Cognition and Learning Team (CALT)
Last updated: 25/01/2023
The Cognition and Learning Team is an advisory service available to mainstream schools (Primary and Secondary) in West Berkshire. It is a traded service. The service provides advice, training, guidance and support for schools, working in partnership with staff. In particular the team work with SENCOs to support the development of SEN provision within the school with a focus on staff development and promoting positive outcomes for pupils.
The team members are all qualified teachers and have experience of working as a SENCO and hold additional postgraduate qualifications in SEN.
The work can include:
Regular visits to support the SENCO in identifying development in SEN provision and practice in their school
- Training – for SENCOs, teachers and teaching assistants
- Contribute to the CPD of staff with a focus on the development of skills knowledge and practice in relation to SEN
- Observation – of staff to support the monitoring of SEN provision within the school
- Observation – of pupils to identify strengths and difficulties
- Literacy and Numeracy Assessments where the development and acquisition of literacy and/or numeracy are concerns
- Observation of a pupil’s motor skills where motor difficulties are a concern
- Involvement in multi professional meetings
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Sue Whiting
- Contact Position
- CALT Co-ordinator
- Telephone
- 01635 503646
-
sue.whiting@westberks.gov.uk
Where to go
- Name
- West Berkshire Council
- Address
-
Market Street
Newbury
Berkshire - Postcode
- RG14 5LD
- Notes
The team work in West Berkshire’s maintained schools and also academies in the West Berkshire area.
The team deliver training in schools and also in training venues across West Berkshire.
Other settings and organisations can approach the team for advice or training, there is likely to be a charge for this work.
Time / Date Details
- When is it on
- Monday - Friday
- Time of day
-
Afternoon
Morning
Other Details
Availability
- Age Ranges
- Referral required
- Yes
- Referral Details
Referrals for assessment must be:
1. For pupils aged between 5 and 16 years.
2. Made following at least one cycle of identification and support as described in the SEN Code of Practice 2014 (Assess, Plan, Do, Review)
- Assess: referrals for assessment include evidence of pupil achieving significantly below age related expectations
- Plan: referrals for assessment must include evidence of the planning and provision of intervention identifying desired outcomes.
- Do: referrals for assessment include evidence of school implementing a period of intervention (of at least a term or 12 weeks) with a focus on identified desired outcomes
- Review: referrals for assessment must include evidence of school reviewing and evaluating intervention against identified outcomes
3. For pupils who have not made adequate progress following school planned intervention.
Inclusion Information
Dietary Needs
- Has Provision
- No
Local Offer
- Description
The Cognition and Learning Team is an advisory service available to mainstream schools and academies (Primary and Secondary) in West Berkshire. The service provides advice, training, guidance and support for schools, working in partnership with staff. In particular, the team work with SENCOs to support the development of SEN provision within the school with a focus on staff development and promoting positive outcomes for pupils. The team provides a free Core service to all schools, and a Core Service Plus. If schools choose the Free Core level of service, they can purchase additional support from the team on a ‘pay as you go’ basis. The Core Service Plus package provides additional support and services to these schools. The team may be able to offer training to schools in other areas, depending on capacity. There would be a charge for this service.
The team members are all qualified teachers, have experience of working as a SENCO and hold additional postgraduate qualifications in SEN.
Dependent on the level of service a school opts for, the services provided can include:
- Regular visits to support the SENCO in identifying development in SEN provision and practice in their school
- Training – for SENCOs, teachers and teaching assistants
- Contribute to the CPD of staff with a focus on the development of skills knowledge and practice in relation to SEN
- Observation and feedback – of staff to support the monitoring of SEN provision within the school
- Observation and feedback – of pupils to identify strengths and difficulties
- Literacy and Numeracy Assessments where the development and acquisition of literacy and/or numeracy are concerns
- Observation of a pupil’s motor skills where motor difficulties are a concern.
- Involvement in multi professional meetings
- Contact Name
- Karen Bartlett
- Contact Telephone
- 01635 503646
- Contact Email
- learningsupportteam@westberks.gov.uk
- SEN Provision Type
- Specific Literacy Difficulties, Moderate Learning Difficulties
- Local Offer Age Bands
-
5 to 7
7 to 11
12 to 14
15 to 16
General Provider
Referrals for an assessment must:
1. Be for pupils aged between 5 and 16 years
2. Made following at least one cycle of identification and support as described in the SEN Code of Practice 2014 (Assess, Plan, Do, Review)
- Assess: referrals for assessment include evidence of pupil achieving significantly below age related expectations
- Plan: referrals for assessment must include evidence of the planning and provision of intervention identifying desired outcomes.
- Do: referrals for assessment include evidence of school implementing a period of intervention (of at least a term or 12 weeks) with a focus on identified desired outcomes
- Review: referrals for assessment must include evidence of school reviewing and evaluating intervention against identified outcomes
3. For pupils who have not made adequate progress following school planned intervention.
School SENCOs make referrals for assessments following:
- Discussion with parent/carer and parental permission for assessment
- Discussion with Cognition and Learning Team Advisory Teacher
- Completion of appropriate referral form
If a request for a meeting, training or other support is made the service will agree a timescale for undertaking the work with the school and will strive to deliver this in a reasonable timescale. This is subject to the team's capacity and work load.
Local Authority Inspections.
Initial concerns should initially be discussed with the member of staff from the Cognition and Learning Team, or raised with the team’s coordinator or the Learning Support Services Manager.
All staff are DBS checked and attend regular training on safeguarding
Quality checks
- DBS check
West Berkshire Council do not promote or endorse any of the services listed in this Directory. For more information on this please read our disclaimer.