That ICPA NT request that the Dept of Education provides targeted support and funding to the Additional Needs team at Schools of the Air to educate and support Home Tutors and families of students who are Geographically Isolated and have recognised additional needs.
In recent years NT Government have introduced “Special Needs Teachers’ into Public Schools, which has certainly improved support for enrolled students and their families. There is still a gap for remote and Geographically Isolated students between identifying an issue and obtaining a timely diagnosis. The role of an Educational Psychologist within the Schools of the Air would greatly improve the diagnosis pathway and outcomes for these students.
Most geographically isolated parents and Home Tutors of students with learning difficulties are not trained teachers. Their role is to assist the student with their learning, supporting the School of the Air curriculum. Due to the ‘satellite’ nature of distance education classrooms, it is greatly difficult for the teachers to get an understanding of a student’s capabilities and challenges through an online learning platform.
The key areas that need funding are,
- Long waiting times for student assessments, due to lack of staffing in the education Department in remote towns of Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.
- Limited access to online, or face-to-face support and training, for the Home Tutor. Due to waiting times on assessments and lack of skilled staff in Dept of Education who support the “Special Needs Teacher” in a Distance Ed context.
- Easier access to Tele-health options for children living in Geographically Isolated areas.
- Lack of personnel and financial resources for teachers to be able to conduct Patrols annually or as required to support Home Tudors.
It is so important that families and Home Tutors can be armed with the right tools to educate students with learning difficulties in Geographically Isolated areas. An ongoing support network, online training and family patrols to remote areas are a lifeline to the student, home tutor and parents.
