| Section 5
CATERING FOR THE NEEDS OF
INDIVIDUAL PUPILS
Pupils with special educational needs
All pupils should have the opportunity to participate in and benefit
from the full range of experiences offered by a programme of Religious
Education. Developed material, based on the National Programmes,
approved by the Bishops of Scotland, should meet the wide range
of educational needs of pupils in mainstream primary and secondary
schools, special classes or units and in special schools.
Planning should be done on the basis of a whole school approach.
There should be an emphasis on positive attitudes, planned collaboration
and agreement on content, methodology and timescales, all within
a context which provides support for individual pupils. Practical
activities and engagement of pupils in experiences of helping
and of being helped by others are as important and as valuable
as formal work in Religious Education.
Learning and teaching approaches should ensure that all pupils
are challenged to extend their attainments and are given opportunities
to realise their full potential, using the most appropriate materials
and resources at the school's disposal. It is important that Catholic
pupils with special educational needs have personal experience
of sacramental and liturgical celebrations which enable them to
identify with the wider faith community of the Church.
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Problems which pupils with
special educational needs experience in the area of Religious
Education arise from:
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the
limited range of life experience which pupils may
bring to their learning;
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difficulties
in coping with the more traditional methods of learning
and teaching;
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lack
of material appropriate to their age and stage of
development;
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difficulties
in understanding and explaining abstract concepts;
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slower
progress the stages of moral development;
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difficulties
in relating to others;
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acceptance
of a poor or unrealistic self-image. |
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To help pupils with such problems it is important to approach
concepts through their own experiences whenever possible e.g.
their first-hand experience of celebrations or ceremonies. Where
there is a Catholic school, the good example of that faith community,
with the support
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