Learning Support

LEARNING SUPPORT CENTRE (LSC)

The Learning Support Centre (LSC) awhi students at all year levels in a variety of ways, but our key focus has been to support Year 9 and 10 students, by promoting self management, confidence and independence. Our aim is to arm students with the tools that will prepare them for success, as they transition into the senior school and beyond.

In Learning Support, we look at the whole student and how we can best support them in their learning, so that they can achieve their own potential. Students are identified in a variety of ways, which can include testing, referrals, observations and information from previous school.

Teachers are able to support students in their classes as key information and strategies around an individual's specific learning needs are shared with them by Learning Support. Where appropriate, Teacher Aide support is also provided in classes. Learning Support applies a more discrete approach to working with students and the teacher in the classroom, so that multiple students can benefit from Teacher Aide help.

Learning Support also coordinates referrals to outside agencies such as the RTLB service, Ministry of Education, and transitions services when necessary.

In class Teacher Aide support is provided in our Year 9 and 10 Junior Numeracy Programme (JNP) and Junior English Literacy (JEL), and our Applied Science Programme (ASC). We also provide whole class support to a range of classes, when the need arises. NCEA Level 1 classes that have a Teacher Aide presence are the lower stream classes in English and Maths.

Specialist support is provided in our new PATH programme, which offers real world literacy and numeracy learning, as well as social skills and executive functioning skill development. This allows students to progress their learning from where they are currently on in their educational journey. We track and support students through to leaving school for a course and/or employment.

Students with specific learning disorders may qualify for Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) for their NCEA exams. Learning Support coordinates and provides this service. If a reading and/or writing deficit is a barrier to a student achieving at the expected curriculum level for NCEA, an application to New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for SAC assistance may be appropriate.

Please note that SAC is not for students working at below the expected curriculum level. A reader will only read what is written on the assessment page, and a writer will only write down, word for word, what the student has said. There is no prompting or discussion around the work during an assessment.

The LSC has an open door policy. It is a supervised place where students can spend their intervals and lunchtimes with other students from any year level.

Enquiries can be directed to the Head of Department, Mrs S Simmons.