Family FAQs
Family FAQs – Navigating Inclusive Education
Q: Will my child have an EA?
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Q: When will I know what class my child will be in and who their EA will be?
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Q: How will I be included in planning for my child’s needs being met at school?
A: For children with complex needs entering school for the first time, there may be a transition meeting. This is a meeting that brings families, service providers, childcare and school staff together to gather information and discuss supports needed for the transition to kindergarten. There are All About Me Forms that child care centers can ask families to fill out. Families are encouraged to share as much information with schools, including any diagnosis or assessment information so they can prepare and plan as best they can for school supports.
There are opportunities throughout the year with Student Led Conferences, and families are encouraged to reach out to their child’s classroom teacher to discuss their child’s learning and progress at any time. If there are continued concerns, families have the option of requesting a School Based Team Meeting (see SBT information on our website).
Q: What is an IEP?
An IEP is an Individual Education Plan. It is a ministry required document for any child with a ministry of education designation. This is a formalized plan that is created in collaboration with families and school teams, sometimes including outside agencies if involved. For children who will have a ministry designation, case managers (usually the Inclusion Support Teacher at the school) coordinate IEP meetings in the fall to discuss goals and objectives with input from families and team members.
Q: Who will be my main contacts at the school if I have questions or concerns?
A: The first point of contact at your child’s school is their classroom teacher. If your child has an Individual Education Plan, you can also contact their case manager – the school Inclusion Support Teacher. If you feel that your questions and concerns are not being met, you can contact the school administration as a next step.
Q: It has been decided that my child will not be attending full days. What are the next steps and how often will this be reviewed?
A: Determining whether a child attends full days is a thoughtful and coordinated process determined in collaboration with families. A Partial Day plan may be implemented because the school team has determined that the student is not able to participate in a full-time educational program due to significant medical, social-emotional or behavioural/safety needs, and a temporary reduction in the length of the school day is necessary. It can also be initiated by parents or guardians who wish to have their child regularly participate in activities outside of the school setting during the school day or wish to adjust their child’s start/end the day.
