WA primary students are falling through the cracks. Here's what should change
The state's education minister has also recognised that early intervention is key, with 'violent behaviour starting to present itself more in the younger years'.
Data obtained by this masthead under freedom of information laws has revealed that in the past year and a half, the youngest students to attend the state government's Alternative Learning Settings were in year 6.
The alternative settings – 12 in total across WA – were set up in an attempt to help schools deal with rising levels of classroom disruptions and behavioural challenges.
They are also aimed to help students, many of whom also lived with complex needs, instead of suspending or excluding them from education.
Symone Wheatley-Hey, founder of the group Square Peg Round Whole, said the feedback from parents of children who had attended these settings was that they worked.
But she said the intervention should come earlier.
'The data supports what we already know – younger children are falling through the cracks,' she said.
'Young people are being excluded in primary school more often and so why are they not being sent to these services?'
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WA primary students are falling through the cracks. Here's what should change
West Australian schools should be intervening in behaviour management sooner, advocates say, with new figures revealing primary school students are not being included in a program set up as a 'last resort' to get students back on track. The state's education minister has also recognised that early intervention is key, with 'violent behaviour starting to present itself more in the younger years'. Data obtained by this masthead under freedom of information laws has revealed that in the past year and a half, the youngest students to attend the state government's Alternative Learning Settings were in year 6. The alternative settings – 12 in total across WA – were set up in an attempt to help schools deal with rising levels of classroom disruptions and behavioural challenges. They are also aimed to help students, many of whom also lived with complex needs, instead of suspending or excluding them from education. Symone Wheatley-Hey, founder of the group Square Peg Round Whole, said the feedback from parents of children who had attended these settings was that they worked. But she said the intervention should come earlier. 'The data supports what we already know – younger children are falling through the cracks,' she said. 'Young people are being excluded in primary school more often and so why are they not being sent to these services?'
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
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WA primary students are falling through the cracks. Here's what should change
West Australian schools should be intervening in behaviour management sooner, advocates say, with new figures revealing primary school students are not being included in a program set up as a 'last resort' to get students back on track. The state's education minister has also recognised that early intervention is key, with 'violent behaviour starting to present itself more in the younger years'. Data obtained by this masthead under freedom of information laws has revealed that in the past year and a half, the youngest students to attend the state government's Alternative Learning Settings were in year 6. The alternative settings – 12 in total across WA – were set up in an attempt to help schools deal with rising levels of classroom disruptions and behavioural challenges. They are also aimed to help students, many of whom also lived with complex needs, instead of suspending or excluding them from education. Symone Wheatley-Hey, founder of the group Square Peg Round Whole, said the feedback from parents of children who had attended these settings was that they worked. But she said the intervention should come earlier. 'The data supports what we already know – younger children are falling through the cracks,' she said. 'Young people are being excluded in primary school more often and so why are they not being sent to these services?'
