Learning Support
Students with learning difficulties require differing types of support to achieve their full potential. Learning Support targets those students who are functioning at a level below their peers, particularly those who are functioning significantly below expectations for their chronological age. By recognising students' individual strengths, weaknesses and learning styles, Learning Support aims to make learning accessible to each student and to assist each student in developing his basic skills across all curriculum areas. The School acknowledges that some students may be intellectually able but also learning disabled.
Identification and referral
Identification of a student's learning needs may include:
- teacher comments and records
- samples of a student's work
- a student's performance as measured by outcomes and class-based assessments
- observations
- formal and informal assessments
- anecdotal reports of parents and others who know the student
- reports from outside professionals.
A student can be referred to the Support Department by teachers, parents, School Counsellors, Housemasters, Tutors and outside professionals who are working with the student.
Provision of learning support
Learning support can be provided through:
- collaborative planning
- team teaching
- in-class support
- small group and individual withdrawal
- consultancy and liaison with parents, teachers, counsellors and other professionals
- individual educational plans developed for students with high needs
- referral to outside agencies.
Special provisions
Students can apply for special provisions, both for major assessments, such as end of term tests and internal examinations, and for the external School Certificate test and Higher School Certificate examinations.
Special provisions are provided to address the effects of a special need on a student's performance. A special need is any difficulty a student has that would, under normal test or examination conditions, prevent him from reading and interpreting questions, and/or from communicating his knowledge and understanding to a marker as effectively as a student without that special need.
Students may apply for special provisions for a variety of reasons. However, they must be assessed by a member of staff in the Support Department or provide documentation to support their application.