A school learning support department is the mainstay for providing equal opportunity for the weaker pupil to learn and develop. This page describes some initiatives and principles that befits good a learning support system.

1. Provide key word spelling cards to help with written work.
2. Use simple, clear vocabulary in speech and on worksheets.
3. Give private advice and encouragement as well as public instruction.
4. Be prepared to repeat instructions without impatience.
5. Write on OHP and boards in bold print, not capital letters.
6. Provide space between lines of writing; crowding causes confusion.
7. Use large type and clear spacing on worksheets.
8. Set short step targets for pupils and let the pupils know what your expectations for them are (especially if these are different from those required of the other pupils).
9. Be prepared to accept diagrams or illustrations sometimes instead of written answers.
10. Record texts or instructions on to tape.
11. Avoid setting research tasks. The organisational and reading skills required are sophisticated.
12. Use prompt sentences to help pupils structure their written work.
13. Use simple "mixed sentences" e.g. 6 beginnings of sentences and 6 endings which have to be matched by the pupil.
14. If copying is necessary avoid lengthy copying from board or OHP. Copying from a worksheet is easier (the pupil does not lose his/her place so easily and feels in control of the text and task).
15. Provide worksheets that the pupils can write on - especially where tables, charts and graphs are required.
16. Homework:
    a) Make sure the pupil has taken down accurate instructions.
    b) Make homework tasks that are achievable.
    c) If you intent the pupil to do a shortened version of the whole class task, please let him/her know.

1. Miss every tenth word out of a text.
2. Miss every tenth word out of a text and provide missing words in a box.
3. Miss significant words out of a text and provide them in a box.