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The Role of Learning Assistants in our Primary School
“Working in teams for mutual support, encouragement, growth and accountability reflects the nature of the body of Christ and enhances the learning task” (Transformational Education, 2014, p. 101).
Mentor, support, cheerlead, facilitate, sounding board, encourage, and empower. These are just some of many words that come to mind when I think of our Learning Assistants (LA). On any given day you can see an LA providing a body break, running a small group, modelling regulation strategies, providing 1:1 support, empowering students to participate and extending welcome and comfort when there are uncertainties or worries. It is a role that is both intentional, highly responsive and flexible. Working with a student’s teaching team, LAs help to provide modified programs, resources and environments to ensure that each student within our classrooms can access the curriculum and engage with their peers. They play a crucial role in supporting and working with our teaching team and bring a variety of strengths, knowledge and creativity to their roles.
Another aspect of school life that our wonderfully gifted and passionate LA team facilitates are alternative play spaces every lunchtime. Our indoor ‘Lunch Club’ and ‘Chill Space’ are regularly attended by many students across all clusters. This provides a calm and more structured interest based environment that ensures play time can be positive for those students who simply prefer a quieter play space or who require more support to navigate the social side of school. These clubs build strong relationships across clusters and we often have an enthusiastic line outside waiting for clubs to begin each day. At MECS, our deep hope is for our staff team to work in collaboration to provide a diverse and rich range of experiences that cares for and supports all students. We thank and celebrate our LAs for the joy-filled value they add to our staff team and the learning and play opportunities they make possible here at MECS.
Kristy Harvey
Primary Learning Support Coordinator