Approaches to Learning
Within Saltersgate School learners have a wide range of additional support needs ranging from children with very complex learning, physical and health needs to others who are able to participate in some areas of the mainstream curriculum and attend classes in mainstream schools.
Staff use a range of approaches to learning and teaching to ensure that it is appropriate for all learners and across the whole curriculum. Active learning, co-operative and collaborative learning, interdisciplinary learning, Outdoor Learning and how their learning can be applied in real life situations are some of the approaches used to ensure all learners are motivated, engaged, and challenged within Saltersgate.
Literacy and English
Our ability to use language is the core of our development and expression of emotions, thinking and our learning. Literacy is fundamental in all areas of our learning and the teaching of it is the responsibility of not just the class teacher but also the teachers of specialist subjects.
The development of literacy skills is very important for all pupils at Saltersgate. In line with the Curriculum for Excellence, literacy is split in to the following three organisers:
- Listening and talking
- Reading
- Writing
Pupils will follow individual and class programmes of work based on these areas.
A variety of teaching methods and resources are used to support and meet the needs of each pupil.
Numeracy and Mathematics
In line with Curriculum for Excellence, pupils at Saltersgate School experience numeracy and mathematics in the areas of:
- Number, money and measure;
- Shape, position and movement; and
- Information handling.
The school uses the Midlothian Understanding Numeracy Programme as a basis for teaching and learning in this area. Pupils follow individual, group and class programmes of work, appropriate to their needs. Teaching methods are varied to suit learners’ needs and visual strategies and materials are used to support understanding of concepts. In order to make learning functional, real life contexts are central to the way in which numeracy and mathematics is delivered. Links between numeracy and other curricular areas are made clear to pupils. At all stages pupils are encouraged to take a problem solving approach and to develop their mathematical curiosity.
Health and Wellbeing (HWB) Across Learning
The health and wellbeing of pupils at Saltersgate is the responsibility of all the adults. We set HWB targets with pupils and parents, and these are shared with staff. Targets are also linked to our school rewards systems, to ensure the pupils are motivated to work towards these. The continuous cycle of sharing and addressing targets ensures that the mental, emotional, and social needs of all pupils are continually addressed.
Pupils all have a register teacher, class team, and a class group, which supports their learning in this area on a day-to-day basis, with regular opportunities to learn and reflect on their own development in HWB.
Pupils have opportunities to develop their own knowledge, understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for their personal wellbeing, now and in the future.