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1.15 Perth Grammar School, Perth & Kinross

Science/Learning Support Liaison
Perth Grammar School

Science / Learning Support Liaison

Four years ago in Perth Grammar School, a need was identified for effective communication between the Science Department and the Learning Support Department, in order to improve support for pupils in Science classes. There was also a need for differentiated material to be developed to match the new 5-14 Environmental Studies syllabus.

As I had just completed a postgraduate certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties I volunteered to be the link person for the Science Department. A Learning Support teacher with a special interest in Science volunteered to be the link person from her department.

Over the past four years of our partnership we have developed differentiated course material for less able pupils in Science and for pupils with SLD. In the past year we have concentrated on developing course material and homework assignments for level F of the Environ-mental Studies course.

With the assistance of the Learning Support Department I have been able to disseminate material on ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism, giving examples of good teaching practice.

This partnership allows one Science teacher to have an overview of in-class support in Science and also a close association with the Learning Support Department enabling support to be targeted more effectively in Science classes.

The Science Department was the department that conceived the idea of subject department liaison with learning support. It has been so successful that the Principal Teacher of Learning Support has requested that all subject departments appoint a link person with the Learning Support Department .