IEP and school support for parents in Malta
A meeting is coming, a report has arrived, and the school’s picture of your child doesn’t match what you see at home. I offer IEP support for parents in Malta: preparing for IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings and reviews, so you walk in knowing what to look for and what to ask.
What I help with
I help you make sense of reports written in school language. What they say, and what it might mean at home, is where we start. If something in the document doesn’t add up for you, we go through it together.
IEP meetings and reviews are where a lot of parents feel out of their depth. The process can feel like being spoken at rather than spoken with. I can help you prepare for what to expect, what to ask, and how to make sure your view is heard in the room.
Targets in an IEP should fit your family’s day, not just the school’s timetable. If a target doesn’t make sense at home, that’s worth saying, and I can help you say it clearly. I also work with parents who are dealing with their child’s class teacher or Learning Support Educator, including where the Autism Spectrum Support Team is involved, and with the meetings that come with a new class, school or phase.
I don’t assess or diagnose, and I don’t write the assessments or reports used by the Statementing Moderating Panel and Appeals Board (SMP/AB). What I do is help you understand what you’ve been given and prepare for what’s next. [confirm: does Rossella attend school meetings with parents? Does she write any report, such as a summary for the school?]
How to prepare for an IEP meeting
Start by writing down what you see at home. What does a hard day look like? A good one? Teachers may not see what you see, so note what is working and what isn’t. Bring three specific questions, such as what support is planned, who gives it, and when it will be reviewed.
When you speak, be concrete. Saying “more structure at break time” helps more than “I’m worried about everything.” Ask who does what. You don’t have to decide or react in the room. If you don’t understand something, say so and ask for it to be explained again. Keep to specific examples rather than general worries.
My guide to IEPs in Malta goes through the plan and the meeting step by step.
What does an LSE do?
In Malta, a Learning Support Educator (LSE) supports learners with individual educational needs in the classroom. Depending on the child’s needs, the LSE may work one-to-one, share support within a class, or support several learners at once.
The LSE works closely with the class teacher, not instead of them. The teacher still leads the lesson; the LSE helps the child access it.
An LSE is usually assigned after a child is recognised by the SMP/AB.