A crucial aspect of Collaborative Response within the Collaborative Structures and Processes is the School Support Team. In this blogLayering Teams: Processes that Guide the School Support Team, we have described the purpose and function of the school support team. When we share characteristics of this team, we are often asked about scheduling the school support team, when and if we should schedule and how often should this team meet? We will explore in depth the benefits of proactive scheduling and how it contributes to effective collaboration.
Understanding the Four Layers
Before we explore scheduling specifics, let's refresh our memories on the four layers of collaborative structures integral to a responsive school support system.
Access a poster that provides an overview of the foundational components of Collaborative Response.
The first layer is collaborative planning, where teachers come together to plan instruction and assessment. The second layer involves collaborative team meetings, aimed at meeting student needs through differentiated instructional strategies and initiating a process where teachers share and learn from each other.
Our focus today is on the third layer – the school support team, often referred to as the hub. This team, consisting of primarily roles outside of the classroom such as school administration, learning support teachers, inclusive education facilitators, classroom support teachers/coaches and possibly counselors or family school liaisons, plays a pivotal role in making significant decisions regarding support for students.
The fourth layer, the case consult team, is where individual student needs are addressed, involving external partners such as psychologists or counselors. This team convenes to design programming and discuss supports for one student.
The Pitfalls of Reactive Approaches
We often hear of schools planning their school support team as needed. This means schools are meeting in the hallway, after school, at lunch, just as time allows. This often occurs as the school support team has more flexible schedules and are responding as needed which some schools would say is effective. However, without a consistent schedule, communication can break down, information can be fragmented or at worst lost, and resources are not leveraged effectively. It becomes evident that scheduling is crucial for proactive decision-making and effective utilization of resources.
Why Schedule?
By scheduling a specific time, typically on a weekly or biweekly basis, the team can address students' intensive support needs promptly. The regularity of meetings also instills confidence in staff, assuring them that there's a designated space to discuss and address students' needs.
Key Benefits of Scheduling Your School Support Team
- Proactive Decision-Making: Regularly scheduled meetings allow for proactive discussions and decisions regarding student support.
- Consistent Communication: Scheduled meetings ensure that all team members are informed, preventing breakdowns in communication and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
- Confidence and Assurance: Knowing that the school support team meets regularly provides confidence to teachers that there is a dedicated space for addressing students' needs.
- Efficient Resource Utilization: By putting minds together in a scheduled setting, the team can leverage expertise to determine the best support strategies for students.
Considerations for Involving Teachers in School Support Team Meetings
While it depends on the situation, most school support teams do not include teachers as a regular part of this team primarily due to scheduling complexities. Instead, teachers can be involved in follow-up actions or specific discussions based on the needs identified by the school support team.
We would like to extend our best wishes to all educators working tirelessly to support the success of every student. Remember, proactive collaboration is the key to unlocking the full potential of your school support team.
If you have questions, resources or suggestions related to this concept, we would love to chat with you! Email us at or .
Layering Teams: Processes that Guide the School Support Team
