Curriculum Support for Learning
Mrs Carol Brechin and Ms Rhona Kennedy are dedicated, highly experienced and highly respected Additional Support for Learning (ASL) teachers who work with groups of pupils from P1-P7.
Children are baseline assessed in both literacy and numeracy when entering Sciennes and children who need extra support in acquisition in either of these subjects are given more support by being put on a very structured Individual Educational Programme in a small group. Early Intervention is provided in P1 and P2.
Children who continue to experience learning difficulties in P3-P7 are offered extra help, where necessary, by our Additional Support for Learning teachers. Support can be given in the ASL Base or in the classroom, and children will be taken in small groups, and on occasions, individually. Children may require support in their learning for a variety of reasons, such as difficulties with reading, language or number, a return from a lengthy period of absence, or a change in home or school circumstances. The provision may be on a short or long term basis according to the child's needs. Parents are kept informed about the provision and encouraged to become involved in their child's learning.
Pupils with Additional Needs
The Authority has a policy of integration. This promotes the placement into primary and secondary schools of pupils with significant additional needs. Additional support may be given to the school to enable such a placement to operate successfully. Integrated placements are made following assessment by the Education Department's Specialist Advisers and in consultation with parents. The school also has Special Needs Auxiliaries who help with the integration of children with specific needs and who liaise with class teachers, the Additional Support for Learning teacher, senior members of staff and parents.
Additional Support Needs :
An additional support need comes from anything which is a barrier to learning. Most or all schools will have some children with additional support needs of some kind. The education authority has many legal duties towards pupils with additional support needs. Information about this is contained in a booklet called In On The Act : Information For The General Public which is published on the education authority website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/inontheact - or contact the additional support for learning team on telephone number 469 3444.
Able Pupils
Sciennes Primary School is a member of the Scottish Network for Able Pupils (SNAP). We are committed to the creation of an ethos of achievement. More able pupils are encouraged to remain with children of their own age to encourage social development but are provided with differentiated material to develop independent learning. Pupils in this category are given the opportunity to work with children of similar ability in other classes so that experiences can be shared. Additional Support for Learning staff are involved with co-ordinating these groups.
English as an Additional Language
The EAL (English as an Additional Language) team provide a visiting service which
aims to offer support for bilingual pupils and their teachers in
school. (Bilingual is defined as someone who uses two or more languages
in their daily life.)
Mrs Olga Hunter (P1-P3) and Mrs Annabel MacWilliams (P4-P7) are highly experienced EAL teachers who work closely with staff and parents to support pupils who have English as an additional language.
The aims at Sciennes School are: To provide English language support across the curriculum for bilingual pupils.
To support teachers and others whose work involves bilingual pupils.
To promote the welfare of bilingual pupils within the school.
To work in partnership with the school to communicate effectively at home.
EAL TEACHERS
The EAL teacher has a flexible remit in order to respond to the changing demands of pupils arriving, leaving or ceasing to require additional help. The teacher may at any one time be working with: beginners those with limited English those who speak English fluently but may not be achieving their full academic potential. The EAL teacher will work in partnership with the class and subject teachers, and regular liaison will take place in order to plan and evaluate the most effective support. The EAL teacher will work mainly in the class but it may be appropriate to extract pupils for certain lessons. The EAL teacher may also advise on assessment, resources and teaching strategies; linguistic and cultural matters; contacts with local community services and interpreting services.
BSA (Bilingual Support Assistant)
Sciennes currently has a visiting Punjabi/Urdu speaking BSA who provides support in three ways:
- in the classroom by supporting access to the curriculum and developing English and home language.
-providing advice and support to staff in general issues of culture, language and religion.
- supporting effective home school links.