This is why I’m embarking on a journey to become a support officer in class
Every child deserves a helping hand, and a chance to *enjoy* school.

I agree with this. I’ve seen the special needs support and it just isn’t enough

This would help a lot as more children are being diagnosed than ever before

It’s definitely something that’s needed. Especially training regarding kids on the spectrum. A lot of teachers just don’t have the qualifications and training to understand teaching kids with forms of autism.

Government funding for more speech pathologists, occupational therapists and school psychologists is needed to actually address many of these kids in schools. Sadly, a lot of kids who would benefit from these allied health professionals do no qualify for NDIS funding and many parents can’t afford private therapy fees. Teachers in turn would benefit from knowing where students are struggling, being able to work with allied health professionals to integrate goals and specifically tailor teaching and exercises to kids. Boom – improved outcomes already.

I agree! My son has additional needs and not many schools have the support and without NDIS a lot of children would be in trouble

Help in the classroom for special learning is important to help the whole class.

100% agree – ADHD needs to be recognised as a disability so that schools and parents can access appropriate funding!

We definitely need more support in classrooms ????????

Yes Australian Schools are falling before our kids are not learning properly bring back the basic handwriting and the Times Tables. Kids have forgotten how to even write now as its all done on computers

I think classes are too big- everyone learns differently, and bug classes mean that kids will be left behind. It’s just setting them up to fail throughout their schooling.

Classes seem to be getting larger and larger and parents are finding it harder to access the professionals they need for their children to be diagnosed. with learning difficulties. Even with diagnosis, the support seems very limited in many cases. I definitely think a lot of learning needs to take place outside the classroom, its just too hard for one person with 30 students, all at different levels with different learning styles to individually address every ones separate needs.

Schools need to step away from old learning models of one way fits all

It is so hard to get extra help even with a diagnosis – my son is deaf and we get 1 hour a week of classroom assistance. Without a diagnosis you have no hope.

I love that more recognition about learning difficulties and differences are being made within Australia. It would be great to see all students in a combined learning environment with educators (additional) available for those with increased requirements. We recently had a Special School open near the local primary school and I have heard brilliant things and great outcomes from this school

I believe in a system where all kids learn alongside each other in class on a level adjusted to their ability. My youngest has for example Down syndrome with a severe cognitive delay and severe ADHD; She’s in a mainstream school and has full time one-on-one support from a teacher aide the work she gets offered is adjusted to her level. This way she is totally included and not excluded or segregated. I do think smaller classes are good.

We need smaller classes to begin with so more students can get better support and teachers arent overwhelmed

I agree this is great. Classrooms should have a smaller amount of kids in each so that each child has an ability to engage with the teacher, ask questions and learn well.

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  • • mom111059 replied
    • 22 Feb 2023 , 9:40 am

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  Unfortunately, we have a teacher shortage so smaller classes means more teachers needed.

No child should be left behind so extra assistance is a must. Falling behind and not being able to reach their potential because they find it a little harder can’t just be ignored. We all learn at a different pace =and some need a different approach to get it.