Support for Learning

The Support for Learning team in Tynecastle High School forms part of the overall Support for Students, thereby ensuring students’ pastoral and learning needs are supported holistically. In keeping with the City of Edinburgh Council’s policy on Equality and Inclusion we work hard to ensure that the Curriculum for Excellence, both at the Broad General Education stage and the Senior Phase, is accessible to all of our students.

An additional support need comes from anything that is a barrier to learning. All Education Authorities have legal duties towards students with additional support needs. More detailed information about this is available in the document ‘In On The Act: Information for the General Public‘ which is published on the education authority website at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/inontheact, or contact the additional support for learning team on 0131 469 3444. In addition, the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning provides information and literature for parents on its website www.enquire.org.uk

The Support for Learning team consists of a Curriculum Leader and currently 6 Full-Time Pupil Support Assistants (PSAs), and 3 Part-Time PSAs based within the school. We also work extensively with other Education Services and outside Agencies to support our students. Most of the time PSAs will work alongside subject teachers to support classes or individual students but there are also programmes available such as Reading Recovery which support Literacy targets and are delivered to small groups.

Many students will have an experience during their school life which will impact on their learning. We therefore aim to support as broad a range of students as possible to reach their full potential and these may include students for whom English is an Additional Language, students who are disabled, students who have specific needs such as Autism or Dyslexia, and students who have low attainment as well as those who are highly able.

Some of our activities
• In class support across all curricular areas
• Small group extraction for Reading Recovery
• Assessments for dyslexia
• SQA Personal Development Award for S3 and S4 at National 4
• SQA Assessment Arrangements
• Tracking and monitoring of students with exceptional needs
• Liaison with Partnership services including Educational Psychologists, Skills Development Scotland, Enable, NHS, Social Work and Visiting Teacher Support Services (VTSS)
• Provision of ICT to support extended writing
• Transition planning P7-S6
• Homework club

If you think your child needs some extra support please do not hesitate to contact me.

L Adair
Support for Learning Leader
0131 337 3488
admin@tynecastle.edin.sch.uk