Learning Support

We strongly believe our fundamental responsibility is to nurture students to reach their highest potential. Meeting children at their individual point-of-need therefore underpins our learning approach.

Learning Support at St Margaret Mary’s

At St Margaret Mary’s, our fundamental responsibility is to nurture every child to reach their highest potential. We recognise that learning is developmental and that students progress at different rates. For this reason, meeting each child at their point of need underpins our approach to learning and support.

Our Learning Support strategy is aligned to a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), ensuring that all students receive the right level of instruction, challenge and support at the right time. Through this model, we provide:

• high-quality classroom instruction for all students
• targeted support for students who require additional consolidation or extension
• intensive and individualised intervention for students with ongoing learning needs.

Learning Enhancement and Intervention Teachers (LEIT)

At St Margaret Mary’s, we recognise that every child’s learning journey is unique. We welcome students of all abilities and are committed to providing inclusive and personalised learning experiences within a strong whole-school instructional framework.

Our Learning Enhancement and Intervention Teachers (LEIT) work in close partnership with classroom teachers to strengthen teaching and learning across the school. Their work is explicitly aligned to our MTSS framework and supports students across all tiers of support.

Using a data-informed and evidence-based approach, the LEIT team provides:

• targeted instruction for students requiring additional support
• structured extension and enrichment for students ready to be challenged
• in-class and small-group support to strengthen access to high-quality instruction.

Support is delivered through small-group and one-to-one teaching, as well as within classrooms through focus groups, daily review and explicit instruction.

 

 

 

 

 

Tier 1 – High-quality instruction for all students

At St Margaret Mary’s, the foundation of our MTSS framework is strong, explicit and well-sequenced classroom instruction.

All students are supported through:

• consistent instructional practices aligned to our Vision for Instruction
• regular formative assessment and checking for understanding
• targeted differentiation and scaffolding within classroom learning.

LEIT staff support classroom teachers to strengthen Tier 1 practice through collaborative planning, data analysis and instructional support.

Tier 2 – Targeted learning support and extension

Students who require additional consolidation or extension beyond the classroom program are supported through short-term, targeted small-group instruction.

Tier 2 support is:

• data-driven
• focused on clearly identified learning needs
• delivered in addition to high-quality classroom teaching.

Programs used include evidence-based interventions such as:

• UFLI (Foundation literacy)
• MiniLit (Junior literacy)
• MacqLit (Middle and Senior literacy)
• Learning Framework in Number (LFIN) for numeracy.

Enrichment

At St Margaret Mary’s, we are committed to helping every student flourish academically, socially and emotionally. Beyond our core curriculum, we offer enrichment and extension programs that challenge students, spark curiosity and develop their unique strengths. These opportunities are designed to foster confident, resilient and creative learners who are inspired to explore and grow.

Mathematics Extension

Students in Years 3-6 may be selected to participate in the Australian Mathematics Challenge, an initiative that encourages problem-solving, critical thinking and creative application of mathematical ideas. This experience helps students grow their confidence and discover the joy of tackling complex problems in a supportive environment. 

In addition, students are offered enrichment opportunities within the classroom, such as open-ended challenges and real-world investigations, designed to deepen their understanding and stretch their mathematical thinking. Small-group activities and independent tasks provide further ways for advanced learners to explore concepts beyond the standard curriculum.

Through these initiatives, we aim to nurture curiosity, resilience and a lifelong love of mathematics, ensuring that every student is supported to reach their full potential.

Literacy Extension

Our Literacy Extension is designed to challenge and extend every learner by embedding enrichment opportunities within our daily core lessons. Through higher-order thinking tasks, rich comprehension experiences and purposeful writing activities, all students are encouraged to think deeply and engage meaningfully with texts.

Open-ended projects, thoughtful discussion and advanced problem-solving are integrated into classroom learning so that every student is supported to move beyond foundational skills and explore increasing levels of sophistication. By building extension into everyday practice, we foster curiosity, creativity and critical thinking, ensuring all learners are continually growing and reaching their full potential.

Tier 3 – Intensive and individualised intervention

For students with ongoing or more complex learning needs, Tier 3 intervention provides intensive, individualised support.

Intervention is provided following collaborative planning and consultation with families. Where appropriate, students are supported through a Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) developed in partnership with:

• the Director of Inclusive Teaching and Learning and/or the Learning and Inclusive Practices Leader
• Wellbeing Leader 
• classroom teachers and families.

Tier 3 intervention is typically delivered for a 10-week cycle, either individually or in small groups, and may occur within or outside the classroom depending on student need and wellbeing.

Progress is monitored throughout the cycle. Where students continue to require support, further intervention and adjustments are planned to ensure continuity of learning.

Collaboration and monitoring

Collaboration is central to our MTSS approach. The LEIT team, classroom teachers and curriculum leaders work together to:

• analyse student assessment data and work samples
• identify students requiring Tier 2 and Tier 3 support
• plan targeted teaching and intervention
• monitor progress and adjust instruction accordingly.

This ensures learning support at St Margaret Mary’s is:

• structured
• transparent
• evidence-based
• and trackable over time.

At St Margaret Mary’s, our MTSS framework ensures that every student is known, supported and challenged. Through high-quality classroom instruction, targeted intervention and intensive support where required, we are committed to building confidence, curiosity and strong learning outcomes for every child.