SPS has held a graduation event recognising the Learning Support Officers who often work with the highest need students in schools. Professional learning supported by speech pathologists within schools is crucial to enable and sustain best practice support for these students.
The graduation event was held at 24 October 2019 at the Clocktower Centre in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia,
The SPS intervention program for literacy and oral language is a three year training program consisting of modules each term for 12 terms (3 years). Each module has teaching components, assessment tasks and involves practising the skills with students at the school. The skills covered include Cued Articulation, Colourful semantics, working with students on the Autism spectrum and working with students from English as an Additional Language (EAL) background.
This graduation event recognised the achievements of 40 Learning Support Officers in completing the program from four schools across Melbourne.
Mala Ferdinando, the Director of Speech Pathology for Schools, said that our vision at SPS is “To change lives for the better by improving student literacy and language outcomes through speech pathology collaboration in school communities.”
Learning Support Officer graduating from the SPS Intervention Program for literacy and oral language are a big part of the journey to achieve this vision. Together they are making a difference to schools, parents and students.
Having completed this three-year program demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning. This is a great achievement. The hard work and dedication is a testament of the passion Learning Support Officers have for education.
"I am proud and thankful of the work Learning Support Officers do every day and am excited by the difference they are making to the students with whom they work, and the thousands of students’ lives changed. Congratulations and all the best for the future", Mala said.