Catering for Student Needs

Dependent on student need, staffing and/or resourcing, the school will provide the following programmes to support students with their academic learning and/or behaviour. The person who looks after students is our SENCO (Student Education Needs Co-Ordinator).

Special Needs Unit

Marfell Community School provides a special needs unit, with specialised teachers, for students who learn better outside of the regular classroom. Where possible, students participate in classroom learning, and everyone is a part of school celebrations and assemblies. Trips beyond the school occur on a regular basis and expand the experiences of our tamariki.

Reading Support

Rainbow Reading, Pause, Prompt, Praise (PPP) and Hei te Awhiawhi Panui ki te Panui Pukapuka (HPP) reading support programmes are available for children in need of extra one-on- one assistance. 

Oral Support

 Children experiencing significant language delays may be considered for inclusion in the oral language development programme. 

Reading Recovery

Phonological Support
Following the 6 year old diagnostic survey, children requiring additional reading/writing tuition may be considered for inclusion in the Reading Recovery Programme. This is an intensive, one to one programme, designed to assist children with reading difficulties.
This programme helps targeted children to hear and identify letter sounds that make up word. Phonemic awareness is a subset of phonological awareness. Separating the spoken word 'cat'; into three distinct phonemes /k/, /æ/, and /t/, requires phonemic awareness.

RTLB

Should a student have mild to moderate learning and/or behaviour needs, a referral may be made by the school, for support and/or intervention by a Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour - RTLB.

Gifted and Talented

From time to time curriculum intensives will be offered, to enrich and extend the more able children, and provide extension learning for these children within their areas of strength.

ESOL

Children who have English as their second language (ESOL), and who have significant developmental delays in learning to read, write and speak English, may be considered for a language development and enrichment programme.

Individual Education Plan (IEP)

When necessary, plans are established, in consultation with parents/caregivers and at times a member from Specialist Education Services, to meet specific learning and/or social needs of the student. The plan belongs to the school and is a guide to our intervention programme.

Individual Behaviour Plan (IBP)

Plans are established, in consultation with parents/caregivers and support agents, such as RTLB to meet specific behaviour and/or social needs of the student. The plan supports the child and staff towards ensuring successful attendance at school.