Advisory teachers for cognition, learning and language difficulties

About us

The pupil and school support service (PSS) works with children and young people with cognition, learning and language difficulties including specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia.

PSS Parent Offer Leaflet

Who are Pupil and School Support?

  • Pupil and School Support (PSS for short) is part of Access to Education who are a group of services supporting children and young people with additional needs in schools in Birmingham.
  • We are qualified teachers who support children and young people in educational settings who have cognition and learning difficulties.
  • Every mainstream school and academy has a qualified teacher assigned to their setting.

How does the Pupil and School Support Team support schools?

  • We work with schools to help their pupils with cognition, learning and language difficulties make progress and achieve to the best of their abilities.
  • We help to develop the knowledge of SENCOs, ensuring they are able to lead whole school improvement; help school staff to support pupils with SEN, promote inclusive practice, set aspirational targets and raise attainment, and support early identification of need and evidence-based intervention.

How does the Pupil and School Support Team support individual children and young people?

  • Schools will ask their PSS teacher to become involved if they have concerns about your child’s learning and progress.
  • This should be after they have already given some additional support and tried different things in the classrooms.
  • The decision to involve PSS should be discussed and agreed with you as parents/carers and your written consent will be gained first.
  • All PSS involvement is personal to the child/young person and will take place after discussion with the school about their concerns. The PSS teacher may:
  • Work outside the classroom with your child to assess their skills;
  • See how your child works in the class;
  • Talk about your child’s learning need with staff;
  • Talk to your child about how they feel about their learning.

How do we assess your child?

The PSS teacher may assess a pupil’s ability in any of the following areas:

  • Speech and Language
  • Reading
  • Spelling
  • Writing
  • Memory & Processing
  • Mathematics


What happens after your child has been assessed?

After seeing your child, the PSS teacher will:

  • Share ideas about what to try next
  • Work with staff on how to help your child

We may also:

  • Provide a written report for the school
  • Meet you in school to discuss the work carried out
  • Suggest other outside agencies who could also help your child
  • Work with the school in monitoring you child’s progress and setting targets.
  • See your child more than once to assess the progress that has been made over 6 months or a year.


How do I contact a Pupil and School Support Teacher?

  • You can arrange to see or speak to us through the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) at your child’s school.
  • Contact details for the school SENCo can be found on their school website. Look for their ‘SEN Information Report’ for more information.


Will I meet the Pupil and School Support Teacher working with my child?

  • You are the expert on your child, and it is important that we work together to make decisions about your child’s learning
  • Sometimes you will meet the PSS teacher in school.
  • Sometimes contact will be via email, phone call or Microsoft Teams.


Do Pupil and School Support have any further information for parents?

Webinars:

Webpages:

Contact Details:

Pupil and School Support
Access To Education
Education and Skills Directorate
Birmingham City Council
Office: PO Box 17843, Birmingham, B2 2JR

To contact PSS: LDParentEnquiries@birmingham.gov.uk

Please note: Provision and support may change due to COVID restrictions.