HOD - Lisa Duggan

The Learning Services Department focuses on supporting ākonga (learners) and their whānau throughout their learning journey at WGC. We take an inclusive strengths-based approach facilitating positive educational, emotional and social outcomes at WGC and beyond. We advocate on behalf of ākonga (learners) and their whānau and provide advice and guidance to staff, supporting all ākonga in a range of areas including physical, social, emotional or academic needs. Support services provided include:

• Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) - applications and administration of SAC for junior and senior students for both internal and external assessments.

• Learning testing - we are able to conduct a number of tests that help us understand how a student learns and any areas that may need support through SAC.

• Teacher Aides - teacher aides are timetabled to specific students and provide in class or individual support for ORS, or other identified students.

• Learning Studies Class - this is available for students to take as an option subject across all year levels. The class offered more individual support for a student's learning, an opportunity for a sensory break or a space in which to complete Te Kura (correspondence school) work.

• Differentiated programs - development and support for alternative curriculum programmes to support students who are working at a significantly lower curriculum level than their peers, or for students who may have significant health or external school pressures.

• Academic advisors - we have two academic advisors available to students. Academic advisors help students stay on top of their work and develop good habits on how best to reach their goals. Academic advisors can help students get a broader understanding of their learning and develop strategies to help achieve goals. The Dean can refer students to the academic advisors or students may refer themselves. The 2023 Academic Advisors are Li Lian Lim (Yr11) and Greg Watson (Yr 12 and 13).

• Referrals - the learning services department accepts referrals to investigate a student's learning needs throughout the year. As a classroom teacher you can make a referral through the form on the Learning Services website page. If you are ever concerned about a students ability to learn please talk to one of the team or the Year Level dean. Girls are particularly good at masking that they are ok whereas they may well be struggling.

• Individual Education Plans (IEP) - Development, support and implementation of IEPs to support student learning. If you as a classroom teacher are invited to an IEP please make it a priority to attend.

• Te Kura - the correspondence school is used to support students who may require an alternative curriculum or program (Te Kura students are now managed through the Language Department. Please see Anna Scadden or Annabelle Sinclair for more information).

• Humanities - this is a cross curricular, internally assessed course, at years 11,12 & 13. While students may opt into this course, approval is at the discretion of the HOD of learning services, the year level deans and the counselling team.

Special Assessment Conditions

Students with SACs or other learning notes are flagged in Kamar with an orange triangle. For this reason, please do not display Kamar on the data projector. Students SAC provisions are also listed on the Profile List pages by year level found on the Learning Services website.

SAC conditions can include: extra time, writer, reader, computer use, separate accommodation, rest breaks or other specialist support for blind or deaf students or those with physical needs such as standing desks.

Students can start using SAC at any time during their time at WGC. In order to support our applications to NZQA to have this use approved we need to collect a variety of data and monitor SAC use. Please check KAMAR as to which SAC conditions have been approved for each student. In the junior years students are trialing SAC conditions and feedback is sought from them as to their experience. Students are approved for different SAC conditions. A student may choose to use some conditions for one subject and not another. It is important to communicate with students as to which SAC conditions they would like to use for each assessment so we can accommodate the bookings in the Learning Services department.

Where possible please try to accommodate SAC students within your classroom. We have a high number of SAC students at WGC and resources are very tight.

If you have a student using SAC you may be asked to complete a Teacher Analysis Needs Assessment for that student, this evidence is used as part of their NZQA application.

All SAC bookings are to be made via the SAC Booking form found on the Learning Services website. Any questions or communication can be made through the SAC mail: wgc.learningservices@wgc.school.nz

Bookings need to be made at least one week in advance. This is so our Internal SAC co-ordinator has enough time to organise staff cover and rooming. Bookings with adaptations, BLENNZ amanuensis, or Signer Need to be made with at least 2 weeks notice.