LEARNING SUPPORT
Support for student learning is offered in order to respond to the diverse needs of students encountering challenges or difficulties in the learning process.
During a student's learning journey, it is not uncommon to find many pupils who will benefit from a particular teaching approach, strategy instruction and/or skill reinforcement. This may be due to an absence or transition from another school system, a subject specific challenge or an identified learning difference.
Where a specific deficit is noted, students receive additional support in developing skills and strategies for success in the mainstream classroom. Some students require more or different types of support than others. The need for support may be punctual, short term, on-going or transitional as related to a student's unique learner profile.
The department offers a range of intervention models to support both students and teachers, promoting an inclusive learning culture and enabling students to achieve their best, overcome barriers to learning and to develop strategies and confidence.
Head of Learning Support and Individual Pathways
Members of the ISM Learning Support Team aim to create learners who….
feel confident and supported using strategies to navigate and respond to challenges in their learning.
Quality Core Instruction and In Class Support
Some students have less conventional learning styles or would benefit from a particular teaching approach, strategy instruction and/or skill reinforcement. Quality core instruction enables teachers to respond to students individually through differentiation. This may be done in collaboration with a member of the learning support team, through co-teaching or in class support.
Early Intervention Target Groups
Target groups and guided reading are often the first response to a student experiencing difficulties in the mainstream classroom where best practices in core teaching and differentiation have not yielded sufficient improvement or success.
Students may participate in targeted small group instruction for a short period or an extended period, determined by their progress and needs. A Target Plan with specific goals is created for each student upon entry and a Target Review with feedback on progress is provided upon exit.
Individual Strategies and Learning Plans
Diversity in learning styles or challenges may be due to an identified learning difference such as an attention difficulty, dyslexia, dyscalculia or a slower processing speed. Students may require individualized learning targets as outlined in an Individual Learning Plan (ILP), specific strategy instruction and monitoring noted in an Individual Strategy Plan (ISP) or guided skill practice for a period of time. Students receiving this additional support will have had a recent psycho-educational evaluation by an external specialist enabling the team to focus on the appropriate strategies.
All Learning Support programmes and services are designed to address students with mild learning challenges who can continue to access and benefit from the challenges of the bilingual programme in the Early Years.