Learning Specialist Range 3 - Inclusion And Additional Educational Needs

Manor Lakes P-12 College opened in 2009 and is located in Minindee Rd, Wyndham Vale. The college currently has an enrolment of 3000 students. The enrolment is expected to stabilise and possibly decline in the primary years (additional primary schools opening in the neighbouring area) and to continue to increase at secondary level. The backgrounds of our students reflect a cultural and socio-economic diversity. The college has a Student Family Occupation (SFO) of 0.552 which indicates that there is a level of disadvantage within our community. Approximately 16% of our student population come from a language background other than English. 

The vision of Manor Lakes P-12 College is `Dream, Believe, Achieve'. The college aspires to create a vibrant and harmonious community of learners who have a confident belief in their ability to learn, grow and succeed.

We strive to provide the best possible education for our students and support for our staff.  The philosophy of our teaching practice is focussed on students¿ learning needs, and this is backed by current research about how students learn.

The College aims for an inclusive and welcoming culture for all families and students within our Designated Neighbourhood Area. We have established a number of programs and structures to provide appropriate learning environments and programs for all students including students with additional learning needs, complex and/or multiple disabilities. 

The college has developed partnerships with local and wider community agencies and organisations.  We have partnerships with the Smith Family, Wyndham City Council and various educational settings (e.g. Wyndham Community and Education Centre) and higher education settings (e.g. Victoria University ¿ Early University Program, Melbourne University Kwong Lee Dow Scholarship program, Latrobe University ¿ Intern and Monash University program). Our Sports Academy has affiliations with the NRL and Melbourne Storm, North Melbourne FC, Werribee FC, and Western Jets, Western United in the ASL and Melbourne United in the NBL.

The College has, and will continue to have, a relentless focus of continuous improvement in all aspects of College life, particularly focussing on improving learning outcomes for all students.  All staff are members of Professional Learning Teams and School Improvement Teams which focus on using data and evidence to identify areas to improve, and will work towards achieving goals as set out in the college¿s Strategic Plan.

All new staff to Manor Lakes P-12 College participate in a comprehensive induction program which clearly outlines the college vision, expectations and pedagogical approaches.  Regular communication with all members of the community is achieved through keeping the college website, newsletters, Facebook, Compass, face to face meetings and information sessions and forums.  

Another building is about to be commenced consisting of 16 additional secondary classrooms.  In addition to the new build, we have 18 relocatable buildings that house 34 classroom spaces across both primary and secondary sectors. These are in addition to permanent classroom and specialist buildings as well as staff offices, staff rooms and administration areas. The outside areas of the College are substantially upgraded and a grounds development plan ensures a systematic approach to further grounds improvement. 

Our staff are committed to enhancing their skills and developing their capacity as teachers by involving themselves in professional learning opportunities (external and internal), coaching, mentoring, and being actively involved in Professional Learning Teams and the Professional Learning Community. 

The College is committed to developing, maintaining and sustaining relationships between the school and home through events such as: Open Classrooms, Celebrations of Learning, Parent Helpers, Parent Information sessions, Community Forums, Year level celebrations such as Year 12 graduation, and Performing Arts showcases such as the Big Day Out, and Western Edge Youth Arts.

Manor Lakes P-12 College is committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision making.

Manor Lakes P-12 College has zero tolerance for child abuse.

Manor Lakes P-12 College is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Every person involved in Manor Lakes P-12 College has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually and collectively to ensure that they wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make. 

SC1      Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.

SC2      Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth

SC3      Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4      Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5      Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.

Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning.  Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.

The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.

In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:

• Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice
• Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons
• Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice
• Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery
• Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration
• Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice
• Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development
• Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
• Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers
• Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches
• Developing and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities
• Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

The Department of Education (the department) is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the department. The department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the department. Mobile: 0477 726 *** or email on: **********@education.vic.gov.au

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.