NSW public schools are well prepared to support students with disability and additional learning and support needs and staff are ready to answer your questions.
Visit our Inclusive learning support hub for more information on:
- children starting school with additional needs
- support and adjustments available
- personalised learning and development.
The Diverse Learning Team
Students with disability and additional learning needs are supported in our school through our Diverse Learning Team (DLT). The DLT works alongside students, teachers and parents/carers to assess, plan and implement reasonable adjustments and supplementary supports for students to meet their needs, access the curriculum and reach their potential.
Children achieve the best educational outcomes when they receive inspired teaching, are embraced by their schools and fellow students and have the support of engaged families and friends. (Disability Strategy 2019)
Consistent, school-wide practices are used for assessment and reporting and to monitor student learning across the curriculum. When students have identified needs in learning, our Diverse Learning Team uses strategic and planned approaches to support students' cognitive, emotional, social and physical wellbeing through personalised learning and support.
Personalised learning and support is a process that assists a wide range of students with additional learning and support needs. Personalised learning and support is underpinned by evidence of four key elements:
- The assessed individual education needs of the students
- The provision of adjustments or support to meet the students’ assessed needs
- Monitoring and review of the impact of the adjustment or support being provided for the student
- Consultation and collaboration–of teachers with parents, support staff and other professionals where required.
Purpose of the Diverse Learning Team
The Diverse Learning Team has a role to address the learning and support needs of students through the coordination, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of educational programs. It aims to facilitate processes and strategies to cater for the social, emotional and academic needs of all students. The team is a decision making body which strives to maximise the use of school resources and personnel to ensure a coordinated and effective structure to support staff to improve these outcomes for students.
The Diverse Learning Team will:
- Facilitate a whole school approach to the development of personalised learning and support
- Co-ordinate a whole school approach in identifying and supporting students with adjusted learning needs
- Develop referral systems for classroom teachers to access support services
- Establish school ‘levels of support’ for classroom teachers in order that they can implement reasonable adjustments and access appropriate resources to cater for students with additional learning needs
- Identify and provide direction for professional learning needs of staff to build the capacity of teachers to support students to achieve their potential
- Implement effective models and programs to improve student outcomes (e.g. evidence based programs and best practice in the area of learning difficulties, monitoring and evaluation procedures)
- Provide direct support for students with additional learning and support needs through a range of strategies, including the areas of social integration, behaviour management and transition programs.
The Diverse Learning Team work closely with the School Leadership Team and share a commitment to actively engage in professional learning, professional reading and dialogue, to allow for strategic planning, development and review of suitable differentiation and adjustments to our targeted students.
Process for Personalised Learning Support
The Every Student, Every School guidelines will be followed by the Diverse Learning Team to support students with additional learning needs and their teachers.
- Identify - the learning & support needs of individual or groups of students and the professional learning needs of staff
- Analyse - using evidence and data to understand the reasons behind the need
- Prioritise - the learning and support needs of student and the professional learning needs of staff
- Allocate - resources to meet the learning and support needs of individual or groups of students and the professional learning needs of staff
- Evaluate - regularly, the efficacy of learning and support for students and the planned professional learning for staff and realign where necessary.