Overview
The Learning and Support Team at The Ponds High School is looking forward to working with your child to ensure that they have the appropriate strategies and adjustments in place to allow them to reach their potential throughout their high school years. The Learning and Support Team meets on a fortnightly basis and is made up of a range of specialists: the Learning and Support Teachers (LaST), the school Student Support Officer (SSO), Head Teacher Wellbeing, Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, Careers Teacher and the school counsellor.
Learning support starts in the classroom, where our highly skilled and dedicated teachers differentiate the curriculum to support the learning needs of all the students in their classes. If a student needs additional support, they are referred to the Learning and Support Team. Our mission is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate and to achieve success, both within the classroom and in the broader educational and community settings.
Learning and Support Faculty
The Learning Support Faculty at The Ponds High School consists of one full time and one part time Learning and Support Teacher (LaST) and 4 Student Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) who work under the supervision of HT Teaching and Learning. The LaST provides in-class support through team teaching, assistance with provisions in assessment tasks/exams and, where required, and withdrawal of small group or individual students to develop their skills in a particular area. In addition to this, the faculty works and consults with a range of specialist personnel, support agencies, and external health-care specialists to ensure that we meet the needs of your child and provide them with the best possible opportunities to maximise their outcomes.
What we offer
The Learning and Support Team currently offers the following services to support our students:
- Personal Learning Plans (PLP)
Personal Learning Plans are tailored to meet the individual needs of our students and provide strategies for both our teaching staff and for the student to ensure that they are participating and learning in the most effective way. Plans are based on the information supplied to the school by the parents and in-school data gathering processes. A meeting with the student and parents may also be conducted to discuss advice from external providers in order to develop the PLPs. Completed PLPs are reviewed every 12-15 months (or earlier if circumstances change). A copy of the PLP is sent home for parental approval and the LaST communicates with class teachers to advise on appropriate modifications and arrangements to help cater for individual learning needs.
- Practical Approaches to Assessment and Learning (PAAL)
The Learning and Support Team offer a dedicated elective course which has been designed to allow students to gain a better understanding about how they learn. It has a strong practical focus on diverse ways to approach learning and includes an in-depth understanding of the following areas: learning styles, goals and targets, time management, study skills, organisational skills, and assignment support. This course is designed to supplement and support student learning and is available to Year 9 and Year 10 students upon recommendation of a staff member. Selection is based on need as determined by the Learning and Support Team.
- NCCD (Nationally Consistent Collection of Data
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on school students with a disability is a yearly count of students by all Australian Schools. It provides the Australian Government with information about the number of students with a disability in Australian schools and the type of adjustments they need in order to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. The information is used by the government to inform funding for schools. While it is not possible for schools or families to “opt out” of NCCD, the privacy and confidentiality of all students and their families is treated with utmost importance. More information on the NCCD can be found here
https://www.nccd.edu.au/
For more information on how your child can be supported at high school, visit the NSW public schools Inclusive Learning Support Hub https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/inclusive-learning-support
The Learning and Support Team look forward to working both with you and your child to ensure that they have the chance to reach their potential.