Learning Support

Our department plays a vital role in the life of Manchester Academy; lending support to colleagues throughout the school and evidencing the fact that the education and learning is a collaborative effort. 

The most valuable resource at our disposal is our Support for Learning Assistants (SFLAs) who are based in classrooms throughout the school in all subject areas.  Our SFLAs work with pupils who have identified learning difficulties. 

Among the many aspects of the job are interventions by which students are given additional support. Through these series of interventions, learning is targeted scaffold and consolidated in great detail. This work is conducted in a dedicated Support for Learning room. Here SLAs  work either with groups or offer one of one support in literacy and numeracy.   

Our aim is to equip students with the necessary skills they need for school and beyond with  particular emphasis on employment. An example of our philosophy is demonstrated in the “Fit for Business Week”. This involves 10 Year 10 pupils joining the workforce and working in various types of businesses for a week. Each year we take out 5 groups a total of 50 Students.  A wide range of industries are represented for this taster gateway to the real world including: retail, construction, motor mechanics, hospitality and catering. 

To complement the department’s work, we run Extra-Curricular Activities including Homework and Handwriting Clubs. We also attend many pan disability sporting events where our hearing impaired students have been particulalrly successful in winning several events at the 'Special Schools Pan Disability Athletic Championships' and the 5 a-side 'One City Disability Tournament'. We also arrange themed days such as 'Nigeria Day' throughout the year to celebrate some of the backgrounds our students come from.