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Support Programs
Gifted and Talented Education (GATe)
The GATe program at St Peter’s School acknowledges the definitions used by Françoys Gagne’ when he states that GIFTEDNESS designates the possession and use of outstanding natural abilities, called aptitudes, in at least one ability domain, to a degree that places an individual at least among the top 10% of age peers. And that TALENT designates the outstanding mastery of systematically developed abilities, called competencies (knowledge and skills), in at least one field of human activity to a degree that places an individual at least among the top 10% of age peers who are or have been active in that field.
As such, the St Peter’s School GATe program aims to assist development of intellectual gifts, into talents by:
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appropriate identification using diagnostic testing, particularly from year 3 - 6
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provision for early identification
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provision of external opportunities when possible and appropriate
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individual support where appropriate and possible
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inclusion of students in relevant competitions and experiences external to St Peter’s Primary School
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provision of well-planned extension (class withdrawal) programs that can include the development of a variety of skills including:
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independent working skills
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higher order thinking skills
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research skills
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self-regulation
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problem solving skills
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self-confidence and
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understanding intrinsic motivation
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Please click below to view the Postion Paper for GATe
Numeracy Support
At St Peter’s, both students and teachers are well-supported in the Mathematics Learning Area.
Students are provided with in-class support and small-group withdrawal support. Classroom teachers, support staff and Numeracy Co-ordinators all play a vital part in deciding which support structure is most relevant for our individual students. We perform extensive numeracy assessments and use current data to identify students who will receive numeracy support in both junior and upper primary.
Teachers are also offered a range of support measures in Numeracy. Support is given to teachers when they are designing their classroom numeracy programs. This is also complemented by practical support being given whilst implementing individual Mathematics lessons. Staff attend professional Numeracy Development sessions each term.
St Peter’s have an intervention specialist who implements the Extending Maths Understanding (EMU) Program for those students in junior primary who require support. EMU is a research-based intervention approach that improves students’ knowledge and confidence with Mathematics.
Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is an Early Literacy Intervention Program, developed in New Zealand by Dame Marie Clay. It has been operating successfully for over 15 years. Reading Recovery is designed to help students who are slow to learn to read or write. It is an intensive individualised program for students who have had approximately 2 years of formal schooling.
At Saint Peters, students in Year 1 or Year 2 who are chosen to participate in the program, receive a daily 30 minute lesson with a specially trained Reading Recovery teacher, over a period of 12 – 20 weeks.
Literacy Support
St Peter’s offers students specialist support in the Literacy Learning Area through small-group withdrawal, as well as in-class support. Students with specific learning needs are able to access phonological support programs to assist with developing age appropriate spelling understandings.
Reading support is also offered to students in middle to upper year groups through small-group Reciprocal Reading sessions, an interactive teaching strategy for supporting readers to develop comprehension strategies.
St Peter’s also has a number of highly trained Educational Assistants who rotate throughout the school, offering additional in-class support during class dedicated literacy sessions.
