Support and Extension Programs at Ripponlea Primary School

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are committed to providing a learning environment that caters to the diverse needs of all our students. Our approach ensures that every child, regardless of their stage of learning, receives the support or extension they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe in a student-centred approach where learning is personalised to each child’s unique needs, fostering independence, resilience, and a love for learning.

Individualised Education Plans (IEPs)

At Ripponlea, we believe that every child is an individual, and learning must be tailored to their needs. Our students with additional learning needs are supported through Individual Education Plans (IEPs). These plans are designed to identify areas where students may require extra support or, conversely, where they can be further challenged. Through regular assessment and collaboration with parents, teachers, and specialists, we ensure that IEPs are living documents that guide learning, provide targeted interventions, and celebrate students' achievements.

MacqLit and MiniLit Sage Reading Programs

To support the literacy development of students who require additional assistance, Ripponlea Primary School implements the MacqLit Reading Program and the MiniLit Sage Reading Program. These evidence-based programs are designed to enhance reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary development for students who may be experiencing challenges with reading.

• MacqLit focuses on developing the foundational literacy skills for students who need intensive support. It addresses phonemic awareness, decoding skills, fluency, and comprehension.

• MiniLit Sage, on the other hand, offers targeted interventions for students who need support at an early stage of reading development. It is designed to ensure that every child, regardless of their starting point, has the tools to become a confident reader.

Both programs are delivered in small groups, ensuring that students receive personalised and focused attention from highly trained staff. This allows us to work at the child’s pace and move them forward in their literacy journey with the support they need.

VHAP (Victorian High Ability Program)

Ripponlea Primary School also provides opportunities for students demonstrating exceptional academic abilities through the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP). This program is designed to challenge and extend students who excel in literacy and numeracy.

VHAP offers enriched learning experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, ensuring that high-ability students are continuously engaged and motivated to reach their full potential.

Differentiation in the Classroom

At Ripponlea, we do not base our teaching approach solely on students’ year levels. Instead, we acknowledge that each student is at a different stage of their learning and development. We use a differentiated approach to meet the needs of every student, providing both support for those who need it and extension for those who are ready for more challenge. Differentiation in the classroom means:

• Open-ended tasks that allow students to approach problems in different ways, fostering creativity and independent thinking.

• Flexible learning groups that adapt to the developmental stage of each student, ensuring that learning is paced appropriately.

• Individual learning goals and strategies to ensure all students are supported and challenged at their level.

Learning Tutor Initiative

The Learning Tutor Initiative at Ripponlea Primary School plays a pivotal role in our support program. Our Learning Tutors work closely with classroom teachers to provide targeted support to small groups of students in key areas, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. The tutors are skilled in providing scaffolding that is both appropriate to the student's developmental stage and flexible enough to meet the ever-changing needs of each student. This ensures that all students, regardless of their starting point, can make measurable progress.

Mathematics Support: The Monash University GRIN Program

Mathematics support at Ripponlea Primary School is tailored to meet the needs of individual learners through small-group work. The Monash University GRIN Program (Group Intervention in Numeracy) plays a central role in providing additional support for students in numeracy. Students are placed in small, focused groups based on their learning needs and are supported by skilled teachers to strengthen foundational numeracy skills. Through this targeted approach, students receive the specific help they need to succeed in mathematics, whether they are struggling with basic concepts or need extra challenges to extend their learning.

A Whole-School Approach to Learning

At Ripponlea, we understand that learning is not a one-size-fits-all model. Our flexible, differentiated, and inclusive approach ensures that every student has the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment. Whether it’s through our reading programs, VHAP, or tailored maths interventions, we are dedicated to ensuring that all students, regardless of their ability level, feel supported, challenged, and motivated to achieve their personal best.

We invite parents and guardians to be a part of this journey, working alongside our dedicated staff to ensure that every child’s potential is realised. Together, we will continue to foster an environment where each child’s learning is celebrated and their educational needs are met.

We can also support students and families to coordinate:

• Educational Assessments
• Psychologists
• Speech Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Visiting teacher services: sight, hearing, occupational therapy
• Indigenous services
• English as a Second Language.