Students with Disability

Chapter 4: Working with families of children with additional needs

Working closely with families helps give students with additional needs the best chance to achieve their potential.

Schools can talk to a student’s family about the best way to communicate with them. This may include scheduled meetings, or through email or phone calls.

When working with parents and carers, it is important to recognise that families come from a diverse range of backgrounds. These differences can leave them feeling alienated from the school and its operations.

The willingness and ability of parents and carers to be involved can be impacted by how they are approached and engaged by the school.

It is important that schools are mindful and respectful of diversity. Implement engagement strategies that help everyone feel empowered to advocate for the student and be confident that their concerns will be heard.

An Easy English version of this topic has been written for parents/carers. Refer to: How to work with your child’s school and information about student support groups (accessible) (PDF).

What to consider

When meeting or engaging with parents and carers schools may consider:

• providing them with accessible information about the purpose of the meeting. This includes advance copies of documents to be discussed and a list of who will be present
• scheduling a meeting at a time and place convenient for parents/carers and the school. This ensures that needs and commitments, such as work or childcare, are accommodated
• if childcare is not possible and young children are present at the meeting, ensuring the meeting is held in a safe and appropriate space. For example, where there is access to toys or a safe, supervised area for the children to play
• ensuring all key personnel have been invited and briefed on what is required of them. This may include outside support agencies
• encouraging parents/carers to bring an advocate or support person
• ensuring the meeting is free from interruptions, like phone calls, other students and staff
• ensuring that parents/carers are informed about the roles of meeting attendees, including those who have not been involved before
• accommodating for cultural needs, sensitivities and protocols
• arranging for an interpreter, including for AUSLAN to be present at the meeting if necessary
• recording the meeting and distributing it to participants. This may include key discussion points and areas for action
• in a timely manner, informing parents/carers when immediate action needs to be taken.

Student support groups

A student support group gives staff, families and specialists the opportunity to work together to make decisions about a student’s education.

A student support group is mandatory for students receiving individualised student disability funding provided under the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) or Disability Inclusion, and is recommended for all students with additional needs. Schools are required to consult with students, parents and carers about reasonable adjustments to support a student to access their education, even if no student support group has been established.