Vision statement
The school learning and support team aspires to ensuring to the needs of students with disability and additional learning and support needs are met. we aim to facilitate and coordinate a whole school approach to improvement by identifying, responding, coordinating processes, resourcing, cultivating teacher capacity and developing collaborative partnerships with the school, parents and carers, other professionals and the wider school community.
About the faculty
The Learning Support Team comprises staff who have specialised skills and experience in identifying, assessing and supporting students with additional learning and wellbeing needs. Members of the team work collaboratively with students, staff, Parents/Carers, School Counsellors and members of the broader school community to support these students in accessing the curriculum and maximising the achievement of outcomes.
Students may have additional learning and wellbeing needs for a number of reasons and may require additional support due to one or a combination of:
- Physical Disability
- Cognitive disability
- Social or emotional disability
- English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) background
- Trauma background
- Refugee background
- Poor attendance.
Staff
Ms P Prins Head Teacher
Ms A Sandilands Head Teacher
Mrs O Ramadan School Learning and Support Officer (SLSO)
Miss C Em SLSO
Miss M Sharan SLSO
Mr T Garzaniti Learning and Support Teacher (LaST)
Mrs R Fioramonte LaST
Ms L Keady LaST, Numeracy Co-Coordinator
Mrs M Davila LaST
Mrs M Narayan EAL/D Teacher
Mrs T Teresa LaST / Year 11 Adviser
Mrs K Plumridge LaST
Mrs D Sharma EAL/D Teacher
Mrs V Shukla LaST
Ms S Fawzy LaST
Programs offered
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data is a mandatory survey that all schools in Australia have had to complete since 2015. This survey requires schools to identify all students in the school who have a disability as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA) and who have received ongoing reasonable adjustments during the 12 proceeding months. Schools are required to identify the type of disability and level of adjustment provided to the student from nationally consistent criteria.
Schools are required to provide students with a disability with reasonable adjustments where required. These adjustments allow students to access the curriculum without discrimination and on the same basis as their peers.
Disability Provisions
The LST team identifies students who are eligible to receive disability provisions; these students may receive one or more of the following provisions:
- Reader
- Writer
- Separate supervision
- Extra time
- Use of assisted technology.
Literacy and numeracy hub - Indigenous students Yr 7 – 10
ATSI students in years 7 – 10 who are identified as requiring additional support in literacy and numeracy have access to the hub. Students work in small groups with a Learning and Support Teacher on specific work to achieve goals identified by the student.
English as an Additional Language/ Dialect (EAL/D)
Support for EAL/D students is provided by EAL/D teachers and all LaSTs. Students are generally supported in-class or sometimes withdrawn from class if they require individualised support. Targeted support for students is prioritised according to their level of language development.
The Peer Tutor Reading
The program involves Year 10 students mentoring Year 7 students each morning in the school library for 20 minutes. Year 7 students complete a variety of literacy and numeracy activities during this time with the support of their Year 10 mentor. Staff from the LST coordinate and supervise the program.
The Re-engagement Program
The Re-engagement program is an initiative that commenced in 2011 and allows students to work intensively with a small number of students to assist them in literacy and numeracy, while completing regular classwork in Maths and/or English. Students are invited to participate in the program based on LaST and classroom teacher recommendations, class performance or most recent NAPLAN results.
Personalised Learning and Support Plans (PLSPs)
PLSPs are completed by LaSTs and EAL/D staff in conjunction with the student and their parent. These plans are shared with all staff members and identify:
- Student strengths
- Goals the student is working towards
- Results of standardised cognitive, literacy or behaviour assessment
- Strategies that can be implemented to address areas of need.
PLSPs are reviewed each semester with the student and their Parent or Carer. Parents and Carers provide us with valuable background information and we welcome their involvement in developing and reviewing these plans.
HSC Tutoring Program
All senior students are eligible for free tutoring after school on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in the library. Students are tutored in small groups of less than four students by Staff in their area of expertise.