Learning Support Team

Every NSW government school has a Learning Support Team.

The school learning support team plays a key role in ensuring that the specific learning needs of students experiencing difficulties in learning are met.

The school learning support team assists teachers to plan class programs to meet the specific learning needs of all students, including those who experience difficulties in learning.

The learning support team co-ordinates the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of learning support plans. The Learning Support Team, headed by the school's principal, meets regularly to consider all written referrals. These referrals are completed and submitted by the class teacher. The school counsellor's service is determined through the Learning Support Team process.

It is important that parents, caregivers and school staff work together to support students experiencing difficulties in learning.

In any school there will be students who may experience difficulties with learning. These difficulties may vary in cause, nature, intensity and duration.

Learning difficulties may arise at any time throughout a student's school life. Students may experience difficulties in learning because of the ways in which they learn or the rates at which they learn. Learning may be considered to be either academic learning like reading or behavioural learning like experiencing difficulties with peer relationships.

Students experiencing difficulties in learning will have differing levels of educational need, which may require the provision of one or more educational support services like Reading Recovery, over varying periods of time.

Prime responsibility for meeting the specific learning needs of students with difficulties in basic areas of learning lies with the classroom teacher which is why we encourage all parents who have concerns about their child's learning to always approach the class teacher to arrange an interview to discuss these concerns.

How can a parent access support from the school's Learning Support Team?

Any time that you are concerned that your child may be experiencing difficulties at school:

  1. Approach your child's class teacher to discuss your concern. If the class teacher is not able to discuss the concern immediately, please negotiate a mutually convenient time. At the interview, organise a follow-up time to review your child's progress.
  2. If both you and the class teacher agree that additional support is required then the class teacher will complete and submit a written referral to the Learning Support Team that outlines the nature, intensity and duration of your child's learning need.