Section 3

PROGRAMMES OF STUDY

Introduction


The Programmes of Study described in this section are designed to assist schools in reviewing their practices, in planning and implementing their own detailed policies for language, and in evaluating these in relation to the attainment targets and accepted good practice. A school's policy will also take account of the particular educational, social and personal needs of its pupils and will involve varying degrees of co-operation and consultation: between colleagues within the school; between primary and secondary schools; with parents; and with the advisory and other professional services. In secondary schools, this policy will be put into effect by the department of Gaelic.

This section should be read in its entirety by all those involved in the teaching of Gaelic from P1 to S2, a unitary process with similar approaches across the age range. This is important for two reasons: firstly, to ensure progression, balance and a consistency of approach and content at different ages and stages; and, secondly, to accommodate the varieties of needs and the spread of ability likely to be encountered in any one class.

The programmes of study are closely based on the attainment targets and on the outcomes identified in the Rationale. To attain these targets, teaching and learning in the classroom will involve pupils in a broader range of language activities than the targets indicate. Similarly, in the day-to-day practice of the classroom no clear separation can be made between the four outcomes. For these reasons, the programmes described here offer only general guidance; they cannot identify all the possible approaches to be followed and suggest only a few of the available options.

This section sets out accounts of:

principles for the construction of a school's Gaelic programme;

contexts for learning and teaching;

the immersion phase;

relevant content and learning and teaching approaches.

Teachers of pupils with special needs generally, and sensory impairments in particular, should read this section bearing in mind the statement on Special Educational Needs in Part 3, Section 1, Catering for the Needs of Individual Pupils, and the additional comments on the interpretation of levels and targets contained in Part 1, Section 2, Attainment Outcomes and Targets.



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© The Scottish Office Education Department, June 1993