How We Teach & Support

Additional Learning Support

Clear next steps. Targeted teaching. Growing confidence.

Some children need additional support to build skills and confidence in their learning. At Lower Plenty Primary School, we take the time to understand each student’s strengths, identify where they need help and plan achievable next steps.

Our small-group teaching, hands-on materials and explicit instruction provide opportunities to revisit concepts, practise skills and develop secure understanding.

Working together with families

For students who require an individual learning plan, teachers work with families to establish meaningful goals and outline the strategies that will support progress.

These plans build on each child’s strengths and identify their learning priorities. We review goals with families and share practical ways to support learning at home, helping children experience a consistent and encouraging approach.

Targeted intervention

Students who need additional teaching may participate in small-group intervention with staff trained to deliver the program. Sessions focus on identified skill gaps, with clear instruction, guided practice and regular checks of progress.

Teachers and school leaders use this information to review the support provided and help students apply their developing skills in the classroom. Progress continues to be monitored after intervention finishes so that further support can be considered when needed.

Strong foundations in literacy

Our early literacy teaching uses Little Learners Love Literacy, an explicit, sequential approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling. Children learn to recognise sounds in spoken words, connect sounds with letters and apply these skills to reading and spelling. Carefully matched decodable books provide opportunities to practise what they have been taught.

Across the school, literacy teaching also develops vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension, with additional support guided by each student’s needs.

We want children to recognise their progress, feel confident asking for help and develop the skills to take the next step in their learning.

Respectful Relationships

Building confidence, kindness and respect.

At Lower Plenty Primary School, we want children to understand what healthy, respectful relationships look and feel like—and develop the skills to build them.

As a lead school in Victoria’s Respectful Relationships program, we take a whole-school approach. Students, staff and families all contribute to a community where people are valued, differences are respected and everyone has a right to feel safe.

Practical skills for everyday life

From Prep to Year 6, students participate in age-appropriate lessons across eight topics:

• Emotional Literacy

• Personal Strengths

• Positive Coping

• Problem Solving

• Stress Management

• Help Seeking

• Positive Gender Relationships

Through discussion and practical activities, children learn to recognise and express emotions, identify their strengths, consider other perspectives and resolve disagreements respectfully.

They also develop strategies for managing stress, responding to difficult situations and seeking help from trusted adults. Lessons encourage students to recognise unfair treatment, challenge stereotypes and treat others with equality and respect.

Putting respect into practice

These skills extend beyond individual lessons. We reinforce them through classroom routines, playground interactions and the relationships we build across our school.

Our teachers are supported with teaching resources and professional learning to deliver the program and model respectful interactions.

Our aim is for students to leave Lower Plenty with confidence in their own worth, respect for others and practical strategies for navigating friendships and challenges. We want every child to understand their rights and responsibilities—and know that asking for help is a strength.

Better Buddies

Friendship, belonging and opportunities to lead.

Through the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s Better Buddies program, younger students build friendships with older children who help them feel welcome, supported and connected to school life.

Shared activities give buddies opportunities to get to know one another and practise the values of caring, friendliness, respect, inclusion and responsibility. Buddy Bear, the program’s purple mascot, helps bring these values to life.

For younger children, having an older buddy provides a familiar face and a reassuring connection. For older students, being a buddy is an opportunity to lead by example, develop empathy and take pride in helping someone else.

These values are reinforced across our school through everyday interactions and activities that encourage children to care for others and appreciate differences.

Multi-Age Classrooms

Learning from one another. Growing into leadership.

At Lower Plenty Primary School, our multi-age classrooms create further opportunities for children to learn together, build friendships across year levels and take on increasing responsibility.

Younger students learn alongside more experienced classmates, observing how they approach tasks, organise their work and contribute to the classroom. Older students develop leadership and mentoring skills by modelling routines, sharing knowledge and supporting others.

As children move through their classroom cycle, they experience being both a learner and a leader. Teachers explicitly teach the skills needed to listen, collaborate, offer help respectfully and take responsibility.

Together, our Better Buddies program and multi-age classrooms help build a connected school community where children have opportunities to contribute, support one another and grow in confidence.

Student Leadership

A voice in their learning. A role in their community.

At Lower Plenty Primary School, we help children develop the confidence, skills and responsibility to make a positive difference.

Students are encouraged to contribute ideas, make thoughtful choices and take an active role in their learning. With guidance from teachers, they learn to set goals, reflect on their progress and understand how their actions affect others.

Leadership opportunities begin in the classroom and grow as children move through the school. We support students to listen, collaborate, solve problems and follow through on their commitments.

Different roles, meaningful contributions

Students contribute to our school community in a range of ways:

• Year 6 leaders: Through our Year 6 Leadership Program, students develop their leadership skills, model our school values and take on responsibilities that support the wider school community.

• Children’s Representative Council members: Representatives share their classmates’ ideas, discuss school matters and help shape initiatives that matter to students.

• Environmental Committee members: Students contribute ideas and actions to care for our school grounds and encourage environmentally responsible choices.

• Buddies and mentors: Older students welcome and support younger children, helping them build friendships and confidence.

• Student Media Team members: Students help share school stories and celebrate learning while developing communication, creativity and teamwork.

• Classroom leaders: Children take responsibility for materials, help care for their learning environment and support classroom routines.

• Community contributors: Volunteering opportunities help students put their skills into action and understand how they can contribute beyond the classroom.

Learning to lead

Our Montessori-informed, multi-age classrooms provide everyday opportunities to practise leadership. Students learn to offer help respectfully, explain ideas clearly and work with people of different ages.

We encourage children to recognise that leadership takes many forms: speaking up with an idea, listening carefully, including someone, organising a task or quietly following through on a responsibility.

Our aim is for every student to experience the satisfaction of making a useful contribution—and leave Lower Plenty with the confidence to take initiative and help others.

From Kinder to Prep

Familiar faces. Growing confidence. A positive beginning.

Starting school is an exciting milestone for children and families. At Lower Plenty Primary School, our transition program begins in the year before Prep, giving children time to build relationships and become familiar with their new surroundings.

Through a series of transition visits, children spend time in the Foundation classroom with their teacher, participate in hands-on activities and begin getting to know their future classmates. They explore the learning spaces, facilities and playgrounds, helping school become a familiar place before their first day.

More than getting ready for the first day

Transition is about helping children feel comfortable, connected and ready to learn. Visits introduce them to classroom routines, shared activities and opportunities to make choices and do things independently.

Children can begin to picture themselves as school students: finding their way around, joining an activity, asking a teacher for help and making a new friend. Each experience helps build confidence and a sense of belonging.

The visits also give teachers opportunities to get to know children—their interests, strengths and the support that helps them participate.

Working together with families

You know your child best. We welcome information about what excites them, what they might find challenging and any strategies that help them feel comfortable and confident.

Our aim is to build a partnership with your family from the beginning, so we can support a positive transition and a strong start to learning.

Preparing for Secondary School

Building independence. Looking ahead with confidence.

Moving to secondary school is an important milestone. At Lower Plenty Primary School, we help students prepare for new opportunities, expectations and friendships while supporting families through the transition process.

Our students move on to a range of secondary schools across the local area. We work with their destination schools to share information and support continuity in their learning and wellbeing.

A supported transition

Families receive information about enrolment timelines and are encouraged to explore secondary school open days and information evenings. Students also attend their future school’s designated orientation day in December.

Visits from secondary students give our Year 6 children opportunities to hear about school life, ask questions and learn about the programs and experiences ahead.

Our Year 6 teachers liaise with Year 7 coordinators to discuss students’ strengths, learning needs and helpful support strategies. Working with families, we aim to ensure that receiving schools understand each child and can help them settle in.

Skills for the next step

Preparation happens throughout the senior primary years. Students practise organising their work, managing responsibilities, collaborating with others and seeking help when needed.

Our Montessori-informed approach encourages students to make purposeful choices, reflect on their learning and tackle challenges with increasing independence—skills they can carry into secondary school.

Leading through our Buddy Program

Our Year 5 and 6 students also develop responsibility through their relationships with Foundation buddies.

They help younger children feel welcome, provide a familiar face in the playground and model kindness and inclusion. In doing so, our older students practise empathy, communication and leadership.

These experiences help students recognise how much they have grown and the contribution they can make as they prepare for their next chapter.

Joining Lower Plenty in Any Year Level

A warm welcome. A thoughtful transition. A fresh beginning.

Children join Lower Plenty Primary School at many stages of their primary education. Whether your family is relocating or looking for a different learning environment, we welcome the opportunity to get to know you and your child.

Changing schools can bring both excitement and uncertainty. We work with families to help children become familiar with their new school, build friendships and feel confident joining their classroom.

Get to know us before you begin

A personalised tour gives you and your child the opportunity to explore our learning spaces, meet teachers and see learning in action. It is also a chance to ask questions and discuss your child’s strengths, interests and hopes for their new school.

Where helpful, we can tailor a transition program that includes classroom visits before your child’s first day. These visits help turn unfamiliar spaces and faces into places and people they recognise.

A friendly face and practical support

We arrange a peer buddy to help new students settle in during their first days and weeks. Buddies provide a friendly connection in the classroom and playground, helping children learn routines, find their way around and meet other students.

Our small school community allows staff to get to know new students and support their growing sense of belonging.

Working together from the beginning

We encourage families to share information about their child’s learning, friendships and any strategies that help them feel comfortable and successful.

At home, involve your child in the move where possible. Talk about what they are looking forward to, listen to their worries and share any questions with us so we can help.