Page 1778 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019

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3. The provision of decodable readers which are a valuable and often necessary tool and a beneficial resource for teachers using explicit systematic synthetic phonics instruction in the classroom.

4. Early identification of students with reading difficulties through the National Year 1 Literacy & Numeracy Check in all ACT Schools.

5. Access for every ACT school to educational psychologists and literacy specialists qualified in evidence based literacy instruction.

6. Individual Learning Plans (ILP) for all students identified as having ongoing difficulties with learning to read, including those with dyslexia. The ILP must provide the student with appropriate support structures and include assistive technology, use of a reader, scribe and extra time during examinations.

7. Provision of qualified professionals such as speech pathologists and literacy specialists for students requiring such support during school hours.

8. Liaison with local tertiary institutions to provide appropriate evidence-based preservice Teacher training courses and professional development opportunities for qualified primary and literacy teachers currently employed in ACT schools.

The Clerk having announced that the terms of the petition would be recorded in Hansard and referred to the appropriate minister for response pursuant to standing order 100, the petition was received.

Motion to take note of petition

MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to standing order 98A, I propose the question:

That the petition so lodged be noted.

MS LEE (Kurrajong) (10.02): I will speak to the petition in more detail later, but I commend the petition to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Education, Employment and Youth Affairs—Standing Committee

Proposed reference

MS LEE (Kurrajong) (10.02): Pursuant to standing order 99, I move:

That the petition, relating to support for students with learning difficulties, be referred to the Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs.

The issue of dyslexia is of longstanding concern to parents, to educators and to researchers. The Australian Dyslexia Association suggests that dyslexia is estimated to affect some 10 per cent of the Australian population and that this may even be a conservative estimate, as there are many people who are probably left unidentified. Seventy to 80 per cent of people with poor reading skills are likely dyslexic. One in


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