sdc

=**__Skills Development Centre__**=

The ESDC is located on the top floor and consists of two classrooms (SDC1 and SDC2) as well as the ESDC Office. Staff who work in the ESDC include:


 * Mr Lawrence (SENCO)**


 * Miss Westwood (EAL Co-ordinator)

Mr Lawrence

Mr Farrah

Miss Kobiela

Ms Guy

Miss Taylor**

The department, which is part of the Communications centre, is responsible for supporting the learning of EAL students, students with Special Educational Needs and underachieving students effectively. There are a range of strategies to help ALL learners to achieve:their potential.


 * __Initial Induction__**

The department assesses the English skills of Newly Arrived Students and provides them with an initial induction into the academy before integrating them into the mainstream curriculum.


 * __Support in Lessons__**

Students are identified and given extra targeted support in English lessons and other lessons across the curriculum. The teaching assistants are fully aware of students' needs and each targeted student has an individual education plan which is provided to our teaching assistants as well as available to classroom teachers on the academy's 'Common Area'. Email a.lawrence@heartlands-academy.org.uk


 * __Targeted Withdrawals:__**

Priority EAL students in Year 8 and Year 9 are withdrawn from Humanities lessons regularly to work on a **'Literacy Plus'** programme to enable them to achieve Level 4 in their reading and writing skills. These intensive sessions take place with Miss Westwood throughout the week.

There is also a Reading Club for targeted students from 14.55-15.15 each day in the SDC. Email k.westwood@heartlands-academy.org.uk


 * __Buddy Reading:__**

EAL students with low reading ages from KS3 are invited to Buddy Reading on Mondays (Year 9), Thursdays (Year 7) and Fridays (Year 8). These intensive reading sessions take place with specialist staff and advanced bi-lingual mentors from KS4 for targeted Year 9 students. Your tutor will inform you if you are involved in Buddy Reading..Email k.westwood@heartlands-academy.org.uk


 * __Skills Development Club:__**

Miss Westwood hosts the Skills Development Club for students before and after school. Before school, students can use the computers to practise their skills, while Ms Guy is also on hand for homework/coursework advice and support.


 * __Opportunities To Gain Recognised Qualifications:__**

The ESDC provides students and their families with the ability to gain recognised qualifications in ESOL through exam board Edexcel. These qualifications include:

ESOL Entry Level 1-3 (up to an 'E' grade equivalent at GCSE) ESOL Level 1 ESOL Level 2 (worth two GCSEs at 'B' grade)

Students who speak additional languages are also given the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications in the languages they are proficient in.

For more information on gaining ESOL qualifications or qualifications in other leanguages, visit the **EAL** page, call the Communications Centre on 0121 464 7447 or email k.westwood@heartlands-academy.org.uk.


 * __Do you Speak Another Language?__**

Can you read, write and speak another language? If so, you may be able to gain a recongisable qualification in that language. Ask your parent/guardian to fill in the Language Proficiency assessment (word document below) and either post or email to:

J.Barton Expression Centre Heartlands Academy Great Francis St Nechells Birmingham B7 4QR

j.barton@heartlands-academy.org.uk

[|Heartlands Academy Language Proficiency Assessment.doc]