What are Inclusive Education Support Services?
The Inclusive Education Team is the group of specialists who collaborate with classroom teachers and families to establish and monitor the interventions, goals and strategies being put in place to help your child be safe and successful at school. For some learners, this also involves the creation of an Individualized Education Plan or Learning Plan.
- An Inclusion Support Teacher works with your child’s classroom teacher to provide support to your child and co-ordinate your child’s support plan.
- Education Assistants are assigned to learning environments and provide additional support to a variety of students.
- Additional support from a Speech Language Pathologist, English Language Learning Teacher, School Psychologist, or Child, Youth & Family Support Worker, may also be recommended. School psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists are licensed as part of the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
- District support is also available for students with hearing and visual impairments.
- Referrals for these services are made through your child’s classroom teacher to the School-Based Team. Your child’s teacher is the best place to begin when you have a question or concern.
School Based Team
In schools, supporting students is a team effort. Classroom teachers regularly work with members of the School-Based Team, including the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), School Psychologist, School Counsellor, Inclusion Support Teachers, and other staff. As part of this ongoing collaboration, members of the support team may visit classrooms, observe students, consult with teachers, or occasionally interact with individual students. These are routine parts of working together and help staff to better understand how students are learning and participating in the classroom. An observation or interaction with a student does not necessarily mean there is a concern, or that the student is being referred for individualized services.
For example, an SLP may observe communication in the classroom, or a School Psychologist my consult with a teacher about learning strategies. These conversations are part of the collaborative support available to all students. If the team feels that a student may benefit from individual assessment or specialized services, families will be contacted and parent/guardian consent obtained before they are provided. Families are important partners in this process, and we welcome your questions and involvement along the way!
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Integration Plans
(for Parents)
An Integration Plan is a formal document used to guide the interventions and supports provided for a learner under the age of 16 who is attending school on a part-time program.
Meaningful
Home-School Collab
The team at your child’s school values parent input, questions, and collaboration in supporting your child toward having a positive experience at school. Students are always more successful when home and school work together.
Supportive Plans
(For Students)
There are a variety of supportive plans which are created for learners with individualized needs.
Plans are created for any students who require support that is above-and-beyond the universal and flexible supports that classroom teachers provide for all learners.
Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NLPS has a Teacher of the Deaf / Hard of Hearing (TDHH) who provides direct service to students Kindergarten to Grade 12 whose educational and social emotional development is significantly impacted by hearing loss.
Counselling Support
School counsellors facilitate social-emotional and behavioral support for learners at school (i.e. self-regulation, friendships, anxiety in the school setting).
Where a student is experiencing difficulties across a variety of settings, or is presenting with a need requiring more intensive, individualized support, the school’s counsellor will work with the student and family, to refer the student to an outside service provider.
Support with Supervision and Personal Care
Additional support may be provided for students who require support to be safe when playing outside, or for those with personal care needs. Please ask your child’s teacher if you have questions or concerns.
Learning Environments at School
Your child’s key learning space is his or her classroom.
Other learning spaces are provided when an alternative environment is needed for small group or individual support with specific, targeted skills. We are always working to provide students with the best learning environment to meet their individual needs.