The five approaches to provision.

The most effective provision would include a mix of approaches:

• Acceleration: Where a pupil continues to follow the standard curriculum, but progresses at a faster rate than other children of a similar age. This may involve working with an older age group. Fast tracking is any system which enables pupils to take qualifications earlier than the other children in their year group.
   
• Enrichment: Where a pupil is given the opportunity to explore a subject in broader sense, either working on a more complex task with several objectives, or in a different context (even abstraction). This may involve exploring areas of learning that other pupils do not cover.
   
• Extension: Using higher order thinking skills to develop a deeper understanding of a subject.
   
• Independence: Gifted and talented children are often able to be very creative when working independently. However, it must be remembered that more able children also need to have their learning scaffolded by the teacher.
   
• Reflection: Gifted and talented pupils are able define how they learn. This skill of meta-cognition needs teaching in order for it to develop fully.

Successful schools use a wide range of differentiation methods to provide for gifted and talented pupils. The methods can be used in or out of the normal classroom. The level of challenge may be altered by varying the:

• amount of opportunity given for independent learning and reflection
• grouping strategies
• pace
• resources
• recording method
• amount of evaluation expected
• length and depth of activities

Schools may decide to provide a combination of the following:

• In class differentiation
• Setting within or across year groups
• Study support programmes
• Summer / Easter schools
• After school clubs / classes
• Specialist teaching (possibly with other local pupils)

It is recommended that schools have a Gifted and Talented Policy which includes statements about what provision is on offer. They should also have an Action Plan which shows how they aim to develop current provision.