Welcome to the Learning Support Department.

This Department works to assist learning at many levels through-out the school. The following students are assisted by this department: English as a second language, students with learning difficulties, gifted and talented students, students who are working at a lower academic level, students who are utilising correspondence school for subjects, students who qualify for exam assistance such as having a reader or writer and students with disabilities.

English second language learners are provided with a personalised programme to elevate their knowledge and use of the English language. The amount of time provided for these students is dependent on the number of students requiring assistance as this directly effects the amount of funding received and therefore the number of hours a teacher is able to be employed. Students are identified at enrolment and tested identify those entitled to this assistance.

The co-ordination of an enrichment programme is organised and managed for Year 9 and 10 students that are identified by their families and staff as gifted and talented.  The enrichment programme provides gifted and talented students with a range of activities that they may find interesting to investigate further once the introduction of the topic has occurred via the programme.

Lower achievement students are tested and an adapted programme is structured to their current level of need to ensure they are working at their level of need.  Successmaker, a personalised computer programme, provides extra tuition in reading, mathematics and spelling and is delivered with Teacher Aide assistance. Unknown skills are taught to the students using this programme so they are able to advance their skills.

South Pacific Educational Courses referred to as SPEC provide individualised programmes of learning for students at any level through out the school. These courses are NCEA accredited. This programme was created in 2007 and provides for New Zealand students. Students learn to plan their own work, complete it within timeframes that they believe they are able to achieve and are then self reviewed. This programme motivates students through providing choice and encourages independent learning.


Correspondence is applied for an overseen by a Teacher Aide for students that wish to take a subject that is not currently available in the classroom.
The video conference facility provides this group of students with a knowledgeable teacher and classmates around New Zealand
Students with learning difficulties are assessed to identify students that require assistance during examinations. Recommendation is made to students and families whom the special education co-ordinator believes requires further testing to support an application for assistance.

Special Needs students are individually caters for through Individual Education plans in Te Kahui Whetu.  these programmes are aimed at providing students with functional knowledge so they are able to mange in the community when they leave school and home.

Effective tools used in this department to assist student learning are the computer programme Successmaker, South Pacific Educational Courses (SPEC), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Edmark.
The picture exchange programme, or PECS as it is referred to, is as its name suggests a method of communicating for students that do not communicate orally. This is often a helpful tool for students with autism or physical disabilities than inhibit speech.
Edmark is a reading programme used for students that have tried to learn to read for eight years prior to arriving at college and have made little or no progress. This programme teaches students to recognise and understand signs within the community. Further information on this class is attached to this site.

Our department seeks to support student needs, sometime involving other agencies such as psychologists, pyschiatrists, speech language therapists, specialists in hearing and ACC.  these agencies are usually utilised by the ORRs funded students but are sometimes required to assist with non funded students.

This department also facilitates assistance from the Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), when requested and agreed to, by families and teaching staff.  With student's permission the (SENCO) and the RTLB to assist students.