What is Schools Plus?

The Department of Education and Training has developed Schools Plus, which is a model of informed practice to match the educational needs of students to supplementary resourcing for schools.

Schools Plus makes explicit links between teaching and learning adjustments, services and support, professional learning and supplementary resourcing to schools.

Schools Plus provides direct supplementary resources to schools that have eligible students.

The Schools Plus process allows schools to plan, implement and review appropriate educational programs which may include:

• teaching adjustments;
• deployment of non teaching personnel;
• professional learning provision;
• appropriate services and supports;
• transition planning; and
• links to other programs.

Support is provided through the provision of additional teacher time and education assistant time according to the level of planned adjustments verified on the Schools Plus Profile. Specialist support via State-wide Services or from District Education Offices is provided in addition to Schools Plus.

Providing information in a transparent way allows teachers, school administrators and parents/carers to reach agreement on the summary of educational needs.

Using the Schools Plus materials in a staged approach enables schools to gather evidence on the level of educational need, determine the level of adjustments required within the local context and decide whether to request additional assistance for the school.

The school will determine how resources are to be used to implement the teaching and learning adjustments that were identified in the Schools Plus Profile. A school may deliver a wide range of adjustments or measures they consider appropriate to achieve the best possible outcomes for each student.

What is the link between informed practice and Schools Plus resourcing?

Schools Plus has been designed to implement Principle 4 of Pathways to the Future: A Review of Educational Services for Students with Disabilities in Government Schools, which advocates that all adjustments are provided on a needs basis and are equitably resourced.

Schools Plus provides resources to schools to support informed practice. Following a collaborative assessment of educational need, eligible students may require significant adjustments to the teaching and learning environment.

Adjustments take into account the unique characteristics of the school community. This is necessary to provide appropriate educational programs for eligible students with diverse learning needs across the range of educational settings.

What are the Principles of Inclusive Education?

1. All students have the right to enrol, access and participate in schooling which meets their individual needs.
2. All levels of the system value diversity and operate within an inclusive framework.
3. A range of effective and appropriate adjustments is provided to ensure access, participation and achievement.
4. Adjustments are provided on a needs basis and are equitably resourced.
5. The system supports the development of pedagogy to meet individual student needs.
6. The range of coordinated programs and services provided are flexible and delivered according to student needs.
7. Services are provided and supported by collaborative models and partnerships.