POLICY REGARDING LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS [LSEN] AT EL SHADDAI CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Recognising that independent schools are not bound by the same directives as may apply to state schools, please be aware of our policy and procedure regarding LSEN at the school:

  1. El Shaddai Christian School [ESCS] takes cognisance of the limitations of our physical environment, facilities and resources, which restricts our ability to provide high quality education to certain special needs children. Our admissions policy and procedures will seek to identify whether a special needs child requires low, medium or high level of support (as defined by Education White Paper 6 on Special Needs Education)and to determine whether ESCS is capable of providing the child concerned with the level of support required.
  1. When there is any hesitancy from the school’s side regarding admission or progression to the next grade of a LSEN learner, a panel will be called, comprising of the following:
  2. ESCS appointed representative [the “case manager”], designated to assist learners, parents/guardians and teachers with challenges of accommodation. [This person will act as the Chairperson].
  3. ESCS class teacher and academic head of the learner’s grade.
  4. An independent professional who specialises in the remediation of LSEN children.[This cost will be borne by the parent.]
  5. Other expert opinion may also be considered if needed.[This cost will be borne by the parent].

The panel will review selected applications for admission to ESCS and/or the grade progression of an LSEN pupil and make recommendations to the Headmaster or his deputy for final approval.

Please take note of the following:

  • In the interests of the wider education process, ESCS generally only accepts two LSEN pupils per class.
  • We are not able to proceed with an application for admission without the agreement of a suitably qualified educational psychologist [or similar professional], indicating that the learner is a suitable candidate for mainstream education.

P.T.O.

2

  1. ESCS is able to accommodate certain approved teaching aids for LSEN pupils (e.g. adapted computers or devices) and will do its level best to consider and implement recommendations of an educational psychologist. (See previous bullet point.)

However, there are limitations:

  • We are not able to accommodate exam scribes due to venue constraints.
  • The use of computers in external exams is complicated and subject to many restrictions.

On the other hand, the school can:

  • Accommodate, upon request, the writing of tests or exams at home or another venue with parental support. This only applies to the Primary School.
  • Grant extra time [15 minutes per hour] for those Primary and High school pupils who qualify for this dispensation. An educational psychologist or similar registered professional needs to explicitly recommend extra time before we can grant this concession.
  1. If, in the opinion of ESCS and in the best interests of the child, we do not have the capacity to provide a special needs child with the appropriate level of support required, while continuing to provide the child with high-quality education, ESCS will, in accordance with our admissions policy and procedures:
  • not be able to accept the child into the school; or
  • in the event that the child concerned is already attending ESCS and the special need was not diagnosed or was assessed as manageable within the limitations of the school or has come about or developed subsequent to the child's admission, it will be in the best interest of the child to discharge the child from the school to a specialised facility.
  • ESCS will give all reasonable assistance to the parents/guardians in endeavouring to place the child in another school that has such capacity.

28 February 2017