Gifted and Talented Pupils at Barrow Hall
Primary School
What does Gifted and Talented mean?
Children who are identified as Gifted and/or Talented have the ability or
potential ability to achieve significantly ahead of their year group in one or more academic subjects (gifted) or non-academic subjects (talented.) See policy for more detailed definitions.
How do we identify?
No single checklist or definition exists. We mainly use teacher recommendation to identify pupils, however, all staff, parents and peers can also nominate. At Barrow Hall, we use a balance of qualitative as well as quantitative means of identification (see policy for examples.) This balance ensures inclusion of gifted and talented children who may be underachieving due to individual circumstances. The identification of gifted and talented children is a continuous process, as ability is a developmental phenomenon, which can rise and fall over time.
How do we provide?
Teachers plan all their lessons with differentiation to include challenge for gifted and talented children. Gifted and talented children benefit from higher order thinking through questioning and tasks. It gives them the necessary opportunity to think 'outside the box,' developing their own thinking skills and methods of problem solving. Pupils benefit from ownership of a task and the opportunity to evaluate their own methods/strategies. While this is essential for the gifted and able pupils, it also benefits and motivates all pupils, when used as an inclusive approach. We use a range of provision, including enrichment and extension opportunities (see policy for full list.)
How can parents get involved?
Teachers may not necessarily use the terms gifted and talented when discussing individual children. They may refer to your child as working at the top end of their year group in one or more subjects. This information is usually given during parents evenings.
Information from parents about potential gifts and talents outside of school is valued. It can sometimes happen that pupils develop interests and hobbies outside of school which teachers are not aware of. Please note that the school cannot provide for many extra-curricular activities, for example, we do not have the resources for activities such as horse riding and golf!!! However, we endeavour to celebrate achievements when possible.
In June 2007, questionnaires were sent home requesting such information from parents. Children's interests as well as gifts and talents are valued, as it provides class teachers with a more 'rounded picture' of individual children.
What can parents do at home with their child?
Parents can develop thinking skills/strategies quite simply through encouragement of games that involve the progression of strategies, e.g. chess, Connect 4, Blokus and puzzles such as Rubiks cube, Sudoku, the list is endless! Many homes will already contain these types of games, puzzles and software. There are a range of games and puzzles available from many sources. Please note that the suggestions below are just a sample of those available and are not recommended above other appropriate catalogues and retailers.
Parents can also encourage their child to use their creative imagination through designing, making, writing etc. Children do not have to be particularly artistic to succeed with creative ideas, but can explore their imagination through a range of methods, including verbal conversations/descriptions about their thoughts. Children benefit from all opportunities to 'think outside the box.'
Many of the Home Learning tasks that children currently bring home promote this scope for creativity and imagination. They provide opportunities for some freedom for applying and expanding on their own ideas to the task, whilst being directly relevant to the creative curriculum topic taught at school.
Useful web sites
There are specific s
ections for parents on these web sites:
