Students who may benefit from a Learning Support program are identified through systematic assessment of core skills and in consultation with classroom teachers. The placement of students in Learning Support programs is reviewed regularly to ensure that students will exit support programs and return to the regular classroom programs as soon as they are ready to do so. We strive to empower our students by facilitating their belief and understanding that they can take control and responsibility for their own academic learning outcomes. By their own efforts they can make a difference.

Additional academic learning support is provided for students in a range of ways, including:

• Implementation of classroom strategies and modification of classroom work tasks to meet the needs of individual students. This is achieved through consultation and collaboration between the Learning Support teacher and the classroom teacher.
• Parent partnerships to provide homework support, including extra daily skills practice that many students with additional academic learning needs require.
• Teacher aide support within the classroom.
• One-to-one and small group withdrawal support programmes.

Gifted students are those whose potential is distinctly above average (in the top 10%) in one or more of the following domains of human ability: intellectual, creative, social and physical.

Talented students are those whose skills are distinctly above average (in the top 10%) in one or more areas of human performance.

To best meet the needs of all students in the Junior Years, their teachers incorporate a differentiated curriculum. To assist with this, we have adopted a policy of clearly differentiating all English and Maths lessons into three distinct areas: those working towards, those working at, and those working beyond the expected level.

• Weekly extension classes.
• Children selected and nominated by class teacher.
• Extra literacy and numeracy lessons.
• Thinking Skills Program.
• Children are given opportunities to compete and engage with other gifted and talented children on the coast and from Brisbane.
• Lessons are prepared and taught by the Head of Junior Years, with small classes of four to five children.

As extra learning support, each term at Good Shepherd students in Years 2 to 5 can access the Homework Club after school on a Tuesday from 3.00pm to 3.45pm. They need only to turn up to the classroom with their homework and supervision and assistance will be offered to them in all subject areas.

Where: Year 2 Classroom

When: Tuesday 3:00pm – 3:45pm

Who: Year 2 to 5 students