SAALO
CENTRE FOR ASSESSMENT ACCOMMODATION AND LEARNING SUPPORT
Learning support and assessment accommodations (AA) are available at Jan Kriel School.
Learners who need extra support or assistance with their studies and/or assessment tasks are identified and supported by educators who focus on individual assistance based on the learner’s specific needs.
A learner support committee consisting of psychologists, therapists and educators meets on a regular basis to place learners who have been identified with a need for learning support at the correct aide. It may include a class assistant, occupational therapist, speech- language therapist or an expert in AA, depending on the learner’s needs.
Every learner admitted to Jan Kriel School is assessed by the multi-professional team to develop an individual support plan (ISP) as well as an individual education plan to the learner’s needs. Recommendations for AA’s are included in the ISP after having been submitted for approval to the Education Department for approval. Recommendations for AA may include the following:

Audio learning:
Some learners experience serious reading problems and function better when reading material is presented in auditory format. For these learners audio files are prepared and placed on a suitable device so that the learner can hear what is read.
READ AND/OR WRITE:
Reader and scribe are separate accommodations and can be recommended separately or in combination. Learners who have serious problems with reading and/or writing are placed with trained reader/scribes who read the text and/or take down the answers verbatim. This method is used during the term, as well as during test series and examinations for all assessment tasks (including the National Senior Certificate Examination).
All readers and scribes involved in formal assessment tasks, (e.g. tests and examinations) must undergo standardized training in order to obtain the necessary certificate from the WCED. Training workshops are hosted by the Jan Kriel School Resource Centre in collaboration with the WCED.
COMPUTER (text-to-voice) :
Text-to-voice is assistive technology that reads digital text aloud. Reading material can be scanned and then read with the help of the screen reader. The screen reader software is available in Afrikaans and English. Learners are trained to use this technology.
COMPUTER (voice-to-text):
Voice-to-text refers to assistive technology that enables human speech to be converted into text. Work can be dictated to the computer, which then types it out. Unfortunately, the software that has been approved for use during the National Senior Certificate examination is only available in English.
COMPUTER (typing):
Learners who experience problems with illegible handwriting, slow working tempo, coordination problems or physical disability can use a computer to type their answers, instead of writing.
EXAM PEN:
The Exam Pen is a portable scanning pen that reads text aloud. The software is only available in English.
ADDITIONAL TIME:
A learner who experiences barriers to learning is entitled to additional time to empower him/her to give a true account of his/her knowledge.
Structure aid (“prompter/planner”) :
Learners who experience barriers to learning often struggle to organize their work space, especially during stressful situations such as tests and exams. These learners write in separate venues in smaller groups with a supervisor who assists the learners in organizing papers.
There are more accommodations that can be considered in cases where a learner’s barriers to learning require it.
Queries:
Email address: saalo@jankriel.co.za