Gifted & Talented

Paddington Academy aims to provide a ‘welcoming, safe and (stimulating) environment where students are treated as an individual and supported by all staff to reach their full potential’ and that their needs are recognised irrespective of background, culture or ability. We value academic excellence and personal individual achievement.
It is in the spirit of this aim that we wish to respond to the particular needs of those students who are recognised as having exceptional abilities and talents and to provide a suitably stimulating and challenging environment, both curricular and extra-curricular, which will allow those abilities and talents to develop. 

Gifted and/or talented children may display some of the following characteristics:

• is intently focused
• asks insightful questions
• sees beyond the obvious
• provides creative and original solutions
• has a great intellectual curiosity
• learns easily and readily
• shows initiative and originality
• possesses unusual imagination
  

This list is not exhaustive nor does it mean a child is necessarily gifted if he/she displays some/all of these features.

Parents play an essential role in the development of their gifted and talented children, a role which the school supports but cannot displace. There are a variety of ways in which parents can facilitate the development of their children but as each child is unique then factors which help one child to develop will not always be appropriate for facilitating the development of other gifted and talented children. Nor will it always be the case that a gifted child is developing in every cognitive respect at the pace that would normally be expected. A child may well develop in some respects 'faster' than expected and in other respects 'slower' than is expected.

• www.nagcbritain.org.uk - The National Association for Gifted Children provides a wide range of advice for parents/carers including information on national networks
• www.giftedmonthly.com - a monthly newsletter for parents of able children
• www.parentscentre.gov.uk
• http://www.%20standards.dcsf.go.uk/giftedandtalented
• www.aquila.co.uk – a ‘fun magazine for lively -minded children’ aged 8 – 13.
• www.gridclub.com – lots of ideas to support able pupils
• www.nace.co.uk – a range of publications
• www.mensa.org
• www.familyeducation.com [USA]
• www.masterclasses.co.uk
• www.thomasarmstrong.com – multiple intelligence
• www2.teachernet.gov.uk/gat/
• www.londongandt.org
• www.cfbt.com/teach/giftedtalentededucation/parents

• Contact school and discuss your child with either the Gifted and Talented Co-Ordinator or his /her teacher.
• Share information with your child’s teacher about his/her strengths, interests and achievements including any particular gifts/talents that he/she is developing out of school. Sometimes exceptional abilities are evident only outside the school setting and it is important that the school knows about this.
• Discuss with the school how they intend to support your child – in most cases the school will be able to provide everything your son/daughter needs, just occasionally they may need to point you to external support or opportunities
• It is also important that your child has access to any additional out-of-school hours opportunities such as clubs, masterclasses and summer schools that may be provided by the school or external agencies. Your school should have further information about such opportunities.
• ASK QUESTIONS – Especially when you are concerned or have a question.

Every school has a responsibility to meet the educational needs of all their pupils. In respect to their gifted and talented pupils, schools are expected to:

• Have a teacher with the special responsibility for these children in school
• Put into practice a school policy for G&T pupils
• Identify their G&T children and ensure all staff are aware of their specific learning needs
• Provide suitably challenging work/activities in lessons
• Support access to extra-curricular opportunities beyond the school day
• Work in partnership with parents/carers

• Set time aside each day to talk with your child
• Encourage him/her to sample new activities
• Use the environment to provide a broad range of experiences e.g. visits to galleries, museums, sports centres
• Provide resources to support learning at home e.g. internet, visual stimuli, books, maps
• Make sure your child has the opportunity to make friends, including with those who share his/her interests
• Read all you can about giftedness and talent and learn about the characteristics of gifted children
• Take the time to develop positive relationships with your child’s school and teachers. Find out what they do to support Gifted and Talented pupils
• Encourage your child to participate in extra-curricular activities at school and beyond, including summer schools, outreach and distance learning activities
• If your child complains about being bored, take the comments seriously and seek a solution with your child, and the school if appropriate
• Seek out other families with gifted or talented children through the school, local community or national networks via NAGC.
• And finally, make sure your child also has time to relax and play!

• Sometimes parents/carers may feel unsure of whether their child is working at the pace appropriate to their ability. Where parents/carers have concerns it is important to communicate them immediately with the school.

• Contact the class teacher to discuss concerns. Agree necessary action and arrange to meet later in the term to review progress.
• If contact with the class teacher does not resolve your concerns, contact the school’s G&T Co-ordinator/lead teacher to discuss your continuing concerns. This may be the head teacher in some schools.
• You may also wish to speak with the head teacher if your concerns persist
• Further advice can be obtained from your Local Authority.