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Jenny Tebbutt - Founding Director of Raising Achievement.
 

After 15 years of working and developing my knowledge as a specialist teacher, I realised that in order to help underachieving and at-risk students in the education system that systemic changes were going to be needed.  

I passionately believe we need to make a positive difference for at-risk learner groups and I am determined for Raising Achievement to lead this transformation and change. 

Who do I work with?
 

• Schools

• Teachers

• Students

• and families

Why are schools currently unsupported?

Mainstream teachers are not provided with little specific training to meet the needs of at-risk learner groups.
Early on, I realised my basic training equipped me to work with 75% of the students I would find in my classes.
Whilst many teachers opted for training in special education this only covered approximately another 3%. 
Statistically, around 22% of learners are uncatered for by mainstream education and teachers are often left feeling unable to appropriately support.
 

Raising Achievement was established in 2012 specifically to close this gap for teachers and schools. We operate throughout Australasia running online courses and whole school development to support schools to raise achievement for the hard to reach groups.

We do this by:
 

Working with schools:
 

• Leading school-based self audits to identify current strengths and next steps in assessing the needs for children who learn differently within the school.
   

• Developing school-based policy and practice to support teachers to better serve at-risk learners.

 

• Working with Learning Support Coordinators, Special Education Needs Co-ordinators, and Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour.

 

• Our online courses for Learning Support Co-ordinators, special education needs coordinators and school management teams provide explicit support in developing policy to guide this area of the school.
   

• Courses focus on developing job descriptions and a team approach to ensuring student achievement for all at-risk learners is achieved.

 

• Gifted and talented students/low literacy and numeracy students/ English Additional Language student and students with diversity. 

 

• Schools undertake a self-guided self-audit and embark on a change process. This process develops and implements key priorities to significantly reduce underachieving student numbers.

 

• Participants are mentored in every aspect of school leadership such as screening assessments, analysis of needs, programme development and implementation and the development of processes to provide teachers with knowledge and practice to meet the needs of all learner groups in classrooms.

 

Online Teacher Programme:
 

These Programmes trains teachers to identify students not yet diagnosed through a unique assessment tool.

Once identified, teachers, are supported through differentiated, planning, teaching. assessment and monitoring to maximise achievement for all learner groups. Practical strategies, effective resources and tools allow teachers to implement best practices and evidence gains in student achievement through pre and post-testing.

Online Teacher Aide Courses:
 

Very often teacher aides are given our most underachieving students and yet they have the least training to support them. Raising achievement utilises unique programmes and resources that address underpinning cognitive weaknesses. These weaknesses prevent students from accessing the curriculum.

Our teacher aide training focuses on raising student achievement through the support of ‘third wave “ programmes.

Teacher aides are in a unique position as they regularly have the opportunity to work with individuals and small groups. With the right training, they are well placed to support schools improve outcomes significantly.
Teacher aide training with Raising Achievement trains teacher aides to become specialist literacy and numeracy assistants and effectively increase the confidence and capability of students and their results in learning.

 

Working with Parents:
 

Navigating the school system can be difficult for all parents but navigating the school system is even harder with a diverse learner.

Our parent programmes support parents to:

• Understand their child as a learner

• Identify the underpinning cognitive weaknesses impacting their achievement

• and receive information on the next steps for their child.

 

Home Learning Programmes:

l guide you in the support of your child through reading, spelling and other literacy areas as well as numeracy.

Many parents report sessions give them significant new and helpful guidance and that home learning becomes a pleasurable family experience  rather than something that is dreaded

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