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What is the best way to communicate with your school?

What is the best way to communicate my child’s needs? 

Find out from your child’s class teacher how and when they will communicate with you about your child’s needs and how they prefer the communication to occur.  Some teachers rely on Communication Diaries, some are comfortable with email or text contact, others use specific apps or other digital platforms for communicating with parents.   

Many schools have a Learning Support Coordinator, or a member of the leadership team (particularly in secondary schools) assigned to support families with a child with additional needs.  This person may be the first contact point for some negotiations and meetings to discuss your child’s needs.   

Having a good relationship with your child’s teacher(s) will help you get to know what your child is learning and how they are going. Be involved in developing your child’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) each Semester. You don’t have to wait for your child’s school report or plan if you have questions about how they are going or if you think they might need some extra help. Ask your child’s teacher about their learning goals for your child and talk about how you will know if they are on-track. If you need more information or have any concerns about schooling be sure to raise this with your child’s teacher at the earliest opportunity. 

It’s good to provide as much information about your child’s likes and dislikes, interests, support needs, distress triggers, strengths, talents and other essential personalised information so teachers can work with you to best support your child’s learning. 

This is the WA Department of Education’s Communication Protocols for school communities working together:

https://www.education.wa.edu.au/dl/q3vvkq 

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