Partnership Between School and Families

At Meadowglen Primary School, excellence in teaching and learning is at the heart of everything we do. We hold high expectations for every student and believe that all learners can achieve success through explicit teaching, strong relationships, collaborative practice and partnerships between school and home.

Our programs are aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 and informed by evidence-based practices that support academic growth, wellbeing and engagement.

Our Teaching and Learning Approach

Teaching at Meadowglen Primary School is grounded in research-informed practice and consistent instructional expectations across the school.

Teachers work within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to collaboratively plan, analyse student learning data and design responsive teaching programs. Through this process, teachers:

· Plan using a consistent weekly planning framework

· Analyse student assessment data and work samples

· Identify learning gaps and trends

· Share effective teaching strategies

· Moderate student work to ensure consistency

This collaborative approach ensures teaching is purposeful, targeted and aligned to student learning needs.

Evidence-Based Practice

Our teaching practices are grounded in evidence-based research including:

· The Science of Learning

· High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS)

· Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0)

These frameworks guide how we design lessons, structure learning experiences and provide feedback to students.

Science of Learning

We apply key principles from the Science of Learning to strengthen student outcomes. These include:

· Explicit instruction

· Managing cognitive load

· Retrieval practice

· Spaced practice

· Worked examples

· Guided and independent practice with feedback

These strategies support students to build strong long-term understanding and retain knowledge over time.

Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0

Our planning and teaching is aligned with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0. This model emphasises:

· Clear learning intentions and success criteria

· Structured teaching sequences

· Opportunities for guided and independent practice

· Feedback and reflection

By aligning teaching with these elements, we ensure learning is purposeful, structured and student-centered.

Assessment and Data-Driven Teaching

Assessment is central to improving student learning. Teachers use a range of assessment data to inform teaching, including:

· Classroom formative assessment

· Pre- and post-assessments

· Standardised assessments

· Student work samples

· Observations and conferencing

Teachers regularly analyse data to identify each student’s point of need and adapt instruction to support individual growth. Students are also supported to set learning goals and reflect on their progress.

Families receive regular communication about student achievement and growth through reports, conferences and ongoing collaboration.

Literacy at Meadowglen Primary School

Our Literacy Program

Building strong foundations in English is a key priority at Meadowglen Primary School. Our Literacy program ensures students develop skills in:

· Reading

· Phonics and Word Knowledge

· Writing

· Speaking and Listening

Key Features of Our Literacy Program

· Two 50-minute Literacy sessions daily in every classroom focusing on reading comprehension, writing and oral language.

· A dedicated 25-minute daily phonics and word knowledge block in junior year levels, with explicit teaching of phonemic awareness, decoding, word building and vocabulary development.

· Explicit teaching using a consistent instructional model.

· Whole class, small group and individual instruction tailored to student learning needs.

· Ongoing assessment to track growth and personalise learning goals.

Our approach supports students to become confident, fluent and engaged readers and writers.

Supporting Your Child at Home – Literacy

Speaking and Listening

· Talk with your child daily about a range of topics.

· Use both home language and English to support language development.

· Involve children in everyday conversations such as cooking, shopping and travelling.

· Explore new vocabulary through community experiences such as visiting parks, libraries and shops.

· Tell stories together and encourage children to create their own.

· Discuss current events with older children to build critical thinking skills.

Reading and Writing

· Make books part of everyday life by visiting libraries regularly.

· Create a special reading space at home.

· Read aloud regularly to build fluency and comprehension.

· Ask questions about stories and encourage prediction.

· Provide writing materials and encourage meaningful writing such as lists, cards and messages.

· Encourage children to read their writing aloud.

Numeracy at Meadowglen Primary School

Our Mathematics Program

Mathematics is taught daily across all year levels. Our approach focuses on developing strong number sense, reasoning and problem-solving skills through hands-on learning experiences.

Students use a range of concrete materials including:

· Dice and cards

· Counters and icy pole sticks

· Base 10 blocks

· Measuring tools

· 2D and 3D shapes

· Clocks, play money and probability tools

These materials help students visualise mathematical concepts and develop deeper understanding.

Supporting Your Child at Home – Numeracy

· Count everyday items such as fruit and groceries.

· Notice numbers in the environment.

· Play board and card games.

· Estimate totals when shopping.

· Compare objects by size, weight or capacity.

· Involve children in cooking and measuring ingredients.

· Use dice to practise addition, subtraction and multiplication.

Targeted Support and Extension

We are committed to meeting the needs of every learner.

Supports include:

· Small group intervention programs

· Literacy and Numeracy support programs

· Individual Education Plans where required

· Extension and enrichment opportunities

· Inquiry and problem-solving challenges

All students are supported and challenged to achieve their personal best.

Student Voice, Wellbeing and Learning Environment

We believe learning is strongest when students feel safe, supported and valued.

Our positive learning environment promotes:

· Clear behavior expectations

· Respectful relationships

· Social and emotional learning

· Inclusive practices that celebrate diversity

Students are encouraged to:

· Set learning goals

· Reflect on their learning

· Participate in leadership opportunities

· Provide feedback about their learning experiences

Digital Learning

Technology is used purposefully to enhance learning.

Students learn to:

· Use digital tools safely and responsibly

· Research and present information

· Develop digital problem-solving skills

· Engage in coding and creative digital tasks

Digital learning is used to deepen understanding and support curriculum outcomes.

Specialist Programs

Physical Education and Health

Our inclusive Physical Education and Health program promotes fundamental motor skills, fitness, teamwork and wellbeing. Students have access to indoor and outdoor sporting facilities including a gymnasium, oval, and court spaces.

Science

Our Science program fosters curiosity and inquiry skills through hands-on investigations across Biological, Chemical, Earth and Space, and Physical Sciences. Students learn to observe, predict, experiment and draw conclusions.

Italian

Italian is our Language Other Than English program. Students develop communication skills and cultural understanding through songs, games, storytelling and speaking activities while learning about Italian culture and traditions.

Performing Arts

Students develop creativity and confidence through Dance, Drama and Music. Students explore movement, storytelling, rhythm, composition and performance skills.

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts program encourages creativity through drawing, painting, sculpture, design, architecture, construction and digital art while developing fine motor and visual communication skills.

Partnership Between School and Families

At Meadowglen Primary School, we believe learning is most successful when schools and families work together. Through high expectations, evidence-based teaching and strong

relationships, we ensure every child is supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.