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21 Getting support for learning Our Student Support team works closely with teachers, students and parents to cater for the individual needs of students. Learning support Students with identified learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dysgraphia or auditory processing disorder will be consulted, together with their parents, about what level of support they need. We help students to develop strategies for learning and provide extra help if necessary. This could include taking a learning support class instead of an additional subject, or one-on-one meetings. Careers and future pathways We provide support to all students to help them make decisions about their future. We help students make their subject choices and provide opportunities to engage with the working world. We also work with Year 13 students to plan their next steps after they finish school. We hold drop-in sessions for students wanting career advice, one lunchtime a week. Gifted and talented education We are reviewing our gifted and talented education programme to make it an area of excellence. Our aim is to ensure that the programme includes a mixture of mentoring, inspiration, opportunity and social support. Students who are identified by parents or teachers as being potentially gifted will go through a thorough identification process. Information will be collected on student strengths, needs and interests from teachers, parents, students and through testing, to devise an individual action plan. English for Speakers of Other Languages Lessons in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) are available to international and domestic students in Year 1–13 for whom English is not their first language. Students attend regular classes taught in English, for most of the day, but have the opportunity for specialist ESOL lessons as part of their regular timetable. The number of lessons varies depending on the needs and goals of the student, and most students will attend between two and four ESOL lessons per fortnight. Whenever possible, senior students have their ESOL lessons in place of a scheduled study lesson and all other students will be withdrawn from a subject or lesson to attend their ESOL classes. There is some flexibility in the placement of these lessons, and discussions will be held with the student and their family to determine the best arrangement for ESOL classes. Students work in small groups, with a focus on vocabulary development, confidence, fluency in speaking and writing, reading and academic writing. Students also have the opportunity to work towards qualifications such as International English Language Testing System, which can be required for entrance to some universities. Students who choose to study towards the International Baccalaureate Diploma in Year 12 and 13 generally do not take ESOL lessons, as they choose an English language acquisition course as part of their programme.