Scotch College

Our caring Educational support unit

In the Educational Support Unit Scotch has two staff members, Miss Miriam Whitehand and Mrs Donna Del Porto, who nurture the abilities and talents of individual students who have been referred to them by their Head of Year.

The unit aims to establish values which reflect an individuals worth; that they are unique persons, who have skills to contribute to the community.

Some boys may have learning disabilities, sensory, or social and emotional difficulties. The staff endeavour to be an advocate for those who experience difficulties which interfere with their learning. We carry out assessments and diagnose the contributing factors associated with the presenting problem.

We are then able to suggest a variety of options which could help them to become independent learners, self motivating and confident. There have been remarkable efforts by some boys to conquer their difficulties.

The majority of students we see in the Educational Support unit are intellectually very capable, but many may be hindered in demonstrating their ability because of a particular learning disability, or organisational difficulties.

A boy may have a sensory difficulty, such as impairment of sight or hearing, which requires special provisions to access the curriculum. Added to this could well be a social or emotional problem which impinges on relationships, and thus hinders the effort they need to put into their learning.

We aim to support students and help them find solutions which will empower them to overcome their difficulties and raise their expectations of self, by encouraging a degree of personal autonomy as they construct their own perceptions of what their world might be.

We try to balance the push and pull of achievement, and issues about curriculum, with the needs of the person as a growing, feeling being.

Miss Miriam Whitehand