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Learning Support & Extension
The Alice Springs Steiner School offers intervention programs for students requiring extra support, as well as extension opportunities for students who can perform above their expected class level.
Our Learning Support program is designed for children who are at risk in their literacy and numeracy learning. Within the school context, Learning Support staff endeavour to help the children with learning needs and differences in learning in an identified area in an inclusive setting. This approach encompasses three levels.
Level 1: Whole school/whole class programs: ie. following the curriculum where the teacher utilises skilled differentiation within lessons to cover the range of needs within the class
Level 2: Specific Support Programs: small groups of children assisted by another teacher or an Individual Support Assistant (ISA), both within the class surroundings or withdrawn for a short period to work on specific educational goals.
Level 3: Intensive support programs: closer to 1:1 ratio of teacher/student support, often involving withdrawal from the class for short periods to target specific educational goals.
Our Learning Support Approach
The school’s approach to learning is guided by the indications given by Rudolf Steiner. Teachers work from these indications to devise strategies for all children to enable them to access the curriculum. The school also utilises Educational Adjustment Plans as a way to target specific learning goals for individual students. The Learning Support team are focussed on working with the goals outlined in the plans as well as supporting the class holistically.
Educational Adjustment Plans (EAP)
Making adjustments to the class program to meet a broad range of needs is commonplace and parents will be invited into this process, particularly if an EAP is being created. The EAP is a collaborative process that takes into account parent’s insights into their child’s life. All information is completely confidential and is used by the class teacher and the Learning Support Coordinator to create targeted strategies to assist your child to access the curriculum and achieve their potential.
The importance of working together:
Research and common sense tells us that it is in the best interests of the child that school’s work collaboratively with parents to achieve the best educational outcomes possible. We see this process of collaboration spanning the duration of your child’s journey with us, from pre-enrolment interviews onwards.
Extension Opportunities in The Classroom
Learning extension opportunities are available for students achieving above expected standards. Students who consistently demonstrate that they have mastered the standards of their current class level are challenged through explicit teaching in the classroom to progress to the next level of work. This can include a range of tasks designed to extend these students, including:
- Reading more extended and complex texts, and discussing these with peers in guided groups and literature circles
- Developing knowledge of more advanced vocabulary and elements of grammar and punctuation
- Being challenged to solve multi-step mathematical problems