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Pupil Interventions and closing the attainment gap

Date posted : 24 January 2023

Pupil interventions refer to strategies and techniques used to help pupils who are struggling. The approach and type of intervention depend on the individual needs of the student. Using a structured intervention, teachers can close progress or attainment gaps in a key area. Primary schools, secondary schools, and special needs schools are raising standards and improving pupil attainment through pupil intervention.

Types of pupil interventions

Pupil interventions take many forms. Guided by the needs of the pupils, these could include:

●      One-to-one tuition

●      Small group tuition

●      Focused numeracy classes

●      Literacy sessions

●      Behaviour mentoring

●      English as an additional language (EAL) support

●      Support for transition to Year 7

●      Focused English, Maths, or Science sessions

Flexible interventions are funded through the Pupil Premium. This helps pupils from low-income backgrounds and 'looked after children' (LAC). These are two groups known to have lower attainment than their peers.

Pupil interventions for primary school

Many children need support and targeted interventions. Numeracy and literacy support work with the systems you have and are there to complement in-class learning.

Two common interventions in primary schools are:

  1. The use of EAL support
  2. Behaviour mentors

During Key Stage 2, schools utilise SATs booster sessions to help pupils at risk of not fulfilling their academic potential.

Pupil interventions for secondary school

The transition to secondary-school learning can be difficult for some pupils. Teaching Personnel work with secondary schools to support the transition to Year 7. 

Pupil interventions help close knowledge and skills gaps. This enables students to work effectively at Key Stages 3 and 4.

Special educational needs (SEN) interventions

Whether its is working with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) pupils to manage behaviour or with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) on focused sensory programmes, special needs interventions make a difference.

Benefits of pupil intervention include:

1. Improved academic performance and raised pupil attainment

Interventions can help students improve their understanding of course material, which can lead to better grades.

2. Increased motivation

Interventions can help students feel more engaged and motivated to learn, which can improve their attitude towards school and learning.

3. Reduced behavioural problems

Interventions can help students develop better social and emotional skills, which can reduce disruptive behaviours and increase positive behaviours.

4. Increased pupil confidence

Interventions can help students feel more confident and improve their self-esteem.

5. Preventing student absence

Interventions can help at-risk students stay in school and increase pupil wellbeing.

6. Invest Pupil Premium funding where applicable

Pupil interventions complement classroom teaching, avoid increased workload for permanent staff and reduce time pressures on your teachers.

With many of the programmes, we will produce a free Pupil Premium Investment Report for Ofsted, governors, and parents.

Pupil interventions from Teaching Personnel

Teaching Personnel has a flexible workforce to provide bespoke interventions. The types of support we offer include:

●      Behaviour mentors

●      SEMH support

●      EAL support

●      Learning mentors

●      SEND support

Click here for more information

Pupil intervention sessions and costs

Our intervention programmes include:

●      A ‘Numeracy Coach’ Programme

●      Reading Programme

●      One-to-One or One-to-Two Tuition Sessions English and/or Maths

●      SEN Support Programmes

●      Boosting SATs Results through Small Group Tuition

●      Interventions for EAL learners 

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