Striving Together: Inclusive Practice at School + at Home

Striving Together: Inclusive Practice at School + at Home

Supporting Learning at Home: Setting up for a successful Term 4

Supporting a young person with learning needs works best when families and schools work together. Parents and carers don’t need to become teachers at home.

The most useful support is often practical, consistent and positive. Small routines can make a big difference to a young person’s readiness for learning and independence:

Establish predictable routines. Consistent morning and evening routines can reduce stress and help young people know what to expect. Below, as an example, you can see a visual reminder for our students to enter the classroom and other learning spaces ‘ready to learn’.
Prepare for the next day. Encourage your young person to check their timetable, pack their school bag, charge their device and prepare their uniform and other equipment the night before.
Build independence gradually. Instead of doing these tasks for your young person, use reminders, check lists or visual prompts to help them take on increasing responsibility.
Support healthy sleep routines. A regular bedtime and a wind-down period can help young people arrive at school ready to learn. Keeping devices out of the bedroom overnight also supports sleep: constant notifications don’t allow the young person to switch off!
Set clear boundaries around screen time. Agree on when and where devices can be used, particularly around homework, meals and bedtime. Where possible, make expectations predictable rather than negotiating each day.
Help with organisation. Encourage your young person to use a wall planner or calendar to keep track of homework, assessments, excursions and other commitments. Particularly if wanting to reduce distractions from device use, using physical planners can be quite beneficial! It can be helpful to include other commitments (e.g., upcoming birthdays, sporting events, part-time job shifts) to help the young person understand what weeks may be busier than others.
Create a suitable space for learning. A consistent, reasonably quiet place to complete schoolwork can help reduce distractions. It doesn't need to be a dedicated study room.
Break homework into manageable steps. If a task feels overwhelming, encourage your young person to work out what needs to happen first rather than completing the task for them.
Build learning into everyday life. Reading about or discussing a favourite topic or interests, cooking, shopping, gaming, sport, music, arts and crafts all provide meaningful opportunities to practise literacy, numeracy and problem-solving.
Encourage breaks and movement. Short breaks, physical activity, and time away from screens can help young people reset, particularly after a demanding school day.
Praise the process, not just the outcome. Notice organisation, persistence, problem-solving and use of strategies: “You remembered to check your timetable and pack your bag” is more useful than simply saying “Good job.”

It is equally important to support confidence, avoiding comparisons with siblings or peers and focusing on progress, strengths and strategies. Young people may need more time or more explicit support to develop skills that others seem to manage independently.

If your young person has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), learning goals or reasonable adjustments due to a disability or specific learning need, you may speak with their teachers about strategies that can be reinforced at home. Consistent approaches between school and home can help young people become more confident, organised and increasingly independent learners.

If your child is supported by any medical or allied health professionals (e.g. speech therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists or youth workers), you may find it helpful to share your child’s school goals with them. You can also ask these professionals to provide recommendations that you can share with your child’s teachers about how best to support your child at school.

Want to know more about supporting your young person with learning needs? Supporting your child’s learning difficulty at home – Victorian Government

Need further support as a parent or carer? Find family and child support services – Victorian Government

If you need more specific support, please reach out to your young person’s teachers or house leader. We are here to help.

As the holidays approach, here is also a reminder that wellbeing supports are available over the break, for students and their families / carers: https://www.vic.gov.au/mental-health-supports-students-over-school-holidays

Ms Cologni

Inclusive Practice Leader