Dr Lynn Joffe – Director – Wolanksi Family Specialist Learning Centre

Teachers and other professionals in the School are receiving increasing numbers of requests to complete questionnaires and forms about students for external specialists. Please be mindful that, despite what it might look like on face value – just a few boxes to tick – the fact is that, to respond meaningfully about a student, teachers need time and clear headspace if they are to provide quality information. This is in your child’s/ward’s best interests. It is also the fact that there are competing priorities for teachers’ time and they might not be able to respond immediately.

Many specialists ask that a single teacher complete a form. In High School particularly, this is unlikely to capture a balanced picture of a student over all areas, so, an attempt is made to glean information from at least a few subject teachers. This also takes time, as does the collating of information.

In order to respect the above and assist your child to best effect, we ask the following:

• All requests be made a minimum of three weeks ahead of when the information is due to a specialist.
• All requests be channelled through Dr Lynn Joffe, Director of the Wolanksi Family Specialist Learning Centre, who will approach the relevant teachers, collate the information and send it to the referring specialist. This is also important if accurate records are to be kept on incoming and outgoing information about your child/ward.

Please provide updated reports and information via Dr Joffe too so that they are processed appropriately, reach relevant members of staff and help us ensure that data on students is kept current.