ASNAs support raising the attainment of all pupils.  They always work under the supervision and direction of the class teacher.  They are allocated to our school in line with North Lanarkshire’s resource allocation procedures.  Support is specified with a particular pupil and in response to meeting particular needs.  Flexibility will be clarified where an assistant meets the needs of more than one pupil in the class or where an assistant is withdrawing support and encouraging pupil independence.  Duties, as listed in the Support for Learning Handbook, may include:

‘The Award Scheme Development & Accreditation Network’ course aims to promote the personal development of pupils through various challenges and credit awards.  The focus of the course is to enhance pupils self-esteem, their aspirations and their contributions to the community.

Each award programme contains a choice of challenges which will encourage the pupils to become more skilled at:

The pupils will be awarded either bronze or silver certification depending on the amount of credits they achieve.  The skills which the pupils will develop in ASDAN are highly valued by employers and institutions of further and higher education.

Peer Tutoring is a development course offered to S5 and S6 pupils.

Peer Tutoring offers the senior pupil the opportunity to work alongside the Support for Learning Department to support pupils who have been identified as having an additional support need. All peer tutors are based in class to support inclusion and some work with a group of pupils while others work with individual pupils.  The peer tutor will assist pupils with tasks such as helping to organise their resources, keeping them on task, copying of notes and completing the tasks of the lesson.  This is an extremely rewarding course and many of the pupils in the past have gained endless enjoyment and satisfaction from it.  On completion of the course the Peer Tutors will be awarded ‘The Diana Award of Excellence’ which acknowledges their commitment to the school and indeed younger pupils.  This award is recognised and valued by all universities, colleges and local businesses.

In recent years there has been a massive uptake of this course and as a result interviews may take place to assess suitability.

The SfL Dept provide interval and lunchtime activities for identified groups of pupils. The pupils can come to the Games Room, the Chill Zone or the Computer Room and can participate in activities such as:

This helps to develop the pupil’s ability to socially interact with their peers and increase their level of confidence.

In addition, staff in the department are available to help pupils complete homework.

Several of our staff are actively involved in the Nurture Room project which was set up in 2012/13. This is a work in progress. The main aim of the project is to help develop social  skills amongst younger pupils in a less formal environment via interaction with staff and senior pupils. For example, every Monday lunchtime, Mrs Buchanan and Mrs Stevenson run a nail bar for selected S1 pupils.

Planning for transition is an ongoing process, however, at certain stages statutory timescales have been set in order to ensure continuity and progression between stages. Please note that for all pre school to primary and primary to secondary transitions “the duty to seek and take account of relevant information and advice from appropriate agencies or other persons should be completed no later than 12 months before the change of school is anticipated” and “the duty to provide

information should be completed no later than 6 months before the anticipated change of school.” (Supporting Children’s Learning Code of Practice Revised Addition 2010).

In Coltness High, transition planning includes members of the Support for Learning team visiting each link primary and gathering information on the pupils as well giving the pupils the opportunity to meet them. Some pupils may be identified for an extended transition where they would be invited for a series of extra visits in the year preceding their arrival at secondary school.

The department is  also represented at the Summer Chill project where staff work with identified pupils during the summer holidays on an activity programme designed to raise confidence and familiarity with the school.

The department work closely with the Support for Learning Dept in Motherwell College through the Independent Link programme. The programme is for school pupils in their final year who have been receiving learning support, have additional support needs or because of other personal circumstances cannot access the mainstream range of College/School Link opportunities. The college offer a supported learning environment within an integrated college setting.

The Independent Link aims to:

The course content includes: joinery, brick work, office skills, beauty, child care, fitness, painting and decorating, sign language, team building and much more.

Pupils who are nominated by the SfL Dept experience a range of activities at the College one day per week across the full school session.