Pastoral Care
At Beacon Hill Academy, we want our learners to feel as safe and supported as possible. As such, we have a dedicated team of trained staff who are always on hand to provide that reassurance to our learners, as well as to step in if anything is affecting their wellbeing – either at school or outside of school.
Whist we want every learner to enjoy their time at Beacon Hill Academy, we do understand that sometimes circumstances outside of school may change and learners will maybe need that little bit of extra support. Each year group at Beacon Hill Academy is assigned a 'Learning Manager' who will oversee and look after their year group for their entire time at the Academy. After their form tutor, this member of staff is the next port of call for learners, and will often be the first port of call for parents. Our Learning Managers always have the best interests of each learner at heart and will work closely with them to ensure that their time at Beacon Hill Academy is as positive, productive and enjoyable as possible. To support our Learning Managers, we also have several Designated Safeguarding Leads (or Deputy DSLs) who are able to quickly resolve any safeguarding concerns that may potentially put our learners at risk.
To further help and support our learners, we have a skilled team of Learning Support assistants who can help our learners with their class and homework to ensure that, despite any changes, they can still achieve their full potential.
All of our Learner Support and Wellbeing programmes are consistently developing and improving, and our staff are always willing to help our learners and would be more than happy to discuss any concerns or suggestions with our parents and carers to ensure that all of our learners are as happy, safe and productive as possible during their time at Beacon Hill Academy. For more information on some of our tailored initiatives or specialised areas, please click or tap the headings below.
Learning Support Faculty
Beacon Hill Academy aims to ensure all learners have access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. The Learning Support Dept. provides support programmes to meet the needs of a number of learners, who for a range of reasons find it difficult to access education. Some learners may have historical special educational needs which impact upon their learning; whilst it may include Learners who have a temporary need e.g. suffering a bereavement, whereas, others may have had a prolonged absence, or be new to the school and need a period of supported induction.
The faculty works with a range of outside agencies and services including Autism Outreach, Educational Psychology, Learning Support Service, Connexions, the community police, Specialist Physical Impairment Services and Speech and Language to ensure that our learners are given the support they need to achieve their full potential. Learners on the Special Educational Needs register (SEN) or those identified as requiring additional support, can access LS for specific help: they are taught within smaller groups or individually.
Lead Member of Staff: Mrs R Spicer (SENCO)
Learner Support Centre & Personalised Learning Centre
Learner Support Centre
The Learner Support Centre and Learning Zone in H Block offers small group teaching accommodation. The LSC tailors support for learners in Key Stage 3 and the learning Zone personalises learning pathways for Key Stage 4 learners. The team of Higher Level of Teaching assistants deliver a bespoke programme of interventions to address difficulties with Literacy, Numeracy, Science and Personal Social skills.
All of the Interventions aim to support learners who need specifically tailored input to enable them to keep on track in terms of attainment and progress; these interventions are intended to be short term – enabling Learners to develop and consolidate a range of skills.
Groups up to a maximum of six learners work together at any one time and some learners work on a one to one basis. Other learners are supported within the Learning support faculty to improve their basic literacy/numeracy and social skills; within a smaller environment; this enables staff to adapt the curriculum to the needs of the individuals. Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties are also supported through a range of developed programmes, working in close partnership with Autism Outreach, Educational Psychology and Learning Support Services.
Lead Member of Staff: Mrs R Spicer (SENCO)
Personalised Learning Centre
The Personalised Learning Centre offers a range of interventions/programmes to Learners who are finding school difficult to cope with. This may be due to social, emotional or behavioural difficulties, anxiety or settling in issues. The Centre offers a nurturing environment and its aim is to identify barriers to learning, to support Learners to develop coping strategies and to integrate Learners back into mainstream school as quickly as possible. The PLC staff liaise with teaching staff and parents to support this process.
The PLC also supports Learners who are struggling to respond appropriately to our Values-Driven Expectations through a series of workshops as follows:
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Anger Management
- Art therapy
- Social Skills
- Relationships
- Aspirations and 'Dreaming Big'
The programmes are delivered one lesson per week over a period of up to six weeks. Every effort to avoid disrupting the same class each week is made by rotating the programmes.
During the course of the workshops, Learners have the opportunity to express any concerns, seek support and address the concerns that cause barriers to their learning.
PLC Manager: Mrs M Murphy
Assistant PLC Manager: Mrs E Katic
For more information on how we support our SEN learners specifically, please click here.