Learning Support Managers’ Best Practice

Welcome to the Graduated Approach Toolkit developed for Learning Support Managers (LSMs)

This section of the Graduated Approach Toolkit has been developed for Learning Support Managers (LSMs), to support LSMs across Bury in their work in colleges, however experienced or new to the role.

It details good practice and outlines key processes and procedures to ensure that all young people with SEND in Bury thrive. The themes and content included here have been developed collaboratively with Bury LSMs, Bury SENDIASS, Educational Psychologists, parents/carers and young people in Bury (see the full list of contributors to the Graduated Approach Toolkit).

The SEND Code of Practice promotes a Graduated Approach to meeting the needs of young people with SEND using the ‘Assess-Plan-Do-Review’ Cycle to support this process. This works by revisiting, refining and revising our understanding of a young person’s needs and what works to support them. This means that our understanding of young people’s needs should become clearer over time. See Information about APDR Cycles.

LSMs in Bury are committed to ensuring that parents/carers, young people and college staff receive the right support, at the right time.

The LSM role is diverse and rewarding, though it can also be demanding. LSMs have a key role in ensuring that teaching and learning for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is effective and they are fully included in their setting. They work closely with young people and families to ensure that they are fully included in planning and decision-making at all stages of the graduated approach. 

The LSM role lies at the very heart of inclusive practice in college.

It is hoped that the LSM Best Practice section will be a helpful reference for LSMs, exploring different aspects of the role from whole setting approaches to individual needs; and will support the wider team in college to champion the needs of young people with SEND.

Within the parent/carer and young people areas of the website, there are ‘Best Practice’ sections covering much of this content, to support effective information-sharing around the graduated approach and SEND processes. We hope these pages are a useful source of information and support for parents/carers and young people with SEND and are resources you can share with your college communities.