What is an IEP?
An Individualised Education Program (IEP) is a personalised plan designed to meet the unique needs of a student.
It is a collaborative plan involving educators, parents, and sometimes students themselves, tailored to support academic and developmental goals.
An IEP considers the ‘reasonable adjustments’ required to support a student to access education and school in general.
It is a written statement outlining the learning program and goals for the student, as well as the required strategies to meet these goals and help the child reach their full potential.
Does My Child Need an IEP?
Is your child struggling and underperforming in school?
Have concerns been raised about their learning or social interactions by you or their teachers?
Are you confused about where to start in helping your child?
As a parent, the answers to these questions can be difficult, and finding where to turn for help can be even more challenging. Your child’s school may have suggested trying to get an Individualised Education Program (IEP) to support your child. To determine if this could be beneficial for your child, it’s important to first understand what an IEP is.
What to Expect from an IEP?
Assessment
Before developing an IEP, a comprehensive assessment is conducted to gain insights into the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and individual needs.
This evaluation encompasses various aspects such as cognitive abilities, academic skills, social-emotional development, and any other relevant factors impacting learning. Through assessments, educators and specialists can identify the specific challenges and areas where a student requires support.
Goal Setting
Once the assessment is complete, the next crucial step in developing an IEP is goal setting. Goals are not just aspirations but are specific, measurable objectives tailored to the student’s abilities and learning style.
These goals address areas of improvement identified during the assessment and are designed to facilitate progress towards academic success and personal growth. By setting clear and achievable goals, educators provide students with a roadmap for their educational journey.
Tailored Support
One of the hallmark features of an IEP is its emphasis on providing tailored support to meet the unique needs of each student. This support can take various forms, including specialised instruction, accommodations, modifications, assistive technology, and related services such as speech therapy or occupational therapy.
By customising support strategies, educators ensure that students have access to the tools and resources necessary to overcome barriers and actively participate in learning activities.
Progress Monitoring
An IEP involves continuous progress monitoring and adjustment. Regular reviews are conducted to assess the student’s advancement towards their goals and to evaluate the effectiveness of the support strategies in place.
Based on this ongoing assessment, modifications and refinements are made to the IEP to better meet the student’s evolving needs. Progress monitoring ensures that the IEP remains dynamic and responsive, empowering students to reach their full potential.
Australian schools have a legal obligation to:
- Ensure students with disabilities are provided with learning and teaching opportunities ‘on the same basis’ as students without a disability.
- Collaborate with the student, family members or others knowledgeable about the student in developing the IEP and adjustments.
- Implement reasonable adjustments that are regularly evaluated to meet the needs of students to participate in learning.
To receive an IEP, a student must be experiencing difficulties and disruptions in their learning caused by their disability.
How can a Psychological Assessment Help?
Our psychological assessments can help identify what might be causing your child’s difficulties at school and provide information on what adjustments or supports would be most suitable to help your child reach their full potential.
The information from these assessments, as well as psychological supports, can enable your child’s school and teachers to develop an IEP specifically tailored to your child’s unique strengths, challenges, and goals.
Our psychologists have extensive experience in administering a range of assessments to children of all ages. These assessments can help in the diagnosis of disabilities such as:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
- Speech and Language Disorders
- Intellectual Disability
- Specific Learning Disability
- Emotional and behavioural disturbances
If you believe your child may be eligible for an IEP, please book an assessment with our experienced psychologists. This could serve as the initial step toward helping your child unlock their full learning potential.
