Education support encompasses the various processes and systems that help maintain quality schools, classroom learning and student health and wellbeing. It can also include the provision of guidance and counselling services to teachers.
Positions at this range usually involve a variety of routine tasks that are carried out in accordance with guidelines, accepted practice and school policy with a degree of scope for decision making.
Teachers
Educators play a critical role in delivering educational support for students. They provide tutoring, mentoring, and personalized instruction that is tailored to each student’s unique needs. They also serve as advocates for their students, connecting them to outside resources through school programs and community partnerships.
Teachers can help students develop self-advocacy skills by promoting the value of their voices and encouraging them to speak up for themselves. They can also encourage parents to get involved in their children’s education by attending school events, communicating with teachers, and providing a supportive home environment.
Education Support is a UK charity that champions good mental health and wellbeing for teachers, and staff in schools, colleges, and further and higher education sectors. Founded in 1877 as a benevolent fund, it provides telephone counselling and online advice for trainees, newly qualified, serving and headteacher teachers, and all other education staff. It also offers a variety of training and workshops.
Families
The role of families is a critical component in education support. Parents can help their children by making sure they stay engaged in school, communicate with teachers and regularly talk about homework and learning activities. They can also provide a supportive home environment by providing a safe place for study and ensuring that their children have all necessary supplies.
Family members can also get involved in education support by advocating for their children’s rights and needs in the community and at school. Whether it’s attending a board meeting, rallying for funding or raising awareness of an issue that affects their child, family involvement teaches children the value of standing up for what they believe in.
Schools can also support families by providing educational workshops on topics like studying skills, reading strategies and fostering a growth mindset. These can be provided by teachers or outside specialists. In addition, they can offer resources that address specific learning challenges, such as note takers, personal assistants or tutoring centers.
Schools
Whether it’s academic resources, emotional guidance or financial assistance, educational support is crucial for students. Thankfully, there are numerous community programs and online platforms that provide education support.
However, many of these resources can be expensive and inaccessible for low-income families. Additionally, not all schools can offer the same level of educational support for all students.
When a student’s needs are recognized, school administrators work to provide accommodations that allow the student to access their education. Some students may qualify for a 504 plan, while others require an IEP.
Educators and parents can support students’ educational efforts by communicating regularly and effectively with their children’s teachers, school administrators and other education professionals. For example, consolidating communication tools to a single, trusted system streamlines two-way communications and eliminates confusion about which messages were sent to which parent or guardian. This also allows educators to share information on a consistent basis, rather than at sporadic intervals throughout the year.
Community and Online Resources
Teachers and students can turn to the resources available in their local communities, including libraries, museums, social services agencies, and county programs. Community resources can help students meet their basic needs and provide a safety net that allows them to focus on school.
In addition, community resources can complement a student’s formal education by providing hands-on learning experiences that make abstract concepts more tangible. For example, a field trip to a science museum can give students an interactive experience that connects what they learn in textbooks with the real world.
Online resources can also be used to support students’ at-home learning, especially during extended school closures. For instance, a virtual classroom could be set up where students can share resources with each other. Alternatively, an online repository tool like Padlet can encourage students to brainstorm as a class and ask questions. These tools are great examples of collaboratively developed Open Educational Resources (OER). They are free from cost and access barriers and carry legal permissions that enable users to freely use, reuse, remix and redistribute them.