Target groups

Learning mentors work with students who are underachieving. Schools use their identification and assessment processes to identify where Learning Mentor support is best targeted. This needs to complement other types of support already available to avoid duplication of services.

The following groups of students are a priority for LMs in Ealing:

those vulnerable at primary/secondary transfer
under-achieving (using SATs and NfER CATs, progress checks and other data)
attendance and punctuality issues
exclusion (permanent and fixed-term)
at risk of exclusion
students with behavioural issues, low self-esteem or motivation or with family concerns
some groups of students of black heritage
girls at risk of under-achieving
white boys in receipt of free school meals
refugee pupils

Other specific groups of students identified by schools:

non-completion of homework
traveller children
student self-referral
disaffected students
re-integration following exclusion or other period of absence
those with organisational issues
low aspirations
family issues
looked after children
‘silent children’
school refusers
substance abuse
teenage parents
young offenders or those involved with gangs

Many of these students will be referred to a specialist organisation but the learning mentor may also work with them to address learning issues and to support them in school whilst a specialist intervention is also taking place.