Education support is a broad category of activities and programs that aim to improve the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of education. It can be provided by a variety of actors, including teachers, students, parents, volunteers, and experts.
Start with the basics: Offer a staff breakfast or buy new dry erase markers. Simple gestures like these go a long way toward making teachers feel valued and cared about.
1. Identify your needs and goals.
When it comes to education support, it’s important to identify your needs and goals. This will help you narrow down your options and find the best service for you. For example, if you need help with a particular subject or assignment, you can seek tutoring or counseling services. If you have a disability, you can ask for accommodations or assistive technology.
Ensure that your learning goals are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based) to make them effective in guiding student progress. You can also offer students opportunities to self-assess and reflect on their goals, which can encourage them to continue striving for success.
Education Support is a UK charity that is “dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of those working in education.” It was founded in 1877 as a benevolent fund for teachers and now includes trainees, newly qualified teachers, serving teachers, heads, lecturers and all educational staff in further, higher and adult education.
2. Research your options.
There are a variety of options when it comes to education support. These may include tutoring, counseling, coaching, mentoring, and career guidance. They can be provided by teachers, students, volunteers, experts, or organizations. These services can help improve the quality and accessibility of education, as well as address the needs, challenges, and goals of learners and educators.
ESPs often work directly with students and make observations about their daily lives that can have an impact on student learning. It is important to be open and honest about these observations with colleagues to foster a collaborative culture that supports student achievement.
Education support services need reliable and relevant data and evidence to inform their planning, implementation, and evaluation. This may require developing and implementing data collection, analysis, and reporting systems, as well as conducting and disseminating research and evaluation studies.
3. Ask for help.
When it comes to education support, the key is asking for help early. Students should ask for help when they feel lost in class rather than waiting until the last minute and then panicking about getting a bad grade on a test or assignment.
Some students are hesitant to ask for help because they don’t want to look dumb in front of their classmates, or they may worry that the teacher will think they aren’t trying hard enough. Teaching students how to appropriately seek out help can boost their confidence and self-esteem, as well as improve their academic performance.
Encourage students to reach out to their educators in a way that is comfortable for them, such as email or virtual office hours. This can be more private and less intimidating than raising their hand in front of the classroom, and it gives the teacher a chance to address the student on an individual basis rather than in front of the entire class.
4. Be flexible.
The ability to adapt to change is a key skill that students can practice throughout their lives. This can be as simple as adjusting your schedule to accommodate unexpected events, or as complex as changing the way you teach a class.
A flexible learning environment helps students to balance their personal and professional commitments. It also allows students to work at their own pace and progress through a programme of study, which can be beneficial for those from disadvantaged socio-cultural backgrounds.
Education support services need to be more integrated and collaborative. This will include developing clear roles and responsibilities for different service providers, as well as establishing communication channels and referral systems. Learner-centered approaches to support will also be essential, so that students can choose the level, frequency, and mode of support they need.
5. Be inclusive.
Schools can foster a culture of inclusion in several ways. For example, students with disabilities can learn together and be encouraged to participate in after-school activities, sports, and student government. This can also help them feel less isolated from their peers and build social skills.
Educators should be aware of the barriers to inclusion and make a conscious effort to avoid exclusionary language. This includes being mindful of the perspectives of the different learners in their classrooms, recognizing that certain words can be offensive to some groups and using language that is accessible to all students.
Inclusion is an ongoing process that involves a number of stakeholders, including educators, parents, and community members. By taking the time to be inclusive, schools can ensure that all students have access to education and reach their full potential.