Forms, Reports, and Resources

Templates and forms for professional placement can be found by the TES in the Template Supplement on Canvas, and other reporting forms can be located under the Forms tab on the SONIA Online portal.

The evidence guide for the Graduate Teacher Standards is available at the Home page on SONIAOnline.

Information for TES

*All students are required to log into SONIA Online each day of the placement and record  attendance or      absence in the Timesheet.

Please refer to the Timesheet Entry ‐ SONIA Instructions for Students document at  Home page on SONIAonline for step-by-step instructions.
*Please refer to the Leave Process on your Home page of SONIAOnline if you have any absences.

Resources Available in SONIA
The following reports, forms and resources are available on the SONIAOnline home page.

*Student Withdrawal Form
*Individual Support Plan  Form
*Support Program for Students Form
*Insurance Information
*TPA and QT information; observation templates
*Evidence Guide for Supervising Teachers
*Tertiary Supervisors – Instructions on Claiming Private Vehicle Usage and Motor Vehicle Log Sheet
*Sites - Professional Experience Registration Personal Details
*Sites- Superannuation Standard Choice Form
*Sonia Instructions- How to Videos and Guides

Links
Including:
*ACER - Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students
*Mandatory Education Placement Requirements
*NSW Statutory Declaration - Schedule 8
*UON Code of Conduct
*NSW DoE Code of Conduct
*UON Professional Experience Unit website
*UON Student Professional Experience Policy

The Individual Support Plan  procedure is intended to indicate to  a student that their performance is not in line with expectations as elucidated in the Graduate Teaching Standards and is intended to provide support  and guidance.

An early Individual Support Plan  within the placement period is the best approach so that the student has time to demonstrate the improvements for a sustained period. In their final weeks it would be difficult to demonstrate sustainable improvement.

A TES can be placed on an Individual Support Plan  at any time in the placement. TEScan be placed on an Individual Support Plan  on Day 1 of placement if they have not made preliminary contact with the ST, or fulfilled orientation requirements prior to the placement.

Bachelor Program Internship only: If a TES is placed on Individual Support Plan during Phase 1 (first four weeks), then the school may decide to extend Phase 1 by up to one week to enable the TES to attain an acceptable standard. The extra Phase 1 week will extend placement by one week. No extension of time is allowed during Phase 2. If the TES has not reached an acceptable standard by the end of the extended Phase 1 period they should be failed.

The Individual Support Plan  procedure is:

1. The ST liaises with the host PSC, with the option of including a University representative (TS or the placement Course Coordinator), to determine if the student should be  placed on an Individual Support Plan
2. The ST and host PSC meet with the student. The TS or University representative may be asked to attend this meeting.
3. In this meeting the student is notified in writing using the Individual Support Plan form on the SONIA platform  and a support plan  aligned to the Standards is developed. The goals should be limited in number, specific in their focus, clearly explained and achievable in a 5-day period.
4. This documentation is available to all stakeholders via SONIA.
5. The TES is expected to make an immediate, significant, and sustained improvement in the  identified areas within up to 5 placement days.
6. Should an additional TS inspection be considered necessary, the University  Course Coordinator should be contacted prior to this occurring.
7. At the 5th placement day, the student’s progress can be ascertained by the ST and PSC.

If TES show the identified growth, they can proceed with their placement. If this does not occur, then they will be withdrawn from the placement and the Professional Experience Unit notified immediately (see ‘Failed Placement’ below of this Guide).

A Failed Placement is usually warranted when:

• Difficulties continue after appropriate support has been planned and provided (via an Individual  Support Plan)
• The student has been consistently unable to demonstrate attainment of one or more of  the required Professional Standards for Teachers
• The professional behaviour of the student is unacceptable
• The host site’s students are adversely affected by the student being with the class

In exceptional circumstances , the host site has the right to terminate the placement at any time. This can for example, be the result of misconduct, and can occur without the implementation of  Individual Support Plan  procedure or warning to the student.

If the placement is terminated by the host site, the ST will complete a Withdrawal from Professional Experience Form and email it to the University as well as completing the ‘final report’  online reflecting the days the student attended

Student’s Self-Withdrawal from Placement

The student may decide to withdraw from the placement at any time, but this will also be recorded as  a Fail unless special circumstances apply. The student should email the Withdrawal from Professional  Experience Form to the Professional Experience Unit as soon as possible. Within 24 hours of termination of the placement the TES should make an appointment with Course Coordinator and seek support from the Placement Success Co-ordinator.

Disclosures

TES will be required to discuss disclosure of a failed placement with  course coordinator if they have previously failed a placement.  Due to privacy concerns, disclosure of a failed placement to the next placement site is at the discretion of the student and the matter should be discussed with the Placement Course Co-ordinator.

TES who Fail are normally permitted to re‐enroll the next time the professional experience course is  offered. TES who have had an unsuccessful placement are required to engage with the School of Education’s Teach Ready support program prior to commencing the subsequent placement. TES who have failed a placement course for the second time are asked to “show cause” to the Head of the School of Education as to why they should be granted a subsequent attempt.

TES who are working with a RAP (Reasonable Adjustment Plan) should present this to their Placement Co-Ordinator at the commencement of the course. The TES can choose to disclose to their placement site the nature of their requirements and the adjustments that need to be made. This should be discussed with the Placement Co-ordinator who will communicate to the Professional Experience Unit. Students can also choose to not disclose or require some or all of the adjustments.

IT Support

For IT support, contact the University IT Support Services at:

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/it

Personal Support

The University has a variety of personal supports available for current TES. The following link provides an overview of the supports which are available:.

https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal

Counselling: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/counselling

Sexual assault, sexual harassment and crisis support: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/sexual-assault-harrassment

Health Services: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/health-lifestyle/health-services

Financial Wellbeing: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/financial-wellbeing