An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a plan that is designed to support learning and development for your students. It should be developed collaboratively with parents and key members of staff that support the student. When developing the IEP, keep in mind the child’s strengths, their learning needs and also parent priorities.
A good IEP should include:
- The student’s strengths and learning needs
- Measurable and objective goals
- Strategies that work well for the child
- A plan to achieve the goals specified in the plan
- Services that will help the student meet these goals
- The students abilities in specific areas at the beginning of the year (this can then be referred to when tracking progress across the year)
IEPs are important because:
- The goals are individualised for each child and ensures the child can meet their goals
- They are flexible and can be updated as needed
- They incorporate the child’s strengths
- They focus on both educational and functional goals.
Things to include in an IEP
- Current strengths and needs. This should also include more than academic goals and goals such as behaviour, social skills, daily living skills etc.
- Age appropriate goals. This seems like an obvious one but is very important. Think about the age of the child and what is appropriate and important for them in their daily lives.
- Services the student will be availing of such as Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Behaviour Support, Resource hours.
- If there will be mainstream integration-how will the child be supported through this transition?
- Transition plans, if applicable (this could be if the child is going to be transitioning to a new school the following year, new teachers or class etc).
- How progress will be monitored and who will be responsible for monitoring.
The IEP meeting
- Have a copy of the plan for everyone attending
- Ensure to include parents in the meeting and ask for their opinions and thoughts throughout
- Give parents a little time at the end to digest everything and ask any questions they may have. Also, let them know that they can contact you in relation to the IEP later in the week when they have had more time to think about everything.
- Decide on a review date.
