Education Strategies

Question 1

What are the three general types of funding contained in the National Education Reform Agreement?

Answer 1

• Base school allocation (based on location, operation funding, and staffing) - lowest level
• Equity loadings (based on socio-economic background, ATSI background, low level adjustment for disability, and English language proficiency - middle level
• Targeted funding (based on refugee status, new arrivals, integration funding support) - top tier, individual student funding.

Question 2

What are the 5 levels of support within NSW public schools?

Answer 2

1. (bottom level): Support at classroom level - day to day strategies used by teacher eg seating arrangements, extra clarifcation/instructions
2. Support at the school level - individual education plans, student learning support officer, teacher’s aide, school counsellor/psych
3. Integration funding support - individual funding for a child to support them within regular classes (confirmed dx required)
4. Support units - specialised classrooms with special education teachers and small classrooms within regular schools
5. Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) - schools that support children with complex needs (e.g. physical disabilities, feeding issues, significant mental health concerns)

Question 3

What categories of disabilities are included in NSW disability criteria?

Answer 3

• Language
• Physical disability
• Intellectual disability (based on IQ below 75, not adaptive functioning)
• Hearing/vision impairment, deaf/blind
• Mental health problems (internalising, externalising, both)
• Autism
• ‘Other’: eg epilepsy
  Specific Learning Disability and ADHD are not currently recognised

Question 4

List the types of support classes available with their abbreviation

Answer 4

• IM (Mild ID)
• IO (Moderate ID)
• IS (Severe ID)
• Au (ASD)
• ED, BD or ED/BD (emotional disturbance/behavioural issues)
• MC class (multi-category)

Question 5

What is integration funding support (IFS) used for?

Answer 5

• It is targeted funding for students with moderate of severe condition
• But enrolled in regular schools. Students enrolled in support classes or Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) are not eligble for IFS.
• Dx does not automtically allow funding > they must have essential educational needs directed related to their dx

Question 6

Provide some methods to increase compliance with reccomendations in reports

Answer 6

• Don’t give too many day-today strategies (3-4)
• Give concrete strategies and explain in person or over phone to ensure they understand why they should be implemented
• Work collaboratively and seek feedback of efficacy of reccomendations
• Check up on progress
• Explain why you’re suggesting a strategy because of a specific cognitive weakness