Learning Diversity 

Partnerships with Allied Health Professionals 

In recent years, an increasing number of external allied health professionals have been working in partnership with our school to support our students. 

We recognise the importance of addressing students' diverse health needs and the importance of outside allied health professionals who bring specialised skills, knowledge, and strategies for teachers to implement.  Speech and occupational therapists and mental health professionals provide services tailored to students' requirements. Whether they support children with learning disabilities or provide counselling for emotional well-being, these therapists can offer information to support teachers. 

Through teamwork, these professionals can collaborate with our school staff to create personalised plans or goals that effectively address our students' diverse needs. The primary reason for fostering communication between allied health professionals and teachers is to comprehensively understand each student's strengths, challenges, and learning styles.

While allied health professionals bring expertise in speech therapy, occupational therapy, and mental health counselling, teachers possess invaluable insights into students' academic progress, social interactions, and classroom behaviour. These professionals can paint a holistic picture of the student by exchanging information and observations, enabling us to develop targeted strategies that address academic and non-academic needs. 

Effective communication between allied health professionals and teachers is also essential for ensuring consistency in implementing strategies across different environments. Students spend a significant portion of their day in the classroom, encountering various academic and social challenges. Therefore, interventions introduced by allied health professionals must align with the curriculum taught at school and the school's policies and procedures. 

The importance of allied health professionals communicating with teachers and school staff before implementing strategies for students cannot be overstated. This collaborative approach promotes a deeper understanding of student's needs and ensures the seamless integration of interventions into the educational context. By working together as a cohesive team, allied health professionals and teachers can maximise their collective impact on student success, nurturing a learning environment where every student can thrive.

If your child is seeing an allied health professional and you still need to arrange information sharing between the school, please contact me. This could be a written report, a phone call with the therapist, an on-site school observation, or a Program Support Meeting (PSG) with your child’s teacher and Learning Diversity Leader. 

regards,

Vira