Special Education Working Group: An Update from Your Delegates
As you all settle into Term 2, the PSA Special Education Working Group wants to remind members of the following top topics:
Travel Training
Members are reminded that when students undertake a travel training program, School Learning Support Officers’s (SLSO’s) are there to assist the teacher. SLSO’s should not implement travel training programs without a teacher present. SLSO’s may assist students who are already at workplaces for work experience but not deliver or pick them up without a teacher present.
If you have a student who is to commence travel training, you should ensure that an appropriate risk assessment has been completed and a plan developed with your input.
Playground Support
SLSO’s can be rostered to assist teachers in providing playground support. However, it is not the role of the SLSO to be supervising students without a teacher.
Deep Cleaning and Emergency Cleaning
In the event of an emergency, staff are reminded that cleaning bodily fluids such as faeces and other biohazards must be undertaken by professional cleaners. Staff are to isolate the area and report to the Executive immediately. This may include areas such as school swimming pools and change rooms.
School Excursions / Camps
SLSO’s who attend school excursions/camps are paid. The steps listed below must be followed prior to attending the camp.
- Ensure that approval for the camp has been obtained from the Director
- Payment is made for time worked outside normal school hours where the SLSO is engaged in assisting the students
- A detailed itinerary should be developed to indicate the SLSO’s role on each excursion/camp which takes into account the health care plans, behaviour plans, risk assessments and/or learning plans of individual students.
- Payment for travel should be included when assisting the student with any activity or support linked to these plans eg; supporting students with sensory or behaviour needs.
