Comisión de atención a la diversidad/Medidas de atención a la diversidad

12:36 Mar 12, 2010 

I do think that "catering to" could be used in the body of the text to describe what the Commission does. Catalonia makes a great effort to make its educational system inclusive.

20:14 Mar 10, 2010 

Hi, thanks again to all of you for your comments. Jenni, I see what you mean, but at least here in Catalonia (the text is about a local school) "atención a la diversidad" definitely is used to refer to pupils with "different" (as in other than the usual) needs. It is used in the part of the text where they mention a child with ADHD and two newly arrived Chinese students who don't speak Catalan, and who therefore need special attention. This text refers to another school in Catalonia and on page 5 (point 2.4.3) sets out exactly what type of "differences" they look out for: http://www.joanteixido.org/doc/gestioaula/AD_OE.pdf (they range from children with special needs, behavioural disorders, foreigners who joined the class well into the school year or who don't speak the language, etc.). If you look at the definition of "cater for" in the Cambridge online dictionary, for instance, it gives: "cater for sb/sth phrasal verb
phrasal verb mainly UK to provide what is wanted or needed by someone or something". I'm still not sure what I'll use, but I do continue to think it's quite appropriate translation.
Thanks again to all for your contributions, H.

09:10 Mar 10, 2010 

If you look at Orden EDU/295/2008, de 13 de junio. you will see that it is less about catering to students than about bringing their test scores and graduation rates up to the European Union level. This section of the document deals especially with techniques and options to help mainstream students who are failing to keep up, although it briefly mentions "gifted" students as well.

08:49 Mar 10, 2010 

Or "measures taken to cater for diversity".

08:47 Mar 10, 2010 

Hi Gilla, thanks for your comment. Since the commission is something rather specific, I think I will leave it in Spanish followed by a comma and "the commission that makes sure schools cater for diversity", and for "medides de atención a la diversidad", perhaps "measures to cater for diversity".

08:45 Mar 10, 2010 

This text even talks about strategies to "cater for classroom diversity" (classroom diversity seems to be the new diplomatic way of referring to pupils' different abilities): http://www.iaea2006.seab.gov.sg/conference/download/papers/T...

08:42 Mar 10, 2010 

would make a good title by itself, but I don't think there is an easy way of working this into the name of your committee/commission. Medidas de atención a la diversidad could be summed up as "catering for diversity" but then you would lose "measures" which is quite important.

23:40 Mar 9, 2010 

Many thanks to all for your ideas, suggestions and references. In the meantime I have found quite a few texts that refer to strategies and measures to "cater for diversity". A key reference is: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pesl/browse/faculty/lawss/addres... (example: "practical measures that can be implemented in finance teaching to cater for diversity in learning styles.") or http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=167747 (example: "e-Learning in ESOL offers a range of benefits which may attract new learners, sustain motivation and improve achievement. Information technologies can also help tutors cater for diversity.") or http://student.brighton.ac.uk/mod_docs/education/et270.doc (example: "plan and teach lessons and sequences of lessons which reflect high expectations of pupils and cater for diversity, equality and inclusion)." The references definitely aren't endless, but they do seem to fit the context of my text perfectly. It would be great to know what other people think of this possible solution. Many thanks, H.