Reflection on My Placement in Ingle Farm Primary School

Introduction

For my first placement, as social worker student, I am being placed in Ingle Farm Primary school (IFPS). Ingle Farm Primary school firmly believes in building powerful learners by empowering collaborative innovators through authentic feedback, growth mindsets, and integrity. The report highlights the Ingle Farm Primary school history, mission, system and structure which is helping its students in acquiring knowledge and development in its multi- cultural school settings.

History

Founded in 1992, The Ingle Farm Primary school, Belalie Road, is situated in the fine northern suburb of Adelaide. The school is quite distinct in comparison to other primary schools of south Australia. It has the highest enrolment rate amongst the other three primary school with 479 students and with staff of 63.

The Ingle Farm Primary school provides multiple range of services to its students as they firmly believe in providing valuable learnings. IFPS is a school which supports many new arrivals and students with the little or no English background. The school prides itself on ensuring that all the children feel values and supported in a multicultural school setting. The school caters children from Reception to year 7 for the primary school aged children.

The school has a special needs unit and runs an English Language centre alongside main stream school. Apart from this, the school also provides specialist education to the children who face difficulty in speech and language speaking. The school also caters children from year 3 to 7 with disability. The co-location of Ingle Farm Children’s centre has enabled families residing in this area to access the services at the same site ad supporting the enrolment numbers.

Currently, number of enrolled students in IFPS is with 431 students which has been increasing since 2015. The school comprises of diverse and complex student profile comprising of 44 different cultural group, home to 45 different languages. There are approx. 77% students with English as an additional language or Dialect (EALD ), 32(7%) Aboriginal learners and 10% students with disability. The school consists of 13 mainstream classes, 2 special classes (intellectual disabilities, language and communication) and the 7 Intensive English Language centre class.

Vision and Values of Ingle Farm Primary school

The core values of Ingle Farm Primary school are “Respect, Honest and Persistence” which provides a clear image about the school. Being a multicultural in its nature, one can link its values to the highly committed working environment of the school which is working in collaboration, appreciating the differences and enjoying every aspects of knowledge and learning as a result, it develops a great sense of community within the school premises.

The diversity of culture, language and experiences is a source of strength, inspiration and knowledge for IFPS. The school facilitates social, physical, and emotional development for its students through providing opportunities for students to make decision and learning for global citizens. Being Multi cultural in nature, school is continuously working towards developing a sense of social responsibilities in its children through practicing integrity, resilience and respecting the differences.

Students well- being programs: The school has been providing various platforms for students voice and leadership to grow and flourish from 2016-2017 onwards. The school takes collegiate responsibility for student learning, attendance and well-being and the leadership team provides case management where appropriate. Simultaneously, school provides support for families and staff through school counsellor, a teaching and learning coordinator, an aboriginal education teacher, the aboriginal community education officer, and support agency. Recently, the school has introduced natural play through the development of the nature play area to play.

Need to Add More to It and Frame It Funding

The Ingle Farm primary school receives funds resources from the state amounting approx. 5522617. 50 dollars, commonwealth grants up to 91839. 79 dollars, parent contribution close to 102990 dollars. The school also receives grants through fund raising programs and the other miscellaneous sources to provide an extra support resources to the student’s development who are unable to achieve the desired goals without any individual support. The generated funds are allocated into the different categories:

The first sections target the funds for the individual support. It is used towards improving the issues associated to the behaviour engagement and management, and to provide additional support to the students for the additional language assistance, and students with disabilities.

The second section comprises groups of students. The grants are used in improving the outcomes for the rural, isolated students, aboriginal students, first language maintenance and development and students with the learning difficulties.

The third section is associated with the other discretionary funds which involves better school funding and the primary school counsellor.

IFPS Surroundings

ECO MAP According to Bronfenbrenner ecological system believes that an individual’s life is impacted by his/her interactions with different immediate environment which are distinguished into different 5 levels. Micro system: The law and regulations adopted by the IFPS are the child protection act 1993, Within this the DECD has formulated various policies which are being adopted by the education building in south Australia for providing better learning system to its students for instance Early childhood education, child protection. The school has also adopted the law which are Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986, Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Public Sector Management Act 1995, all these laws provide guidelines which effect the working and operations at IFPS positively.

Conclusion

Being an unique school, they believe that diversity of culture, languages, and the experiences are great source to Ingle farm primary school in providing suitable educational learning to its all diverse range of students with different backgrounds through different approaches, knowledge, strength and experience. My first placement at IFPS has provided me opportunity to interact and develop understanding about the community consisting for diverse range of cultural background. It has also helped me to understand the role of social worker in such settings and the clients associated to it. Thoroughly anayalising the system in which this agency is operating, and its interaction from micro to macro level. Moving to a new country and learning a new language can be very challenging and difficult time for the children.