Learning Plans
Supporting students with learning disability and learning difficulties requires a team around the child approach, where the student is at the centre of the process for creating a learning plan. Findon High School is beginning to transition to the Department for Education’s One Child One Plan, which replaces the Negotiated Education Plan (NEP) and Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
In doing so, students at Findon High School who have a verified learning disability will have their plans updated as required by a team including the student, parents/caregivers, staff. This process seeks to communicate to teachers the students’ needs and sets the goals they are striving to achieve. This plan is intended to make sure that learning demands are appropriate, support needs are made available and that an individualised pathway through school is crafted.
Department for Education learning plans – https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/curriculum-and-learning/learning-plans
Funding and Student Support
Funding is provided by the Department for Education for students with verified learning disabilities, as well as a sum to be used for students with learning difficulties. This funding is used by the school for a range of intervention and support programs. Commonly this is used to employ Student Support Officers (SSOs) to work in classrooms with students to clarify and explain tasks. This funding is also used to support students, aged 15 and above, to engage with programs that support the transition to adulthood.
Department for Education funding for student support – https://www.education.sa.gov.au/supporting-students/children-disability-and-special-needs/disability-funding-reform
Programs to Support the Transition to Adulthood
Students with verified learning disabilities have pathways open to them to support the transition to adulthood, in recognition of their specific developmental and learning needs. These include programs that help the students to:
- Gain skills (e.g. relationship building, communication, organisation)
- Gain certification (e.g. SACE credits, drivers licence, vocational certification)
- Broaden horizons (i.e. learn about the world of work)
- Gain employment
Department for Education School to post-school options –
https://www.education.sa.gov.au/supporting-students/children-disability-and-special-needs/school-post-school-options
Youth Education Centre Short Courses – http://www.yec.sa.edu.au/pages/short-courses.html
Barkuma Transition Program – https://www.barkuma.com.au/supports/in-your-school/transition-program
Maxima Disability Employment Services – https://maxima.com.au/disability-employment-services/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw9GE3-iK4QIVDCQrCh2EUAEbEAAYASADEgIPjfD_BwE
External agencies supporting students with learning needs
In working with young people with a learning disability, there are external agencies who can work with staff or students to work on specific areas of need.
Students with Autism, Asperger’s or on the ASD spectrum have worked with ASD Facilitators in order to gain skills related to their learning plan and goals.
Autism SA School Program – https://www.autismsa.org.au/school-program