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2.6 Calderhead High School, Shotts

Technology and Peer Tutoring in a Primary/Secondary Liaison Programme for SEN
Calderhead High School

For pupils with learning difficulties, wordprocessors and computers can be invaluable in achieving success. For some, however, they present a new set of problems and require skills which may be difficult to acquire. In Calderhead, we felt that promoting keyboarding skills with Primary 7 children before they came to High School would go some way to helping them overcome difficulties with technology. Our main aim is to give them the skills to use technology to improve their literacy and the presentation of their work right from the start of S1.

At the same time this helps us fulfil our other goal of building cordial relationships with the P7 pupils who will shortly be working with us in S1 and builds their confidence about the move to secondary.

We have prepared a series of skill-based lessons to introduce pupils to the portable computers we use in classes in Calderhead. Two Support for Learning staff, and two members of the Extended learning Support Team visit each primary on a weekly basis beginning in January, taking the computers with them.

Four senior pupils on our Working with Others course at Intermediate 1, after a short induction course, accompany each member of staff and work with them to deliver the course to the P7s.

Not only does this add to the enjoyment of the lessons for the P7s, it allows S5/6 pupils opportunities to develop personal and organisational skills as well as giving valuable insights to those considering a teaching career.