ABOUT THE FACULTY
The Additional Support Department is part of Pupil Support. Its role is to provide additional support in all areas of the curriculum for those pupils who may require it. This support may be necessary for a variety of reasons, for example:
• after a long absence
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for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia
•
for general learning difficulties and to help with basic concepts and skills
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for pupils whose first language is not English, and
•
for those pupils who may require an adapted curriculum to suit their particular needs.
Support for learning is available in all subject departments to assist pupils across the whole range of subject areas – this can take place in the subject classroom and by small group extraction. We also provide courses in Basic Skills (English and Mathematics) to identified pupils in S1 and S2 who require additional support in the core skills including:
•
number work
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writing
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spelling
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punctuation and/or grammar.
Pupils with specific learning difficulties will be offered our Specific Skills course. This course uses a multi-sensory approach and covers a variety of skills and strategies, which it is hoped will assist pupils to cope with and alleviate their difficulties.
The department also operates a Paired Reading Scheme. As the name implies, paired reading involves an experienced reader ‘pairing’ with one who has difficulties in reading. In Dumfries Academy S6 pupils are invited to become paired readers as part of the school ‘buddy support programme’. The seniors, once trained, are very effective in giving S1/S2 pupils the extra reading practice they require. As the younger pupils become more fluent, their confidence grows and they become more able to cope with the wide range of reading which will be required in the future. Probably the most attractive feature of paired reading is the enjoyment that all concerned derive from the experience.Information on the Additional Support Needs faculty will appear here in the near future.