Questions from Professional Learning

Questions from Professional Learning sessions are answered here...

When a student goes from primary school to a high school, does the education assistant go with the student? If so what is the process for this and who makes the decision, the high school principal or the primary school principal?

No. The education assistant does not automatically go with the student. Careful consideration would be required to ensure that dependency issues are avoided where possible. It may not be a good idea to create an expectation that one person will work exclusively with an individual student. It would be helpful to consult with all concerned during the development of a transition to high school plan so that everyone knows what to expect well in advance and that appropriate ongoing emphasis can be placed upon developing independence skills and working with others.

 

If I have students that have allergies/diabetic/epilepsy do I place them in the category 9 of the indicator groups - Severe Medical/Health condition?

The definition of a severe medical condition is listed in the Schools Plus web site. The educational need and nature of serious prolonged medical conditions is more important than the type of medical condition.
See Eligibilty Criteria 8: Severe medical / health condition

 

Will school psychologists and relevant district office staff be informed about specific allocations for students with disabilities?

Yes. Resource allocation for students will be sent to relevant district office personnel. School Psychologists will be able to access this information via the Principals or via the district office.

 

How can we be sure that the money allocated from Schools Plus is directed to meet the needs of students with disabilities?

Schools will have the flexibility to convert teacher and education assistant FTE to the Flexible Salary Pool and use converted funds to support the teaching and learning adjustments that they detail in their documented plans. These plans are required as a part of the Schools Plus application process and are subject to scrutiny and review. Schools Plus Consultants are available to visit and support schools to clarify any ethical or practical deployment of resources issues.

When schools receive their Staffing Allocation Chart the Schools Plus teacher allocation will be displayed separately from the total FTE.

District Directors will be privy to each Schools Plus allocation.

 

In high schools where principals do not write the IEPs, how do we get to the people that actually write them?

Professional Learning opportunities have been provided across all districts. When all principals have attended the relevant School Plus Professional Learning, then deputies, SAER Co-ordinators and teachers will have the opportunity to attend sessions.

 

Some isolated schools have problems accessing the net, what can we do?

Because some staff in isolated and remote schools have difficulty accessing the web, the department will burn CDs and send these out on request. Please contact your Schools Plus Consultant.

 

What if the school is on MAZE 8 and not on SIS?

The department has recommended that all schools use the SIS Program. A large amount of support is available for SIS. Only limited support is available for schools using MAZE 8.

 

Will education assistants who are already employed remain in the same position?

Education assistants are permanent with the Department of Education and Training rather than a specific school. Redeployment processes may be used where appropriate.

 

If I stay with the previous allocation, can I put it in my Flexible Salary Pool for 2006?

Yes, if it is determined that this will facilitate appropriate teaching and learning adjustments.

 

Is feedback from the Schools Plus Consultants going to be in the written or verbal form?

Written form. Furthermore, if an application is unsuccessful schools will automatically receive written feedback about the reasons for the decision. Principals may wish to ring the Schools Plus Consultant for further clarification.

 

Can a decision be challenged?

Yes. Schools may reapply at any time.

 

Will a principal be asked for additional information?

There may be incidences when the consultants require further information so that they informed decisions can be made.

 

If you have an education assistant working at 0.6 FTE, is the salary directly converted to dollars?

If you wish to convert education assistant FTE to the Flexible Salary Pool, it will be converted to dollars. Processes to convert to the Flexible Salary Pool are unchanged.

 

What support in the system is there for students who have challenging and violent behaviours?

There are a range of supports and services available to schools with students who demonstrate challenging and violent behaviours. These include: School Psychologists, Retention & Participation Funds, Students at Educational Risk, Behaviour Management and Discipline Funds, Challenging Behaviour Funds (this can be accessed at your District Office) & Socio Psycho Educational Resource Centres and Consultants.

 

What assistance is available to teachers in identifying the teaching and learning adjustments that a student requires?

4 district based Principal Consultants Inclusive Education are working with school based Learning Support Coordinators to provide professional learning as a part of the Building Inclusive Classrooms (BIC) strategy. BIC has been developed to ensure the better design and delivery of evidence based programs for students with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Schools have access to a wide range of supports to determine the type and level of reasonable adjustments that need to be made for students with disabilities.

District Based Teams include the:

• Student Services Team;
• Curriculum Team;
• Aboriginal Education Team; and
• Inclusive Education Team.

Statewide Specialist Services include the:

• Centre for Inclusive Schooling (CIS);
• Vision Impairment Service (VIS),
• Hospital Schools Service (HSS); and
• Western Australian Institute of Deaf Education (WAIDE)

 

What education facilities does Schools Plus cover?

Supplementary resources for schools with students with disabilities are available for all public educational facilities funded through the Department of Education and Training. This includes primary, secondary, community colleges, education support centres and schools, language development centres, agricultural colleges and community kindergartens.

 

What age group does Schools Plus cover?

Schools Plus provides resources for students entering Kindergarten and will continue to resource them in their primary & secondary years.

 

What diagnosis is needed for students to access Schools Plus under the Severe Mental Disorder?

The indicators of a diagnosed mental disorder are available at:
See Eligibilty Criteria 6: Severe mental disorder

 

How will high schools know about incoming Year 8 students?

Most local schools have formal transition to high school processes that are negotiated by principals at district based cell or cluster meetings. Examples of transition arrangements can be found on a range of case studies on the Schools Plus site. Generally informed practice may include:

Assessment of the needs of the transition student (including the anticipated frequency of visits.
Consultation with the students, parent/carer, as well as incoming and outgoing teachers and key school personnel
Development of a documented plan that becomes a working document with frequent informal reviews.

Schools Plus Consultants are also available to discuss transition options.

 

How can you get additional copies of the handbook?

The Schools Plus Handbook may be downloaded.
Click Here to download the Handbook