Additional learning support

At our school, we ensure every student is ready to learn. We support students with disability and additional learning needs so they can take part in all areas of school life. You do not need a formal diagnosis for your child to receive support in a mainstream class. Support can begin at any stage of school.

Support that fits your child's needs

Some students need extra support to feel confident and do their best at school. We work closely with families to make support plans and adjustments  that suits each child’s needs.

Additional learning support can include:

• teachers and support staff working together with families (and students, if needed)
• specialist support for students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D)

• providing tailored programs to help high potential and gifted students with their advanced learning needs

• small group tutoring to provide targeted literacy and numeracy support for students

• regular check-ins to review and update the planned supports

• changes to the classrooms:

  • accessible classrooms
  • assistive technology
  • instructional resources

• extra guidance, simpler content or different focus during lessons

• assessment adjustments:

  • more time
  • simpler language
  • breaks during tasks
  • different ways to complete a task (e.g. oral presentations instead of written tasks).

We know when a student needs help when:

• teachers notice changes in learning or behaviour
• reviewing assessment results and learning progress
• parents and carers raise concerns or ask for support.

Adjustments are planned with parents and carers. They are reviewed regularly and changed when needed.  If you think your child may need extra help, contact us.

Learning and support team

Our learning and support team helps make sure every student gets the help they need at the right time. The team works with families, teachers and support staff to:

• understand each student’s needs
• plan adjustments and supports
• monitor progress
• connect with other services if needed.

Our learning and support team may include:

• learning and support teachers
• school learning support officers
• school counsellors
• itinerant teachers for vision or hearing
• English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) teachers
• Aboriginal education officers
• community and home school liaison officers.

Have a question about learning support?

We’re here to talk through your options. Contact us to speak with the Learning and Support Team.

Contact us

External Therapist

The NSW Department of Education recognises that externally funded service providers have a role in delivering services to children and young people with additional health, disability and wellbeing needs that support their participation in school. In some circumstances it may be appropriate for these services to be delivered at school. Parklea Public School is committed to working in partnership with External Therapists to meet the needs of students with a diagnosed disability. Externally funded health, disability and wellbeing service providers may seek to provide their services to students at the school, during school hours. Access to the school by an externally funded provider is at the discretion of the principal.

External Therapist for Mainstream Students

Our mainstream students have the opportunity to engage with externally funded service providers on school site, utilising our school’s resident Occupational Therapist or Speech Pathologist. This service is provided by the school, however it is funded by parents through the use of personal NDIS or private funds. If parents would like to engage with our school’s resident therapists, the follow process must be followed:

1. Parents email the school to make a request for their child to engage with the school’s resident therapists. The email is forwarded onto the Learning and Support Team Co-ordinator.
2. The Learning and Support Team Co-ordinator sends a “Parent Request for Externally Funded Service Providers - Mainstream” form via School Bytes.
3. Parents complete and return the “Parent Request for Externally Funded Service Providers” form via School Bytes.
4. The Learning Support Team reviews the application to make a decision regarding the application approval based on whether it is in the best education interests of the student to work with a therapist at school. The Learning Support Team take into consideration:

• the impact of the service on curriculum requirements and the student’s participation in learning activities,
• the extent to which the service supports the student’s learning needs or enhances access to education,
• the impact of the service on other students and/or the operations of the school.

1. If the application is approved, the Learning Support Team Coordinator forwards the “Parent Request for Externally Funded Service Providers - Mainstream” information onto our school’s resident therapist. The therapist contacts parents to enter into a service agreement.

2. Once documentation has been approved, the school will work with the therapist to timetable student sessions based on their requests.

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   External Therapists for Support Unit Students

   Our Support Unit students have the opportunity to work in partnership with their external therapists on school site. If parents would like their child’s therapist to come into the school to work with their child on school site, the following process must be followed:

   1. Parents email the school to make a request for their child to engage with their therapist on school site in our Support Unit The email is forwarded onto the Learning and Support Team Co-ordinator.
   2. The Learning and Support Team Co-ordinator sends a “Parent Request for Externally Funded Service Providers – Support Unit” form via School Bytes.
   3. Parents complete and return the “Parent Request for Externally Funded Service Providers – Support Unit” form via School Bytes.
   4. The Learning Support Team reviews the application to make a decision regarding the application approval based on whether it is in the best education interests of the student to work with their therapist at school. The Learning Support Team take into consideration:
   • the impact of the service on curriculum requirements and the student’s participation in learning activities,
   • the extent to which the service supports the student’s learning needs or enhances access to education,
   • the impact of the service on other students and/or the operations of the school.
   1. The application decision is communicated to the requesting parent. If approved, the parent then contacts their therapist to visit our school’s website to complete all the necessary documentation. A list of required documentation can be found on our school’s website under the ‘Learning Support’ tab.  The therapist must email the school all required documentation prior to beginning on site therapy sessions.
   2. Once all documentation has been received, the school will liaise with the therapist to timetable student sessions based on their requests.