The Latest News
Boundless encouragement and support
11th November 2022
All students worry about exams, but for some, the difficulties are more significant than others. It was not long ago that I came across a young person who was so anxious he had to keep leaving the exam room to be sick. Thank goodness teachers and Teaching Assistants in the school didn’t put this down to “just anxiety”. This could easily have happened since he was an extremely bright young person and consequently, no one had ever considered before that he might need additional support.
Once the Learning Support Team began to undertake further assessments with the young person, it became clear that he had significant additional needs. It was taking his brain a great deal of time to process auditory and visual information.The level of need was so substantial that the student needed 50% extra time for his examinations. He reported that the exam papers spun in front of him to the point he felt he needed to be sick. It was a wonder that the young person had coped for so many years without additional support. How had he been taking notes in lessons? How had he managed to follow what his teachers were saying in lessons?
I was impressed by his determination and resilience to succeed beyond measure – and succeed he did. As soon as he had the support he needed, he began to thrive in his learning and later went on to make great achievement in his examinations. He is now studying at a prestigious university.
Thank goodness for our staff here at Learning Partners that spotted something was wrong – and for their desire to help him to fulfil his potential; for the boundless encouragement and support they offered him. We must always remember that the work of every member of staff at Learning Partners is vital in ensuring all children can thrive, and that all students will have access to opportunities to succeed.
To support this work, I have begun the role of Trust Inclusion Lead at Learning Partners and have really enjoyed working alongside many of our staff members to further ensure the success of all children in our schools.
Learning Partners must be a place where all children, regardless of their background, can thrive. Mutual respect, dignity and acceptance are the foundations that the trust seeks to sustain to ensure that all schools within it continue to be a safe, welcome, creative and dynamic place for children to learn. Learning Partners recognises that a wealth of diversity alone is not enough, and it is only through the promotion of equality and inclusiveness of its diverse groups that all children can contribute, reach their full potential and inspire social change as they grow into adults.
Olivia Wernick, Trust Inclusion Lead, Learning Partners
All students worry about exams, but for some, the difficulties are more significant than others. It was not long ago that I came across a young person who was so anxious he had to keep leaving the exam room to be sick. Thank goodness teachers and Teaching Assistants in the school didn’t put this down to “just anxiety”. This could easily have happened since he was an extremely bright young person and consequently, no one had ever considered before that he might need additional support.
Once the Learning Support Team began to undertake further assessments with the young person, it became clear that he had significant additional needs. It was taking his brain a great deal of time to process auditory and visual information.The level of need was so substantial that the student needed 50% extra time for his examinations. He reported that the exam papers spun in front of him to the point he felt he needed to be sick. It was a wonder that the young person had coped for so many years without additional support. How had he been taking notes in lessons? How had he managed to follow what his teachers were saying in lessons?
I was impressed by his determination and resilience to succeed beyond measure – and succeed he did. As soon as he had the support he needed, he began to thrive in his learning and later went on to make great achievement in his examinations. He is now studying at a prestigious university.
Thank goodness for our staff here at Learning Partners that spotted something was wrong – and for their desire to help him to fulfil his potential; for the boundless encouragement and support they offered him. We must always remember that the work of every member of staff at Learning Partners is vital in ensuring all children can thrive, and that all students will have access to opportunities to succeed.
To support this work, I have begun the role of Trust Inclusion Lead at Learning Partners and have really enjoyed working alongside many of our staff members to further ensure the success of all children in our schools.
Learning Partners must be a place where all children, regardless of their background, can thrive. Mutual respect, dignity and acceptance are the foundations that the trust seeks to sustain to ensure that all schools within it continue to be a safe, welcome, creative and dynamic place for children to learn. Learning Partners recognises that a wealth of diversity alone is not enough, and it is only through the promotion of equality and inclusiveness of its diverse groups that all children can contribute, reach their full potential and inspire social change as they grow into adults.
Olivia Wernick, Trust Inclusion Lead, Learning Partners
