Student Support

The Living Well, Learning Well student support framework underpins the policy and practise in our school and schools across the Armidale Diocese. We focus on building supportive relationships, ensure that learning is student-centred and we promote an inclusive learning environment. A Multi-Tiered System of Support ensures that quality instruction, behaviour and wellbeing support is provided to all students. The tiered system provides a structure that supports the delivery of instruction and support through differentiation and planned intervention. Our teachers do an outstanding job of providing high-quality, effective instruction to all students, and ensure that they feel valued, respected and cared for. The vast majority of students will reach their potential in this first ‘tier.’ For others, additional support will be necessary. This may take the form of small group intervention delivered by the teacher or Educational Assistant. For a small minority of students, further support may be required that is more individualised and intensive, delivered by myself as the Inclusion Support Teacher or by an outside professional such as a Speech Pathologist. 

We are pleased to be piloting a new ‘tier 2’ program of intervention called LanguageLift. Last term Educational Assistants Kim Wadwell, Taylor Bruce, Melissa Honnery and I participated in a two-day course to receive the training. LanguageLift is a small group oral language program for students in Kindergarten to Year 2 who need some help with their oral language skills. LanguageLift has been developed by MultiLit, a research-based initiative of Macquarie University. Our school currently implements Initial-Lit and MiniLit Sage, other initiatives by MultiLit. 

Oral language involves skills in both understanding and speaking. These skills are important because they support the development of reading and writing. Students who have English as Additional Language will also benefit from the program. The focus of the program is on vocabulary (understanding and using new words), grammar (speaking in complete and grammatically correct sentences) and story skills (listening to, understanding and telling stories). We are in the process of identifying students in K-2 who may benefit from additional support in the development of their oral language skills. If your child is identified, some further information will be sent home to you. We look forward to commencing some small groups of students on the LanguageLift program soon. 

Kind regards,

Emily Sullivan

Inclusion Support Teacher