Frequently Asked Questions (Summer 2008)

General Questions

Where is Springvale School exactly?
Springvale Independent School is at 71 Todmorden Road, 20 yards from the Townley Park gates in Burnley, Lancashire. Please click here to see where the building is situated.

What does the school motto "Dulcius ex Asperis" mean?
Dulcius ex Asperis is a Latin phrase most commonly translated to "Sweetness after Effort", or "Through difficulty, sweetness".

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Questions related to Teaching

How will the children´s needs be met when they are in classes?
We have a whole school approach to Dyslexia using research-based programmes and resources. All members of staff demonstrate the ability to meet the needs of dyslexic pupils within their departments.

How many teachers are specially trained to work with SpLD students?
All of our teachers and teaching assistants are SpLD qualified or in the process of gaining a qualification.

Are you BDA (British Dyslexia Association) approved?
We are in the process of being approved.

What is the school´s training policy for class teachers, and special needs staff?
We are proactive and encourage continuous professional development as courses become available.

How rigid is the school´s approach to the National Curriculum?
The core subjects of the National Curriculum will be taught, differentiated to meet individual needs.

What is the preferred teaching approach: formal, informal, practical, topic based, or multi-sensory?
A combination of all of these approaches will be used, but always in the appropriate child/dyslexic-friendly manner.

What access to and training for ICT will pupils with Dyslexia have?
Excellent. We appreciate that computers are a main tool to aid overcome Dyslexia and therefor will give every pupil access to a laptop.

Is access to extra-curricular activities restricted in any way?
No, a range of activities and after-school clubs will be available to all.

What resources and equipment will be available?
An extensive range of computers, interactive whiteboards, spelling programmes, reading programmes, and other resources will be available. We will have a fully equipped science lab, two computer suites and arts room.

How is special teaching delivered: in class, by withdrawal, individually or in a small group?
All of these. As our groups are very small, individual needs can be addressed in the classroom so withdrawal is not the norm apart from OT/SALT.

I have a question that is not answered here!
Please do contact us by clicking here so that we can add your question (and the answer to it) to this page.