Inclusion at St Stithians Girls’ College

• Learners with impairments and learning barriers have the same rights as their peers.  Educationally, this means every child has the competence to learn and develop.

• Inclusion is for the present; it is not conditional on future prospects or perceived difficulties.  The relationships that we forge with others enrich our lives.  Removing communication barriers encourages us to embrace diversity.

• Inclusion builds communities and social justice

What happens at St Stithians Girls’ College?

• In class support: the traditional remedial model of removing learners experiencing difficulties from the class has been replaced with in-class support.  Here the Learner Support Specialist offers educators and their learners classroom-focused support.

• Afternoon tutorials: Learners who have barriers to learning receive assistance from the Learner Support Specialist.  Additional support programmes in the form of reading and comprehension enhancement, learning strategies, time management, organizational skills and study skills are offered.  Peer Tutors who are trained also assist girls with homework, study skills and consolidation of class work.

• Pre-Wrap arounds and Wrap arounds: Support staff and teachers collaborate to co-plan teaching and learning strategies in order to meet individual needs.  Wrap arounds are held with parents to inform them of their daughters’ progress or to brainstorm the way forward as a team.

• Flexible Curriculum: Three main routes can be followed here:  Integration, Inclusion or an Individualized Education Programme (IEP).  Here curriculum content is modified and differentiated.

• Concessions: these take the form of readers, scribes, separate venues, concessions for time spelling, and writing.  The IEB requires that a full Psycho-Educational Assessment is carried out when applying for these.  This is done in the Grade 10 or 11 year for matric.

• Guidance on learning, how to learn and enhancing performance providing our girls with the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves that they can possibly be.

The greatest reward is when the seemingly impossible becomes possible.

“Inclusion is not about policies and discourses.  It is about making music with what you have.”  - Prof Roy McConkey