SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Definition of Special Educational Needs: The child has a learning difficulty if he has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of children of the same age. The child has a disability which prevents or hinders him from making use of the educational facilities of the kind provided for children of the same age in school. Our Special Educational Needs Department will try and cater to the many needs of our international population. There obviously limitations to this service. Parents with children with Special Educational Needs are requested to inform the school as detailed as possible, include professional reports from psychologists, speech therapists, specialist teachers, etc. and allow Elckerlyc International School ample time to discuss the possible admission of special needs students with all staff involved. After the internal discussion of the application, based on the information received, a parental interview will be arranged discussing whether the school can be of help, how the school could help, what the parents’ role and responsibility will be. All this info will result in a contract being drawn up, describing the task of the school and the task of the school. Our school has an extensive programme of standardised tests which will be administered to all students at least twice annually. Specialist tests in order to detect special educational needs, dyslexia, etc. are also available and will be used by trained professionals. As we have a multi-national, multi-cultural student population with many students with different needs, students with special educational needs will feel at home and do not have to worry about standing out or feeling ostracized. The school has contact with a bi-lingual speech therapist who is available for students of Elckerlyc International School. Students in group 2 (5 – 6 ) will be screened. ORGANISATION Students who require limited help from a professional special needs teacher will receive this help during school hours at no extra cost. Tests in use: Richmond Test of Basic Skills Cognitive Abilities Test Nelson Mathematics Edinburgh Reading Tests Aston Index – diagnostic test for language difficulties