Tawhai School provides a wide range of programmes to support the learning needs of children. To ensure the best possible teaching and learning for these children programmes for students requiring extra learning support are under the direction of the Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO) team.

SENCO

• Sharon Boese – coordinates teacher aide timetables, works with ORS students and oversees Individual Education Programmes (IEP’s), liaises with outside support agencies, provides support and guidance to teachers, and supports Special Needs students.

Special Needs

The whole school embraces our philosophy on inclusive education. In co-operation with parents and whanau we provide quality educational programmes for children with high special education needs through:

• Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) formulated alongside parents/caregivers
• specialist one to one intervention
• appropriate adaptation of curriculum content
• special education support in the classroom

Learning Support

The school provides support and assistance for children identified as requiring additional support with their learning. Teachers and/or teacher aides work with individual students or small groups. The school supports this through the provision of programmes such as:

Reading Recovery

This programme supports a limited number of 6 year old children who have difficulty with Reading. These students receive a half hour daily lesson with a qualified Reading Recovery teacher until they achieve approximately the normal level. If this is not achieved, they remain in the programme for up to 20 school weeks when they are generally referred to another learning support system.

Individual/Group learning support

We employ teacher aides to work with individuals or small groups. This is to provide extra assistance for students needing support with their reading, writing or maths.

Parent Tutor Reading

Trained adult volunteers support students who need additional assistance with their reading. Students are timetabled to receive regular opportunities to improve their fluency and  comprehension.

Buddy reading programme

Senior students are paired up with a reluctant junior reader. The purpose of the programme is to encourage a love of reading for both students and to allow the younger readers to feel a sense of accomplishment while they build fluency.