSTeD inspectors in early May who spent time in specialist support lessons and interviewed pupils, staff and parents. A Category DU identifies the school as having a designated Learning Support Unit or Centre providing specialist tuition on a small group or individual basis, according to need.
Inspectors said: “Ellesmere College has created a caring, supportive environment in which students can develop academically and personally. It has a strong ethos of enabling the individual to reach their full potential in all areas.”
The inspectors’ report praises how the work of the Support for Learning department ensures teachers are well-informed about individuals with learning needs and that this information is used effectively to create a network of support, including individually-tailored teaching and a wide variety of academic support available outside of lesson time.
The report adds: “The college provides students with a wide variety of opportunities to try new things and perhaps discover strengths they didn’t know they had – something which the parents and students appreciate…Progress is good and pupils achieve well. Students and parents like the school, students are happy here.”
Jo Manion, Head of Support for Learning said: “We are delighted to be re-registered as a Category Dyslexia Unit.
“Being able to offer specialised support to ensure our students can excel whatever their needs is extremely important to us – and it’s wonderful to hear such great comments from inspectors, students and parents.”
The CReSTeD report also referred to the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) Educational Quality Inspection Report of September 2018 which said:
“Whether as individuals or as part of a team, most (pupils) want to give their best and not let others down. This is due to the ongoing support pupils receive from individual boarding and teaching staff to help them achieve their goals. It is also because governors and senior leaders have successfully embedded the school’s ethos and supported staff to be able to provide a nurturing environment.”
Ellesmere College was also recognised at the recent Shropshire Dyslexia Awards for the Support for Learning team’s ongoing high levels of support and care for students with dyslexia and other learning needs.
For more information on the specialised support offered to students at Ellesmere College please visit www.ellesmere.com and search for ‘Support for Learning’.
Further details about CReSTeD are available at: https://crested.org.uk/index.html.
A copy of the report is available by emailing: reception@ellesmere.com