Course Overview

All young people have an entitlement to educational provision of the highest quality and one that maximises their potential. All staff at St Thomas of Aquin’s are committed to achieving this through an inspiring and inclusive curriculum, delivered through a range of differentiated teaching and learning opportunities. We believe in equality of opportunity for all by creating supportive and challenging environments that value diversity and recognise the achievements of all our young people. The Support for Learning department has a key role to play in enabling the principles of an inclusive education and whole school practice by:

• Creating an ethos of achievement for all pupils within a climate of high expectations
• Valuing a broad range of talents, abilities, and achievements
• Promoting success and self-esteem by taking action to remove barriers to learning

Who do we support?

Children and young people who, for whatever reason, require additional support, long or short term, to help them make the most of education. It is important to recognise that Additional Support Needs will always depend on each individual child as any number of different circumstances can affect a child’s ability to learn.

Support for Learning staff, teachers and Pupil Support Assistants, work with pupils in their classes to support them.  More targeted support may be required at times which can be provided through staff working with small groups of pupils, or individuals, on programmes suited to their learning needs.

Staff also ensure that pupils can access appropriate additional support for internal preliminary exams and final SQA exams.

The Support for Learning faculty is committed to meeting the needs of all our young people by working collaboratively with pupils, parents/carers subject teachers and partner agencies.

Pupils are engaged in a range of learning opportunities through a flexible and relevant curriculum, facilitated by a team of 4 SfL teachers and 8 Pupil Support Assistants. A range of partners such as our EAL teacher and ASL partners complement our team, working closely with staff and relevant pupils to ensure our learners can access the curriculum and positively engage in school.

Here are some examples of the support and activities delivered to our learners-

• We work closely with our feeder primary schools and transition teacher to ensure the smooth transition of pupils with ASN to the High School.

• Gather up to date information and strategies about pupils with ASN which are shared with all staff through the school’s Pupil Support Pack
• Run tutorial classes for relevant pupils with more significant needs to support them with their studies.
• Run catch up reading classes in S1-S3 for identified pupils.
• Organise the S1-3 Paired Reading, Comprehension and Spelling intervention programme to pupils needing support with their literacy skills.
• Coordinate the team of Pupil Support Assistants to ensure pupils with ASN are supported effectively in class.
• Work co-operatively in classes and in consultation with subject teachers to help make the curriculum accessible for all pupils.
• Run the Break and Lunch Club to support vulnerable pupils at these times.
• Administer the SQA Assessment Arrangements for those with specific learning difficulties.
• Run interventions and targeted supports for relevant pupils, including Social Skills, Nurture Groups, Outdoor Gardening, Season for Growth.
• Work with parents, pupils, external agencies and teachers to run Young Person Planning Meetings to coordinate support for pupils.
• Work with colleges, universities and employers to support transition from school to further education or employment.
• Run and deliver Peer Mentoring system to ensure that vulnerable pupils in S1-3 are supported by a senior peer mentor.

Secondary Resource Provision

St Thomas’ Secondary Resource Provision, focuses on supporting up to five students in every year from S1 to leaving age who have significant additional support needs, arising from learning difficulties and/ or language communication difficulties. These children are part of their mainstream class and additional curriculum activities specific to the child’s needs are offered by a team of trained support staff and qualified teachers. We provide individualised planning for each learner and work collaboratively with families and partners to plan transition arrangements post school. Places allocated through the Educational Provision Management Group. More information can be obtained from St Thomas of Aquin’s Support for Learning Department or your Educational Psychologist.

Who Do We Work With?

Partnership and External Services Include:

·         Additional Support for Learning Service

·         ADHD team

·         Active Schools Inclusion

·         Associated Primary Schools

·         Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

·         Colleges

·         English Additional Language Teacher

·         Education Welfare Officer

·         Occupational Therapists

·         Parents/ Carers

·         Physiotherapists

·         Police

·         Physiological Services

·         School Nurse

·         Skills Development Scotland (Careers)

·         Social Services

·         Speech and Language Therapists

·         Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

·         Visiting Teacher of the Deaf

Useful Links/Recommended Websites

Autism Scotland:      www.autism.org.uk

Dyslexia Scotland:    www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk

EAL                           www.ealedinburgh.org.uk

www.naldic.org.uk/eal-teaching-and-learning/eal-resources/bilingual

Stress:                      www.stressandanxietyinteenagers.co.uk

In on the Act:            www.edinburgh.gov.uk/inontheact

ICT ASL Service:     http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/ictasl

Parentline Scotland www.parentlinescotland.org.uk

CALL Scotland (assistive technology)     http://www.callscotland.org.uk/home/

Wheel of Apps (for ipad and android, apps to support literacy)    http://www.callscotland.org.uk/downloads/posters-and-leaflets/

My Study Bar (apps to support literacy and learning)   http://eduapps.org/

Load 2 Learn (learning resources in downloadable format)     https://load2learn.org.uk/

Down’s syndrome – http://www.dsscotland.org.uk/professional/education

Dyslexia Scotland – http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/

Dyspraxia – http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/

Enable – http://www.enable.org.uk/Pages/Enable_Home.aspx

Epilepsy – http://www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk/

Famous Dyslexics – http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/about-dyslexia/famous-dyslexics.html

Getting It Right for Every Child – http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/girfec

Meares Irlen Syndrome – https://www,nhsaaa,net/media/258210/mearesi.pdf

Scottish Advice Centre for Additional Support for Learning – http://enquire.org.uk/

• ADHD Information Services
•  Aphasia and Speech Difficulties ??? is this on the enquire website?
• Autism: National Autistic Society – Scotland | Autism Education Trust | Hesley Group | Autism Independent UK
•  Blindness: Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) |
•  Celebral Palsy: Scope
•  Cystic Fibrosis Trust
• Children: Resolve | National Children’s Bureau
•  Deafness: National Deaf Children’s Society Scotland | Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)
• Down’s Syndrome Association
• Drug Abuse: FRANK
•  British Dyslexia Association
•   Dyspraxia Foundation
• Edmodo
• Speech & Language Difficulties: Afasic
• Tourette’s Action           

• My Study Plan – SQA
• Inspiration Maps – InspirationSoftware
• Class Dojo – ClassTwist
• OpenWeb – AbbieGonzalez
• ModMath – DivisionofLabour
• SpeakIt! – FutureApps
• Dragon Dictation – NuanceCommunications
• Sound Literacy – ABCLiteracy
• WordSort – Grammaropolis
• Blio – SilverDolphin