Language and Literacy Services (LAL)
Last updated: 02/12/2021
Specific Learning Difficulties – Literacy difficulties (Reading and Spelling)
Theale LAL
Theale CE Primary School
Englefield Road
Theale
Reading
RG7 5AS
Winchcombe LAL
The Winchcombe School
Maple Crescent
Shaw
Newbury
Language and Literacy Centres (LALs) provide additional support and provision for pupils attending mainstream schools in the authority that have significant Specific Learning Difficulties in Literacy) as their primary need.
The provision offered through the LAL is designed to allow pupils placed at the LAL to achieve their educational and social goals whilst attending a mainstream school placement, whilst attending one of the LALs for one session a week.
The pupils who will be seen as potential candidates for LAL will be the pupils who have not made progress in acquiring literacy skills (in reading and /or spelling) despite appropriate, targeted and sustained provision within their own school.
Applications for a LAL place must be submitted to the LAL panel by the child’s school. This application must be made by the SENCO following discussion with the Cognition and Learning Team, and also with pupil and his or her parents early in a child’s time in Year 4.
The LAL panel meets annually in the summer term to allocate placements in the LALs for the following year. Schools will be notified of the closing date for applications for LAL, the date of the Panel, and whether or not the pupil has been offered a place.
It is the responsibility of the referring school to inform the parents whether or not their child has been offered a place at LAL.
If you have a child that has been put forward for consideration for a LAL placement, please speak to your child’s school for information of the application.
Pupils who meet the criteria for LAL cannot be guaranteed an LAL placement. Decisions on placement within the LALs will be made by the panel on the basis of need.
Those who are not offered a place at LAL will continue to need support in their own school.
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Teacher in charge
- Telephone
-
Theale: 01189 302239
Winchcombe: 01635 232780 -
learningsupportteam@westberks.gov.uk
Time / Date Details
- Time of day
-
Afternoon
Morning
Other Details
Availability
- Age Ranges
- Other notes
What are the staffing arrangements in the Provision?
Number of Teachers: 1 in each resource
What qualifications/experience do staff in the Provision have?
Qualified Teacher Status
Post graduate qualification in Specific Learning Difficulties (Literacy)
What training and support is offered to mainstream staff?
The Teacher in Charge is able to offer training to the teachers and Teaching Assistants of those pupils attending LAL. This training takes the form of staff arranging visits to LAL whilst the pupil they are responsible for is attending to observe the type of teaching and support that is being provided in LAL in order for these strategies and priorities to be supported back in the pupil’s own school.
Inclusion Information
Dietary Needs
- Has Provision
- No
Local Offer
- Description
The purpose of the Language and Literacy Centres (LALs) is to allow pupils attending mainstream schools with significant specific learning difficulties to access a high level of specialist support. The pupils identified as being candidates for LAL will be those who have not made progress in acquiring literacy skills despite appropriate and sustained support within their own school.
Schools are required to apply for places to the LAL Panel, which meets annually during the Summer to allocate places for the following year.
The resource provides specialist teaching for one session a week from September to mid May for pupils in their Year 5.
Pupils offered places at LAL need to demonstrate a severe delay in the reading, with this area being their primary need.
- SEN Provision Type
- Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, Medical, Specific Literacy Difficulties, Speech & Language Difficulties, Behavioural, Emotional & Social Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Disability, Hearing Impairment, Moderate Learning Difficulties, Severe Learning Difficulties, Visual Impairment
- Local Offer Age Bands
- 7 to 11
- Needs Level
- High
- Medium
- Low
General Provider
The purpose of the Language and Literacy Centres (LALs) is to allow pupils attending mainstream schools with significant specific learning difficulties to access a high level of specialist support. The pupils identified as being candidates for LAL will be those who have not made progress in acquiring literacy skills despite appropriate and sustained support within their own school.
Schools are required to apply for places to the LAL Panel, which meets annually during the Summer to allocate places for the following year.
The resource provides specialist teaching for one session a week from September to mid May for pupils in their Year 5.
Pupils offered places at LAL need to demonstrate a severe delay in the reading, with this area being their primary need.
Applications to the LAL Panel are made by the child’s school.
All applications go to the LAL Admissions Panel. This panel will meet in the summer term of each school year to decide which pupils will have LAL placements for the following year. The Panel is usually made up of:
- The Teachers in Charge of the LALs
- The Cognition and Learning Team
- The Learning Support Services Manager
Pupils who meet the criteria cannot be guaranteed a LAL place; decisions will be made by the panel on the basis of need.
Those who are not given a place will continue to need support in their own school. Cognition and Learning Team will arrange to meet with individual schools following the panel meeting to discuss suitable provision for these pupils (working with the school in planning the pupil’s support and provision). The responsibility for delivering and monitoring these pupils’ provision remains with the school.
Schools will be notified of the closing date for applications for LAL, the date of the Panel, and whether or not the pupil has been offered a place.
It is the responsibility of the referring school to inform the parents whether or not their child has been offered a place at LAL.
Any complaints should be directed initially to the Teacher in Charge of the Resource, or to the Head teacher at the school.
If issues remain unresolved the Service Manager for SEN and Disabled Children’s Service:
SEN and DCT Service Manager
West Street House
West Street
Newbury
RG14 1BZ
Tel: 01635 503646
Quality checks
- DBS check
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