Using PLD in Educational Support

Literacy skills are crucial for modern-day society. For individuals with special educational needs literacy skills will have a significant impact on social participation, work opportunities, quality of life and self-esteem. To maximise literacy outcomes, structured synthetic phonics (SSP) programs and interventions are recommended for mainstream and special education alike. For students with special needs, adjustments are usually required to break learning into smaller chunks and to increase the intensity of the teaching. 

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Classroom Programs and Staff Training

All students with special educational needs are different. If however, there are students who are presenting with primary school levels of reading, spelling, and writing, PLD’s SSP program can be used appropriately.

PLD recommends that rather than completing all online courses, teaching and support staff only view the courses relevant to the developmental levels of the students they are working with. The courses can be revisited within the school year.

Foundation Classes

  • Foundation staff are typically advised to focus on the Early Years of the implementation of PLD. The relevant course is ‘Pre-Literacy in the Early Years’.

Year 1 & 2 Classes

  • It is common for this year level to also have a high proportion of the students who are operating at a pre-literacy level. The Foundation programs cover both pre-literacy & early literacy.

Year 3 & 4 Classes

Year 5 & 6 and Secondary Schools

  • Year 4, 5, 6 and secondary schools, for the purpose of quoting, will be required to either estimate the function literacy levels within the classes or complete the placement tests outlined below. 
  • In addition, Year 3, 4, 5, 6 and secondary classes are likely to require programs for students that are not yet reading, spelling and writing (i.e. pre-stage 1). It is common for these year levels to also have a proportion of the students who are operating at a pre-literacy level. Click here for the Intensive Pre-Literacy Teaching Pack.
Request a Quote for Programs and Training

By completing the form below, schools new to PLD can request implementation costs for training and essential programs. A quote will be forwarded to the email supplied (typically within 48 hours). A 30-minute consult will follow so that the developmental levels of the students can be discussed.

(eg P / Yr1 / Yr2 x 1, Yr 3 - 6 x 1 & Yr 7 - 10 x 1)
Placement Tests to Establish Stages and Targeted Teaching Goals

Foundation Classes

Are advised to commence with an Early Years implementation of PLD. Click here for the Early Years manuals

  • If commencing implementation within semester 1, classes are advised to commence teaching the skills outlined commencing with the Term 1 Early Years implementation.
  • If commencing implementation in semester 2, an Early Years placement test can be presented to determine the starting points for the different targeted teaching groups. Read more on this here
<span class='blue-color'>Using PLD in Educational Support</span>
<span class='blue-color'>Using PLD in Educational Support</span>

Year 1 and 2 Classes

Are advised to commence with Foundation level implementation of PLD. Click here for the Foundation manuals.

  • If commencing implementation within semester 1, classes are advised to commence teaching the skills outlined commencing with the Term 1 Foundation implementation.
  • If commencing implementation in semester 2, Foundation placement tests can be presented to determine the starting points for the different targeted teaching groups. Read more on this here.
<span class='blue-color'>Using PLD in Educational Support</span>
<span class='blue-color'>Using PLD in Educational Support</span>

Year 3, 4, 5, 6 and Secondary Classes

Are advised to utilise the placement tests outlined in the Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 manuals

  • The spelling placement tests (which cover PLD’s stages 1-6) are located on pages 9-16.
  • The reading placement test (which cover PLD’s stages 1-6) and will identify the students who still require decodable reading material. These are located on pages 23-26. 
  • For the students operating at a pre-literacy (or pre-CVC) level, present the subtests in the red box on pages 27-29.
<span class='blue-color'>Using PLD in Educational Support</span>
<span class='blue-color'>Using PLD in Educational Support</span>
Seek Tracking Sheet Support & Coaching From The PLD Office
  • Click here to register for the PLD Tracking Sheets.
  • Follow the instructions and set up a tab for each class. For complex students there are individual tracking sheets also provided as an option. 
  • Refer to the screening step above, as teachers will need to enter test results for each student onto the PLD Tracking sheets. 
  • Typically PLD recommends that for each support class, student results should be clustered into three targeted teaching groups. It is essential that teaching staff enter test scores, as outlined in the relevant PLD tracking sheet videos
  • Tracking sheets can then be shared with the PLD office for support. 

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