Learning Support

The Learning Support Service at QE supports students across the whole college. We gained "Outstanding" in the March 2009 Ofsted in recognition of the progress made by our students, particularly in KS4 and KS5.

We offer support for students with a wide range of special needs and both the LSS teachers and Teaching Assistants have expertise in many specific areas; Literacy& Numeracy, Autistic Spectrum, Behaviour, Social and Emotional Difficulties, Communication and Interaction Difficulties and students with Physical and Sensory needs. We are also privileged to have the SpLD Support Centre based at QE and benefit greatly from the expertise the staff are able to provide.

We also have a Skills Development Service which offers support for students who need to develop aspects of their behavioural, emotional and social skills. We offer short courses in Self Awareness, Personal Organisation, Making and Maintaining Friendships and Self Regulation.

We have a team of 40 very committed Teaching Assistants who are recognised as a vital resource by both parents\carers and teachers by supporting not only our 60 Statemented students but also those at School Action Plus and School Action. The Teaching Assistants follow an annual training programme of 45 hours in order to gain a good knowledge of aspects of SEN.

The Specific Learning Difficulties Support Centre is a county-wide provision based within QECC. This is delivered by Ann Atherton, Deborah Lynch and Di Martin, acknowledged experts in the field. The centre has an outstanding record of success in complementing and extending the general education offered within the College. Since 2007, the Centre has offered an Outreach service to schools in Devon. This is intended to support staff in a variety of ways, from working with an individual student with severe and persistent literacy difficulties and advising on an appropriate intervention programme, to training designed to help develop a 'Dyslexia Friendly' approach across a whole school. We are heavily involved in running the Devon Inclusion Award – Dyslexia, we co-ordinate the Devon Secondary Dyslexia Network groups and help to man the Dyslexia Helpline.

Jo EamesSENCO
Mrs Jo Eames joined QE in September 1974, teaching French and Spanish, throughout the years she has had several roles within the college having been a Head of Year for 10 years before taking up the SENCO post in 2003. Prior to this Jo had taught within both the MFL and SEN departments and gained a M.Ed in Special Needs in 1995.

Ann AthertonAnn Atherton is based in the Haldon Room at Lower School. She divides her time between teaching students within QE and working as a specialist teacher across Devon.

Deborah LynchDeborah Lynch is Head of the Specific Learning Difficulties Support Centre. She is based in the Creedy Rooms at Upper School, where she supports students with specific learning difficulties across the curriculum. She is also involved in the Outreach Service.

Susan MacRow-HillSusan MacRow-Hill, B.Sc, (1979, Lancaster) PGCE, (1978, Bristol) M. Res, (1997, Exeter) and has published a number of scientific papers on Autism and Dyslexia, has worked as a Learning Support teacher at QE for the past 6 years. Previously, she has also taught Biology and Maths and Statistics at Kingsfield School, Bristol, and Maths at North Devon College and Torrington.

Amanda MiddlemostAmanda Middlemost joined QE in 2001 when her family moved from Zimbabwe where she taught in primary, secondary and special schools and represented her schools at REMTA (Remedial Teachers’ Association). She has a BA in English and Science of Religion with an additional major in History (University of Cape Town/UNISA) and GTP (University of Exeter).

Loren Reeve-HodgsonLoren Reeve-Hodgson (Ms R-H) has a B.Ed (University of Exeter) in Modern Foreign Languages, English and Special/Additional Educational Needs. Worked in Somerset and Hampshire where she was Head of Languages and Head of Year. Joined QE in 1990 and has taught French, German, Thinking skills, English and various BTec courses. She has been the Literacy Coordinator; acting Head of MFL and now runs the Skills Development Service which provides for students' well-being and also behaviour support.
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