Collie students have received extra support on their return to school with the state government recently announcing 100 additional education assistants will be employed at public schools across the state in 2018.
Amaroo Primary School and Wilson Park Primary School were among the 60 schools selected to receive the education assistants for the 2018 school year.
Wilson Park Primary School principal Christine Gorman said the initiative would prove a ‘great bonus’ for the school and its students.
“We now have a full-time education assistant in both the kindergarten/pre-primary class and the year 1/2 class and an assistant in the 2/3 class for the mornings,” she said.
“The extra support will allow teachers to be far more flexible and innovative in the ways they can assist the students to gain the skills required. We have a strong focus on literacy and numeracy and with the added support we will be targeting these skill areas.
“Education assistants will also work closely with teachers to implement targeted programs for students who need a little extra support.
“Early years intervention is the time where we can make the biggest difference for students at educational risk so this initiative is very appropriate for so many of our children.”
Both Fairview Primary School and Allanson Primary School have been allocated education assistants for the 2019 and 2020 school years respectively.
The state government also announced that Collie Senior High School will be one of the 51 schools around the state to receive an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer to help give Aboriginal children assistance in the classroom.
Education and training minister Sue Ellery said the extra help would provide a benefit to all students.
“Education assistants and Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers not only support those students who need extra help, but they help ensure the rest of the class can stay focused on their learning,” she said.
“By placing more teachers in public schools, we are giving students the support they need to achieve their very best and giving our exemplary teachers greater opportunities to share their knowledge with others.”
Premier Mark McGowan said the introduction of extra education assistants would give students the best chance to learn.
“We are committed to giving WA students the best education possible and that means ensuring they are supported and they can access extra help when they need it,” he said.
