Date: 14.11.11 Special Abilities Policy
Rationale:
All children/tamariki have the right to grow and develop to their fullest potential. Gifted and/or children who have special needs, can have their particular abilities go unnoticed or unseen.
Policy Statement:
At the Aroha Early Learning Centre teaching staff will acknowledge & facilitate learning in children who are either gifted or have special abilities.
We will identify these children by observing and follow up with discourse.
Procedures:
- Assessment by ongoing observations, discussion & debate with all involved, this includes specialist services.
- Individual programme planning will identify strengths & interests & where to next, at planned focus meeting/s.
- Guided by Te Whāriki we will plan appropriate teaching strategies & experiences.
- The programming will be reviewed and evaluated at regular intervals in consultation with family/whānau and specialist services.
Aim:
Teachers are aware & understand the need to maintain their own professional development so they can best meet the demands of setting relevant learning experiences for all children.
The Centre programme will be inclusive and the programming will be tailored to support learning and development according to individual strengths, interests and abilities. In consultation with specialist services I.E.P. and I.D.P. (Individual Developmental/Educational Programmes) will be used for best learning outcomes of focus children in consultation with families/whānau.
Ministry of Education (1996) says Te Whāriki “is designed to be inclusive and appropriate for all children and anticipates that special needs will be met as children learn together in all kinds of early childhood education settings”