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Learning Support

Learning Support / Special Needs Department

Newtown School is committed to the development of each students potential through a broad and balanced educational curriculum. We recognise that each person learns differently and that in order to achieve this goal some of our students may require supplementary teaching, additional resources, classroom support or the provision of specialised equipment. In all cases it is the intention to integrate students socially and academically.

Students who fall within the Special Needs definition and may require Learning Support are:

  • Students with learning difficulties
  • Students with physical and sensory disabilities
  • Students with emotional and behavioural issues
  • Students with other special needs

Learning support provision is seen in the context of a whole school approach. The Learning Support Team arranges for learning support provision and provides information to subject teachers as necessary. The Guidance Counsellor also works in close association with the  team and students.

Assessment


Where student needs have been identified, the Learning Support Department will support their learning through small group teaching and in some cases one to one tuition. Here are the steps taken in order to assess each student.

  • Where in-coming students are identified as having special needs, staff will meet parents and students to build a picture of the individual, their particular strengths and their specific learning difficulties.
  • With all in-coming 1st Year Students, formal testing will be used to assess reading comprehension, verbal reasoning and numerical ability taking place at the start of the school year.
  • All staff will meet together to assess the needs of the individual students based upon the formal assessments, reports and the classroom observations of the first month.
  • Students with special learning difficulties will be further assessed by the Learning Support Team and outside agencies, as considered appropriate, to identify on-going specific needs and to develop appropriate strategies to remediate difficulties.

 

Learning Support

The level of support provided to a students with special needs will be based on the resources allocated from the Department of Education and Skills for that student and on an assessment of the needs of that student undertaken by the Learning Support Department.

 

Check out our supporting framework of the pastoral care system