Cognition and Learning

What are Cognition and Learning needs?

Cognition refers to the thinking skills and thought processes that a child/young person has acquired through their prior experience. Learning needs are on a continuum and can vary across subjects and situations.

Children with learning needs may learn at a slower pace than their peers despite appropriate differentiation. Learning difficulties can be general or specific and related to one or more areas of the curriculum. Difficulties may be short-term in one or more areas or severe and long term.

Cognition and learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs and abilities:

global developmental delay (phrase often used in Early Years and will continue until Year 6 - at which point the name is changed)
moderate learning difficulties (MLD)
severe learning difficulties (SLD)
profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)
Specific learning difficulties (SpLD). This encompasses a range of conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia (known as Developmental Coordination Disorder)

How do we support children with Cognition and Learning needs at Ankermoor?

We take action to remove barriers to learning and put into place effective special educational provision. A graduated approach is undertaken which draws upon the four part cycle Assess, Plan, Do, Review. You will be a big part of this process through your regular meetings with your child's class teacher.

Actions are revisited, refined and revised building on a growing understanding of your child's needs and the support needed in helping them to make good progress.

Each stage of support builds on the good practice of the previous stages. This will lead to an approach in which increasing levels of support are provided where necessary and appropriate:

Quality First Teaching for All children and young people
Some support
Lots of support
Exceptional support

Your child will go through the Assess, Plan, Do, Review process at each of the 4 stages above, we can have these meetings at any time to ensure that your child receives the support that they need. You and your child will have an Assess, Plan, Do, Review meeting at least Once a half term.