Our Learning and Support Team prides itself on a whole school approach. We have developed a process to guide teachers through various steps prior to making a referral and parent communication is recommended in the initial stage when a teacher has identified a potential student need. Early contact between parent and teacher is vital to ensure that communication is open and parents feel valued and included. Our staff respects that parents have the greatest knowledge of their child and so are a valuable resource when setting goals and making important decisions for a student. Our school often makes use of case conferences involving the Learning Support Team, parents/carers and engaged support services to achieve positive outcomes for the student.
We support students with literacy and numeracy development as well as social and emotional support. One of our major learning support programs is the MiniLit Program, which is a good example of an initiative that creates strong relationships in our school. This program is an intervention for a targeted group of Stage one students who have been identified by the Learning Support Team as requiring specialised individual instruction in Literacy, with a reading focus. The program runs as small group withdrawal sessions up to 4 times a week for 45-50 mins.
We also encourage parent volunteers who help with one on one intervention across the school. In stage 2 and 3, volunteers work with students on word attack skills and reading delivering a Reading Tutor Program. It is design to provide students with explicit instruction on how to decode words and improve their fluency in reading. In Early Stage 1 and Stage 1, parents can volunteer to tutor students with their single sounds, decoding words, revising 'Tricky Words' and reading.
The Learning and Support teacher and SLSOs of our school also provide social and emotional support for many of our students. Adjustments are provided during class time and play time to help targeted students regulate throughout their day. Loftus Public School now has a designated space for students to regulate. Sensory and physical play is provided to help students feel safe and calm so they can strive to achieve their best at school.
We strive to provide a supportive school environment that supports every student’s academic, social and emotional development, so they can rise to their potential and grow as caring and responsible citizens of the future.