Our Learning Support co-ordinators Branaye Wade and Melanie King work alongside students. Whanua and teachers to develop and implement learning strategies in the classroom. We have access to external agencies and a wide range of resources to help support students and teachers in the classroom.
We assist with students whose needs are considered mild to moderate, e.g. dyslexia, ASD, ADHD, processing disorders, etc. If their needs can be catered for in a class, then they will be under our support.
Here at AshColl, Branaye (war@ashcoll.sachool.nz) is responsible for Year 10 and 12 and Melanie (kim@ashcoll.school.nz) is responsible for Year 9, 11 and 13 students.
Our Reading Mentors Programme runs during Terms 2 and 3 and provides targeted one-to-one reading support for students who need extra help developing their reading skills. Each Year 9 student in the programme is paired with a dedicated Year 12 mentor, creating a supportive partnership that builds confidence, fosters a love of reading, and strengthens literacy. Typically, around 35 Year 9 students take part each year, and our data consistently shows that the programme has a significant positive impact on reading achievement. The programme is inspired by the educational research and methods of Joseph Driessen. We are very grateful to Advance Ashburton for the funding to ensure the running of this successful programme.
Ashburton College takes pride in its diverse student population. With an increasing number of students for whom English is a second language joining us each term, we recognise both the cultural enrichment this brings and the need for specialised academic support.
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Department provides essential language support services to ensure all students can succeed academically. Here you will find the list of our dedicated staff.
Te Whare Manaaki offers a supportive environment for students who require more specialized attention than a mainstream classroom can provide without an individualized plan and dedicated support.
Sheree Tait heads our program, crafting personalized educational plans for each student. Our Learning Support Assistants work alongside Sheree to bring these plans to life, ensuring students receive consistent, tailored support throughout their school day.
We’re committed to partnering with students and their whānau to make the most of what Ashburton College offers. Sheree develops individual timetables that strike the right balance – giving students meaningful exposure to mainstream classes while also providing focused learning opportunities in a more supportive setting. This approach helps students build essential skills in an environment where they feel comfortable and confident.
Students in Te Whare Manaaki get the best of both worlds: chances to connect with the wider school community plus the specialized support they need to succeed on their own terms.
Special Assessment Conditions (SAC), are NZQA-approved conditions students can access if they meet the following criteria:
Students may be eligible for a submission for SAC if they have permanent or long-term sensory, physical or medical conditions or a specific learning disorder.
To be eligible to submit the:
SAC is predominately used during exam periods when students are sitting time-bound tests. Where appropriate we can use SAC within internal assessment, although how this looks varies depending on what the assessment is and how it is set up.
At Ashburton College we are fortunate to have a team of Learning Support Assistants who are known as LSA’s. The purpose of the LSA is to support students in their day to day learning. They attend their classes, break down instruction, run small group activities and can act as reader / writers for assessments. They are timetabled to a variety of classes, based on need, availability and funding.
