Advisory Teaching Service - Support for pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties

Early Intervention

The Advisory Teaching Service (ATS) and the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) work closely with schools and Early Years settings to identify pupils who experience persistent difficulties in acquiring literacy  and numeracy skills.  Advice on supporting individual students can be sought, following an appropriate referral. This ensures that appropriate strategies are implemented at the earliest possible stage. Advice from Health Professionals and other agencies are sought as appropriate.

Support and Training

The ATS has a specialist team of teachers to support children and families. This team provides a consultancy service to school settings. The Advisory Teaching Service can provide training to school staff and other professionals in relation to primary and secondary school children who experience specific Learning Difficulties. Our staff may also provide staff with advice on the use of alternative recording strategies, including use of ICT, in school.

The Advisory Teaching are pleased to announce that two of their staff are Affiliate Consultants to the Numicon Mathematics approach.

Transition Support

Transition is often a worrying time for student and families. Our service aims to support transitions between key stages and settings, taking account of existing good practice and successful strategies. Transition to secondary school is supported with annual conferences for parents and schools. Time spent producing a booklet relating to the student’s strengths and needs will enable all staff working with the student to be familiar with their profile and to provide a positive start to their next stage of education.

Parent Support

Parents are encouraged to discuss their concerns regarding access to school life with the Advisory Teaching Service, particularly at points of transition and changes in Key Stage.

Continuum of Provision

The Advisory Teaching Service aim to facilitate smooth transitions throughout a pupil’s school career. Support for school staff is provided, to raise awareness of individual needs and suitable interventions.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak the Advisory Teaching Service locality offices are temporarily unmanned, but we will continue to support schools and settings throughout this difficult time.
All Advisory Teachers are working remotely from home, and are contactable by e-mail.
Our telephones are currently being diverted to our Gloucester Office (01452 426955 or 01452 427579), so please do contact us for support as required.

Return to school and key stage transition arrangements:Whilst there is still uncertainty with regard to when schools will fully re-open, please be aware that the Advisory Teaching Service is currently working on strategies advice and resources, as part of the wider EISSS service,  to support this process.  This includes transition work for both children and young people who are already identified and are on our caseloads and their parents/carers and settings but also additional advice for settings with regard to how they might approach the return to school which we know will, for some children, be extremely challenging.  SENCos/parents/carers will be contacted direct where appropriate, but please call the ATS Advice Line for further information/support.  See below.

Advice helplines have been organised, and useful resources for settings and parents uploaded, please see individual Team pages
Please checkout our useful clips : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYrm2ArgsNRy4kKHf9aPsPQ