Primary School

Learning Support is available for those students in the Primary School Grades that are identified under the school's referral system or for those students that present evidence, at admission, of a diagnosed and documented Special Educational Need.

The School recognises several areas of special need, including children with language difficulties; children with exceptional ability and children with learning difficulties.

Teachers will normally refer cases that come to their attention to the Learning Support Department for evaluation. Where appropriate, an I.E.P. (Individual Educational Plan) will be created for students with Special Needs for learning support.

Teachers can refer students to the Learning Support Department if they have or appear to have/be

• achieving below grade level expectations;
• achieving above grade level expectations;
• specific language difficulties, i.e. reading, writing, spelling, comprehension;
• difficulties in Mathematics;
• school related personal difficulties.

Once students are referred, the Learning Support begins a process of consultation. This process can, but does not always include the following:

• Recommendations and or support with study/homework/organizational habits.
• Recommendations, adjustments and or differentiation at the classroom level.
• Educational assessments (achievement, cognitive, self esteem and behavioral).
• Direct interventions for specific difficulties, in the Learning Support Department
• In class assistance through the Learning Support Department.
• Intensive withdrawal classes, available for Grade 4 and Grade 5 only, to develop basic skills and strategies for specific periods of time.
• Consultations with teachers, students and parents.
• Test taking and exam preparation extracurricular classes.
• Individual Education Plans and the process that goes along with these plans.
• Specific intervention using the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program. This is a language development programme.
• Psychological intervention and support related to school based difficulties with the School Psychologist.

The purpose of learning support assistance is to ensure that student's needs and strengths are identified and addressed as early as possible. The aim is to give support and strategies to the student, school and home components. The role is to provide a support network that will allow students to become more independent learners with better skills for lifelong learning.