The Individual Needs team at St Thomas Aquinas College consists of the Individual Needs Coordinator and Individual Needs Officers who specialise in understanding the diverse learning and behavioural needs of all students. We have a commitment to support all students to be successful learners and assist them to reach their individual potential by understanding their learning and behavioural needs through a personalised learning and support approach. The Individual Needs Coordinator provides advice and support to teachers in their delivery of inclusive learning programs across the school.

At the College, teachers plan for, deliver and assess students so that all students are able to consolidate their learning and increase competencies in an inclusive, supportive and effective manner. While all students’ learning and behavioural needs are understood by teachers through appropriate individualised assessment, it is recognised that some students will require higher levels of monitoring throughout the school year to ensure growth. Teachers use personalised learning plans to identify specific learning goals for some students and indicate the relevant adjustments and strategies they will bring to their teaching and classroom activities to support these students to realise their personal learning goals. Adjustments to learning activities and modifications to assessment tasks are designed by teachers and implemented with the support of the Individual Needs team. The Individual Needs team collaborates with teachers to deliver and apply individualised adjustments and strategies at the whole class, small group and individual levels.

The Individual Needs team works closely with parents to foster a working relationship with the College that optimises student’s spiritual, academic, social and emotional development. The Individual Needs team is also supported and guided by a number of professionals and agencies such as specialist education consultants for disability, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists as well as other community based support organisations. With the collaboration of these support services we make current, ongoing and informed decisions about the best possible support structures and learning opportunities for our students.