'Gifted and talented' is a phrase used by the government to refer to pupils who are working at a much higher level than their peers.  Usually these pupils have well developed learning skills.

• 'Talented' pupils are those who show one or more specific talents such as PE, sport, music, leadership and the arts
• 'Gifted' pupils are those who show high ability in one or more curriculum areas

Background
It was always assumed that pupils with high ability could 'just get on 'without any extra provision.  However it has been recognised that actually, these pupils were not having their needs met and were often not reaching their potential.  The gifted and talented strategy was introduced to remedy this. 

Identifying these pupils
There are many and varied methods of identifying pupils as gifted and/or talented.  These include high test results, teacher observation of the pupil’s skills and abilities, the use of checklists, working with parents and using what pupils know about themselves. 

Support for these pupils
The school decides how best it can provide for the gifted and/or talented pupil, just as they would for any other pupil.  This may include:

• differentiated work which goes deeper and broader than usual or provides new challenges
• grouping pupils into high ability sets in different subjects
• after-school clubs
• extra music/PE/arts tuition
• ‘summer challenges’ in certain subjects, organised in Warrington

Gifted and talented co-ordinators
Every secondary school and most primary schools have a co-ordinator for its gifted and talented pupils.  This person is there to offer support and advice and can suggest a course of action for individual pupils and provide useful contacts to other staff.