2 minute read
Alternative learning help for students
By Antony Pearson OSH organiser
Alternative Learning Settings (ALS) form part of the state government’s 10-point plan to tackle violence in schools, Let’s Take a Stand Together, unveiled in 2018.
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The fundamental aim of the 10-point plan was to clarify and strengthen the messaging from the employer about the need to tackle violence in schools with a properly resourced plan which established quite clearly the right for every staff member to be safe at work. The plan stipulated exclusion processes which were to occur in the event of students intentionally assaulting staff.
One of the strategies implemented was the establishment of Alternative Learning Settings.
The aim of ALS is to assist students who exhibit violence in mainstream schools. For those students who are excluded, appropriate pathways and supports are needed to ensure that they can change their behaviour and engage in society going forward.
They provide effective support programs to assist students to change their behaviour and potentially reintegrate into mainstream schooling, or seek another educational setting going forward.
The matter is an issue of resourcing within schools and externally with programs such as the ALS. ALS were established as a trial for 2019 with a review to occur. The initial ALS were located in the North Metropolitan, South Metropolitan and South West districts.
The review was completed by KPMG and its findings presented in late 2019 with a report provided to the Department of Education (DoE).
The KPMG report main findings are as follows:
Positive findings:
• The framework for the ALS Pilot is grounded in evidence-informed approaches to youth violence in schools.
• Specific challenges due to the short time frame between late 2018 and the start of 2019 are being overcome.
• Evolution and refinement of the selection criteria is progressing to ensure students selected will have a greater chance of successful transition.
• There are early indicators of positive behaviour change as students appreciated the environment and students developed self-regulation skills.
• Active engagement from caregivers and families is assisting positive student progress in the program. • Active engagement with external providers to support students and their families is proving fruitful.
Areas for consideration:
• Tight development time frames impacted the start-up of the pilot.
• Geographic distance and transport barriers make it challenging for some students to attend ALS.
• The physical environments of some sites may not be suitable.
In Term 4, 2020 a fourth ALS was established in the Kimberley.
The SSTUWA strongly supports the ALS pilot program and believes an expansion into more regional areas is required, with an ALS ideally for each education region and additional ALS centres in the metropolitan area in the future. The SSTUWA has approached all four major parties for a commitment to this in the lead up to the March state election.
