What is the role of the Inclusive Education Team?

The Inclusive Education Team support student literacy and numeracy growth through the implementation of effective evidence-based programs. These programs include:

·         Learning Support

·         Social Skills

·         Executive Functioning

·         Studio Program

·         Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI)

·         Phonics

·         In Class Support

 What is Learning Support?

Learning Support replaces an elective subject and provides personalised support for our SWAN students based on need. During this time, students work in small learning groups or 1:1 to support their learning. This could include, but is not limited to:

·         Support with work completion (drafting, scaffolding, task management)

·         Literacy Support

·         Numeracy Support

·         Social Skills Development

·         Executive Functioning Development

 Access to the learning support program, provides opportunity for students to access the appropriate supports to improve learning and development outcomes. This program is personalised so that support reflects the student’s needs. 

 How do we support the development of Social Skills?

Our Social Skills Program supports students to build positive relationships through effective communication and to develop skills for emotional self-management. Students who are not progressing within the Social and Personal continuum at grade level are identified to participate in a social skills program. This program is individualised to meet the functional needs of the students participating. The focus for the group sessions is guided by outside providers. Student aims/goals identified within their One Plan and the student’s progression within the Social and Personal continuum. Students work in small groups and will be grouped according to social needs.

 How do we support the development of Executive Functioning skills?

Students are identified for the Executive Functioning program through the care and learning support programs. Students complete a self-assessment and staff complete an Executive Functioning assessment on the student. These two diagnostic tools are used to inform what intervention is required. Based on this, students will participate in targeted activities and work with a member of the Inclusive Education team to develop individualised support and strategies.

 What is the Studio Program?

Students access a modified curriculum and a differentiated learning environment to meet their learning needs. Teachers provide targeted teaching based on a number of data sets. There is a maximum of 20 students in the class and additional classroom support is always provided to support targeted small group learning. A reduced number of teaching staff is preferred, where possible. Students are in this program across core lessons as identified in the schedule below. The level of support is reduced as the students moves through each year level.  Each line receives 210 minutes of teaching time per week for a whole year.

 What is Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI)?

Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI) is an intensive, small-group, supplementary literacy intervention for students who find reading and writing difficult. Students currently working below the Department of Education’s Standard of Educations Achievement (SEA) partake in the program. The goal for LLI is to lift the literacy achievement of students who are not achieving grade-level expectations in reading. LLI is offered to students in Years 7 and 8.

 What is Phonics?

The aim of phonics is to support students in understanding how letters are linked to sounds (phonemes) to form letter-sound correspondences and spelling patterns and to help them learn how to apply this knowledge in their reading. This program is focused on students who are at a lower level than our LLI program requires. Students complete some phonics-based learning in class but also come out of class for further support, in which SSO staff assist with.

 The Inclusive Education Team