Working with Learning Support: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know

What is Learning Support and How Does it Help?

Learning supports refer to resources, tools, strategies, and practices that can be used within the school environment to address the academic, emotional, social, and physical needs of children by addressing factors that prevent learning and fostering factors that increase engagement in learning.

Some examples of learning supports include:

●      Assistive technology such as voice-to-text software

●      One-on-one support from teaching staff

●      Additional time during tests or exams

●      Modified worksheets with a reduced number of questions or simplified questions

These supports provide a more individualised approach to learning as they take into consideration the student’s individual goals, strengths, difficulties, and interests when teaching new skills and knowledge. It also ensures that all students are given equal opportunity to learn and thrive within the school environment. This can lead to more positive outcomes in students’ academic performance, self-esteem and confidence, school engagement, and emotional well-being.

How Can Parents and Teachers Work Together?

Parents and teachers need to work closely together to ensure the effectiveness of learning supports and ensure the child is achieving their full potential.

Parents can:

●      Find time to have a conversation with your child’s teacher, whether it’s after school or booking in a quick phone call, to get insight into your child’s progress and behaviour within the classroom.

●      Share relevant information about your child (e.g., assessment reports or changes to their medication)with their teacher.

●      Regularly attend meetings (e.g. student support group meetings) at your child’s school.

Teachers can:

●      Keep parents updated about their child’s progress and any difficulties they are experiencing within the classroom.

●      Share the child’s achievements (e.g., academic, social, leadership) at school and strengths within the classroom with parents.

●      Provide parents with opportunities to have input into decisions concerning their child’s education.

How Does Psychological Assessment Inform Learning Supports?

Psychological assessments can provide information about the child’s strengths and difficulties related to their cognitive (e.g., verbal communication skills) and academic abilities (e.g., reading, writing, and maths).

Schools can provide children with supports that address the difficulties identified in the report. For example, if a student is experiencing reading difficulties, the school might allow the child to use audiobooks or assistive technology (e.g. C-Pens) to read passages of text. Schools could also offer opportunities for the child to engage in additional learning to continue developing their reading skills such as a small-group intervention program with a learning support officer. By utilising the information provided from the assessment, schools can implement learning supports that remove barriers to a child’s ability to learn.

Schools can also provide children with supports that incorporate the strengths identified in the report. For example, if the same child with reading difficulties has a strength in verbal communication, the school might allow the student to present their knowledge in a verbal format (e.g. video presentation) instead of a written format (e.g. essay). By utilising the information provided from the assessment, schools can also implement learning supports that increase children’s engagement with learning.