The PSA Special Education Working Group (SEWG) had their quarterly meeting on Monday 21 November 2022.
The committee meets to discuss matters affecting School Learning Support Officers (SLSO) working in all streams, including Student Health Support, and reports these through the Schools Departmental Committee for discussion with the Department of Education (DoE).
At the meeting the following topics were discussed.
Grow Your Own Teacher Training Program
The Department is launching a pilot program to support up to 100 School Learning Support Officers (SLSO’s) to train as teachers within NSW public schools. The Grow Your Own – Teacher Training Program will commence in Term 1, 2023. Applications close on 29/11/2022. Please click on the link below for further information.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/teach-nsw/become-a-teacher/grow-your-own—teacher-training-program
School Excursions / Camps
SLSO’s who attend school excursions/camps are paid. The following steps 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 and take into account the health care plans, behaviour plans, risk assessments, learning plans of individual students.
- Payment for travel should be included when assisting the student with any activity or support linked to the plans eg; supporting students with sensory or behaviour needs.
If members require further information, please contact the PSA.
Assisted School Travel Program
The PSA has been contacted by SLSO members seeking clarification in relation to their areas of responsibility under the Assisted School Travel Program. In particular, concerning the student’s safety in the vehicle. The following advice was received for the department on 21 March 2018 as follows.
“SLSO’s are not directly involved in the service delivery of the program which employs assisted travel support officers (ATSO) and contract drivers. However, SLSO’s usually accompany the student to and from the vehicle”
The PSA would like to remind members that it is the responsibility of the ATSO and drivers to ensure students are correctly secured in the vehicle.
The Special Education Working Group would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.