Remedial

Pupils arrive at Calder House with a wide range of different difficulties. These include:

poor auditory memory – pupils forget what they have just heard
poor visual memory – pupils forget what they have just seen
poor memory for sequence – pupils muddle the order of what they have heard or seen
poor gross motor skills – pupils have difficulty reading or writing from left to right
poor hand/eye coordination – pupils cannot catch a ball
poor fine motor skills – pupils cannot manage their pencil/ ruler/ rubber
poor word finding skills – pupils cannot summon up the word they need to express an idea
poor skills in processing words – pupils do not take meaning from what they hear or read

At Calder House we address each child’s difficulties through programmes of remedial teaching designed around each child’s individual needs.

Teaching our pupils the strategies they need to overcome these difficulties is the key to unlocking their academic potential.

We have our own full-time Speech and Language therapist at Calder House who assesses pupils to identify the root of any language based-problems. Having done so, pupils are then given one-to-one targeted remedial support. In addition she advises and supports class teachers working collaboratively to improve classroom performance as part of the teaching team both inside and outside the classroom.

Our visiting paediatric occupational therapist identifies any fine motor or perceptual issue, which are underminin a child's academic progress, devising a program for our staff to administer within the child's IEP. She is also able to advise the head teacher as to gross motor exercises, which may assist the child's development if carried out by staff in school.

Calder House also has specialist teachers trained to use a multisensory approach in teaching pupils. The full assessment we carry out on pupils prior to admission, together with regular reviews of progress, enables these specialists to target their teaching to pupils’ strengths and work to remediate areas of weakness. Specialist teachers operate at every level in Calder House – they teach class lessons, take small groups and work one-to-one with individual pupils.

At Calder House we draw upon the skill and expertise of a wide range of remedial specialists who, with the support their teaching colleagues, are able to address the underlying reasons why otherwise bright and able pupils were under-performing at school. We have more than 16 'non pupil contact' preparation days each at which staff to get together and plan collaboratively the measures required to meet the needs of pupils.

The targeted remedial support that pupils receive at Calder House enables them to overcome or find ways round their developmental issues. It underpins our entire approach. And the success of our former pupils testifies to its effectiveness.

Our latest Ofsted inspection (November 2015) rated Calder House as "OUTSTANDING" in all performance categories.

"The school’s balance between addressing specific learning difficulties, while promoting a broad and balanced focus on learning, is extremely successful... Every pupil joins the school having to catch up and make up lost ground... by the time they leave, a good proportion have reading and spelling ages above their actual ages, despite their special educational needs." Read more >>

It is wonderful to see and feel part of a truly unique school and a culture that puts the interest of its pupils to the very front.

Former pupil’s parent

Your understanding of Greg and of how to help him allowed him to believe in himself.

Former pupil’s parent

My GCSE's - yes, I am very proud of my results! But I must stress that if it wasn't for Calder House I would never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever in the entire world have been able to get such high grades and I would just like to thank you.

Former pupil

Pupils from Calder House have fitted in very well and it has been clear they have built sound foundations at Calder House.

Downside School

I do not believe there is another school in this country which could have helped Nathaniel to flourish as well as Calder House.

Former pupil’s parent

Lex had become afraid to try to read for fear of failing, now he attempts his reading with such enthusiasm and literally bounces into school.

Former pupil’s parent

You have turned Ralph into a happy, confident little boy again and there hasn't been a day that he hasn't wanted to come to school. Calder House has restored his love of school and learning.

Former pupil’s parent

We are very grateful for all you have done for Sam. You rescued all three of us in our hour of need.

Former pupil’s parent

Your understanding of Max and of how to help him, immediately relieved him of the agony of mainstream school.

Former pupil’s parent

Having seen for myself the excellent teaching at the school, I can understand why my grandson improves daily.

Former pupil’s grandparent

It must be almost four years ago that I last put on my blue jumper but Calder House is still the best school I've ever been to!

Former pupil

The methods you use certainly work, and are most certainly something Rosie will remember, and thank you for, all her life.

Former pupil’s parent

We are delighted with Alex's progress and the way his confidence and self esteem have flourished. Calder House has given him so many happy positive memories of school life replacing those of his earlier failures.

Former pupil’s parent

We can never thank you enough for changing our lives.

Former pupil’s parent

The relief to find a school where Amy would belong, would thrive, be happy and succeed again.

Former pupil’s parent

George has been given back his self confidence and dignity.

Former pupil’s parent

We had been told our son was of low ability and intelligence. Yet he left Calder House a confident, bright and very happy child. We could not have imagined he would progress so far in such a short time.

Former pupil’s parent

We have had a long association with Calder House and we believe it prepares pupils for the challenges of senior school extremely well.

Stonar School

I doubt I would be writing such a long letter to you now or participating in the school plays, if it weren't for the time I spent at Calder House. I expect many kids feel the same. You're doing a great job.

Former pupil

As a result of the excellent teaching at Calder House both our sons have made significant progress and achieved level 4's at KS2. We are delighted that they are now coping extremely well in a mainstream secondary.

Former pupil’s parent

Calder House offered us a lifeline at a very traumatic time. They undertook a comprehensive assessment of our two sons. After that one initial visit they had greater insight into our sons’ abilities and weaknesses than professionals involved with the boys over years.

Former pupil’s parent

I do not believe there is another school in this country which could have helped Nathaniel to flourish as well as Calder House.

Former pupil’s parent

I am writing to say thank you all for all you have done to teach me and help me. I have come along way since I began at Calder House.

Former pupil

Calder House’s magnificent teaching methods have completely transformed our son in so many positive areas.

Former pupil’s parent

His almost complete lack of progress was rapidly transformed by Calder House. Their brilliant methodology and an outstanding team of teachers who were able to ‘open up’ our young son to the world of learning.

Former pupil’s parent

Calder House has transformed Nathaniel into a positive and active boy with huge gains for him in terms of his self-esteem levels and his ability to take his place within society generally.

Former pupil’s parent

Our daughter went on to Bath Royal High School where due to her excellent foundation at Calder House she has not needed extra provision. Indeed she got 93% in a recent biology exam and 70% in English.

Former pupil’s parent

With the enthusiasm and competence of the Calder House staff she changed from being an unconfident child and started to believe in herself and her capabilities. She started to read quite quickly. Indeed she can now read three books in a day!

Former pupil’s parent

His self-esteem grew tremendously during his two years at Calder House. He was then able to rejoin his peers at a secondary school in Bath.

Former pupil’s parent

All the staff at Calder House were very caring and considerate towards our son while maintaining firm boundaries and high expectations of him and his behaviour.

Former pupil’s parent

This specialist school for dyslexic or dyspraxic children is outstanding. As parents of two children who have attended the school we cannot praise it enough

Former pupil’s parent

Why Calder House?

A man was walking along the beach one day. Ahead he noticed another, older man picking up a starfish that had become stranded on the sand and throwing it back into the sea.

“Why do you bother?” the man asked him. “The beach goes on for miles and countless starfish get stranded every day. You can’t really make a difference.”

The old man looked at the starfish in his hand and then he threw it to safety among the waves. “I can make a difference to this one,” he replied.

Countless children feel stranded at school – for some Calder House can make a real difference.

Remedial

Why Calder House?

Individual needs