1 LEARNING TO SUPPORT LEARNING TOGETHER: AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY

An action research approach called Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was used to foster organisational learning in a school regarding the role of the Learning Support department within the school and its relation with the normal teaching-learning activities. From an initial situation of lack of co-ordination as well as mutual misunderstanding and distrust among some of the actors in the situation, 8 months of work yielded as a result a better working environment among the participants, the creation of a volunteer discussion group functioning on a permanent basis, and a clarification and modification of some of the Learning Support activities. This change can also be described as a learning by Learning Support staff, school teachers and administrators, on how to work together, as well as on how to support children’s learning in a better way. Nevertheless, a further change that occurred after the intervention, shows the importance of considering a wider system than that limited by the participants in the intervention