Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)

The Gifted and Talented programme at our school is targeted provision, appropriate to the diverse needs of the students at any given time. This is flexible, and changes according to such needs. We identify our GATE learners and their needs, following clear principles. We have a commitment to equity in both the identification of and provision for our gate students. We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi by prioritising te ao Māori principles of giftedness in our identification criteria.

When teachers notice students with exceptional talents and abilities, this is always communicated to parents. Clear, measurable data is collected over time and recorded on Hero (our student management system). Together, the classroom teacher and parent establish ways to best meet the student’s needs in the classroom, as part of the regular programme. Occasionally, referral to specialist services for a formal diagnosis of giftedness may be recommended. 

Students who have been identified as gifted through such a process of a formal diagnosis usually have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Using the school’s observational data, parents may independently identify their child(ren) as gifted, and may also request an IEP. Annual goals are set with parents, teachers, GATE Mentor, and often the child themselves. Our SENco may also contribute to the IEP. The GATE mentor teacher supports both the classroom teacher and the student in meeting these goals.

At our school we prioritise catering for the needs of our gifted students within their classroom through targeted, differentiated teaching. From time to time, and in some areas of the curriculum, this may not always be possible, so individuals who have GATE IEPs may work 1:1 with the GATE mentor teacher, outside of their classroom.

We also offer enrichment activities at our school. These are for everyone to participate in. Through providing such opportunities, we believe anyone’s and everyone’s talents can be noticed. Enrichment activities may include: Lewis Eady music lessons, art/craft classes, chess club, various sports teams, cheerleading, kapa haka, choir, marimba, science club. Some are run by class teachers, some by volunteer parents, and some are an additional cost, payable to an outside provider. Sometimes there are competitions to enter. Our curriculum is also enriched by our specialist teachers.

Gifted students may also choose to attend the one-day school options of Mindplus and Forest School or opt into independent study through Te Kura. At Pt Chevalier we support our students’ involvement in any of these.