Additional Support Needs at Craigholme

Additional Support Needs Formerly known as either Support for Learning or Learning Support. By 2004, the Scottish Government was using “ASN” to reflect the wider remit.

Additional Support Needs Craigholme follows its pupils extremely carefully, potentially tracking their progress from the age of 3 up to 18. Nursery Staff Lower Junior Staff All are involved with the pupils at stages Upper Junior Staff Senior Staff ASN staff are involved across the school at all stages.

Early Intervention Identifying a pupil’s needs as early as possible in their schooling is crucial to their progress. Our ASN Early Years teacher works with Nursery and Lower Junior pupils and staff, putting in place support programmes designed for each pupil’s needs.

Additional Support Needs Our ASN teachers are qualified to post-graduate Diploma level in ASN. In addition, other teachers may be involved at times with ASN pupils. Weekly meetings to highlight ASN work, involving Head of Junior School, Depute Principal, Head of Early Years and ASN staff. ASN is part of the wider support structure in school, including Guidance.

In Craigholme We consider our pupils in a holistic way

Craigholme ASN Pupils may have ASN for a variety of reasons Absence – where a pupil has missed some teaching because of an illness or for family circumstances Difficulty – a pupil may have difficulty with a new topic or may have an ongoing need for support Extension – a pupil has easily learned the work and her learning can be extended into new areas Work is always set to the individual pupil’s needs

Craigholme ASN A pupil may exhibit ASN for a very short time a longer time or require support in many classes over some years depending on their needs.

ASN at Craigholme in the Lower Junior School, ASN will include: support in whatever form is appropriate to the pupil And this might include: Working individually Working as part of a support group

ASN Nursery and Lower Junior pupils

ASN Nursery and Lower Junior Pupils Devised by our ASN teacher for Early Years to involve Lower Junior and Nursery pupils working together. Pupils from both schools are set challenges by their partner and they work together on them.

ASN Nursery and Lower Junior Pupils The effects of the Magic Nursery Project are seen in the transition to the Junior 1 class, where the new J1 pupils are quite used to being in the building and where they know pupils and staff by face and by name.

Lower Junior Pupils Peer Tutoring in J1 and J3 Pupils work again with their partner from the Magic Nursery on language and maths activities J3 devise their teaching programme led by their work with their younger partner

ASN Junior pupils use a variety of multi-sensory materials for number work

ASN working with Junior pupils

ASN in Senior School

Additional Support Needs In Craigholme Senior School, pupils with ASN are known as the Polar Bears.

ASN in Senior School Support is usually delivered through the subject teacher in class Rapid, frequent, ongoing consultation between subject and ASN teachers Pupils provided with close network of support Drop-in to ASN staff before school and during breaks throughout week

We have regular meetings with the Polar Bears Usually during Assembly on a Wednesday; once or twice a year in different year groups, and also with all of the Polar Bears S1 – S6, as peer support is extremely valuable Looking at SQA requirements in S4, S5 and S6 Looking at strategies in S1-S3 Pupils feel part of a group, not isolated

Dyslexia is a different learning style, not a disease! Is lifelong, so it won’t “go away”, nor will it be “cured” There’s nothing wrong with being dyslexic, it’s only that the world is set up for non-dyslexic brains! Our staff have personal experience of living with and working with dyslexia.

So we teach strategies to our dyslexic pupils

This works well….. some of our former Polar Bears are now studying medicine they’re at vet schools they’re at Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, St Andrews universities, to name but a few….. We’re very proud of them!

They’ve achieved what was thought to be impossible….

ASN in Craigholme Senior School Pupils take responsibility for their own learning Subject teachers and ASN teacher are available for extra help throughout the week Strategies are available on pupil intranet Request laptop for classes Set up their computer to suit

Using Computers Background colour changed to suit each pupil Fonts changed to suit individual pupil Microsoft “Word Talk” on all computers for every school pupil

Everyone has Additional Support Needs for something! Could you put up a deck chair?? New phone? Can you use all the functions?? Trucks stuck by GPS. Hello Helpline, Yes, I already did that!

ASN in Craigholme Learning about it Asking for help Taking responsibility for what you need to do Dealing with it Working with it Making it part of you

Craigholme’s Polar Bears learn to adapt and……..

… because we take ASN – not ourselves – extremely seriously, our Polar Bears