5-7 Learning Support

St. Joseph's College
Gregory Terrace

The Primary Learning Support Programme endeavours to support all students in their learning but has as its main focus, students who are experiencing difficulty and in need of extra support. Students are identified, assessed and programmes are devised to cater for the needs of these students.

Prior to entry in Year 5, all students are tested in the areas of Language and Mathematics. A student whose performance in these tests, indicates a need for further assessment, will be referred to the learning Support Teacher, who will, in consultation with the Student Counsellor and Class Teacher, develop an individualised programme. In other year levels, class tests and teacher observation, play a major role in the identification of students who are in need of support. The Learning Assistance Programme (LAP) plays a vital role in supporting students in their learning. Trained volunteer tutors work with students, on a one-on-one basis, for one period every week. The activities, based on the programme written by the Learning Support Teacher, generally focus on developing skills in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics.

The Learning Support programme also includes devising programmes for students who need extend beyond the curriculum. The "Gifted and Talented" programmes encourage the students to engage in "higher-level" thinking processes such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The programme may run within the context of the classroom curriculum or take place using a withdrawal model. Students are also encouraged to enter and participate in many and varied competitions and interest activities run both within the school and at other venues.