Learning Support

Tate Street Primary School is in the suburb of Thomson, Geelong, which sits between East Geelong, South Geelong and Newcomb. We are located 5 minutes out of the Geelong CBD. Our student enrolments have been quite stable over the past few years. Currently in 2024, we have 176 students enrolled with our current school buildings capacity at 200 students. Of the 176 students, 91 are counted on the NCCD as receiving adjustments. 11 students are eligible for EAL funding (English as an Additional Language), and 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students attend the school. Our SFOE Index decreasing from .4272 to .4244. We currently have 5 students in out of home care.

At Tate St. Primary School we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. Our commitment is drawn from our school philosophy, mission and values of respect, responsibility, and resilience. Tate St. Primary School is dedicated to the development of each student¿s intellectual, social, and emotional growth. Our primary focus is not to standardise education, but to personalise it, to build achievement on discovering the talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions. This means engaging and working with families and the wider community in the provision of a diverse, evolving curriculum that inspires passion, supports personal growth, and equips students with essential life skills. We empower students to become confident and adaptable life-long learners who are ready to build positive, purposeful futures.

In 2024 Tate Street Primary School will have 9 generalist classrooms. We have a full time inclusion leader who coordinates our programs for disability and mental health and wellbeing. We have 5 part-time Specialist teachers who deliver Art, Music, PE, Science and Auslan. We have a full-time Assistant Principal and 1 Learning Specialist working 1 day per week, with a key role in Numeracy and mentoring our less experienced staff. Our students with additional needs are supported by 9 part-time Education Support Staff and 2 Tutor Learning Initiative Teachers who have a focus on Literacy from Year 1-5. We also have an Education Support staff member who facilitates an Oral Language Intervention Program with small groups of students in Prep and Year 1. We have one Business Manager part-time (0.8) and one Administration part-time staff member (0.4). Their Care offer a high-quality Out of School Hours Care Program for our community running from 7.00-9.00am and 3.15-6.15pm. We currently have no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff at TSPS. 

SC1  Demonstrated capacity to perform duties consistent with established guidelines and frameworks, including coordinating and supporting others in respect to specific work functions relevant to the role.

SC2  Demonstrated capacity to work and collaborate with others in a team environment.

SC3  Demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in a team environment, including high level oral and written communication skills.

SC4  Possess the technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the position.

SC5  Demonstrated capacity to provide advice and support to management and other school staff in respect to the work area.

SC6  A commitment to professional learning and growth for both self and others.

SC7 At Tate St PS we utilise the Berry St Educational Model, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and Positive Behaviour Support Framework to engage our students in safe and calm learning environments. Please provide a response as to how you will utilise our approaches and processes to best support students with additional needs.

[Attendance requirement for this position]

An education support class position at this range will perform tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice, and school policy under supervision and direction. This may include coordination of other education support class staff within the work area or educational program.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students but must not include duties of a teacher as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students can be required individually or in groups up to 4 in controlled circumstances and where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

Certification and/or qualifications of up to three years can be required at this level (noting that Registered Nurse is not included at this level, the first level for which is Level 1 range 3).

A role at this range may include:

• Specific support tasks to achieve outcomes. Typically, this will involve accountability for a single function, (e.g. ensuring data is properly maintained) or the co-ordination of a work area under the direction of the principal or a manager.
• Assisting teachers, within an educational program, by undertaking specific support tasks or the coordination of the support function.
• Supervised health and wellbeing support tasks, medical intervention support tasks, or other specialised student/teacher support roles (e.g. enrolled nurses performing the role as described in schedule 3). These roles require specific qualifications and/or training, including roles where further training must be undertaken from time to time. The role is for a specific purpose, for which there will be direct accountability as opposed to support roles that are carried out by a range of staff performing routine tasks under direction.
• Technical tasks that require a sound knowledge of basic technical and/or scientific principles that are used to develop and adapt work methods and make judgements where there are clear guidelines and limited options. Routine technical support in libraries, science, and information technology would be typical examples.

An education support class position at this range commencing at the base will initially be limited to undertaking routine tasks that are carried out under close supervision and direction. Work that carries some degree of independence will generally involve a limited number of tasks performed on a regular basis where priorities are clear, procedures are well established, and direction is readily available. Subject to any specific qualification and/or training requirement, an education support class employee employed in this range may be progressively required to undertake coordination, specialised student/teacher support tasks, or technical tasks as experience in the role is gained.

• Provides routine support for teachers including assisting with planning of student routines
• Supports communication between teachers and parents
• Communicates with teachers on routine matters related to students and/or other responsibilities
• Provides basic physical care and wellbeing support for students such as toileting, meals, and lifting
• Communicating with student/s to support comprehension of basic tasks and information
• Addresses immediate behavioural presentations relating to specific students within a classroom setting aligned to school policy and procedure
• Provides basic support and supervision for individuals or groups of up to 4 students within a classroom setting
• Supports teachers in the coordination of educational programs independently or under minimal supervision, including rostering and organising the work of a team of aides, providing routine co-ordination, guidance, and support to other student support staff, liaising with external providers of support services about clearly defined support needs and resources, assisting teachers with the communication of student outcomes and educational programs
• Provides medical intervention support to a student/s, under specific conditions, with appropriate training and guidance
• Provides specialised communication support for students and teachers in areas such as AUSLAN and braille

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of 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 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).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@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