Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
The Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a key document that outlines how the school will support your child’s learning needs.
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a working document and may contain the same goals and objectives from year-to-year with changes only to the strategies. An IEP is not a document that needs to be completely re-written each year but rather flows with the learning successes of your child.
The school and district staff will work collaboratively with community agencies and home support teams in developing an IEP. Parents may wish to have private home-based specialists, consultants or therapists join the IEP meetings. Working together strengthens the educational programming for your child.
The Ministry of Education describes an IEP as an individual education plan designed for a student and includes one or more of the following:
(a) learning outcomes for a course, subject and grade that are different from or in addition to the expected learning outcomes for a course, or subject and grade, as set out in the applicable educational program guide for that course, subject and grade, as the case may be;
(b) a list of support services required for the student to achieve the learning outcomes established for the student;
(c) a list of the adapted materials, or instructional or assessment methods required by the student to meet the learning outcomes established for the student in the IEP, pursuant to a ministerial order or in a local program.
What is an IEP?
- A concise, usable document that summarizes the plan for the student’s
education program. - A tool to assist teachers in monitoring and communicating student
- A plan developed, implemented, and monitored by school staff, in consultation with others involved with the
- A flexible, working document with meaning for all
- An ongoing plan to ensure continuity in programing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who receives an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?
- Students with a Ministry of Education Special Needs Designation will have an IEP.
When are Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings held?
- An Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting is usually held in the fall with a review at least once during the school year.
- An Individual Education Plan (IEP) can be reviewed at any time during the school year.
What is an option for my child while we await a diagnosis and approval of a Ministry of Education designation?
- Meeting with the classroom teacher to discuss specific learning needs.
- A Personal Learning Plan may be put in place for your child.
Who may attend the Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting?
- Parents/guardians
- Student (if appropriate)
- School staff supporting your child: EA’s/teacher/LST/counsellor/etc.
- Consultants or therapists
- Advocates
- Private, family-hired specialists
The Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting is the time for you to
-
- Provide input into the goals, objectives and accommodations for your child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP); and,
- Review and discuss your child’s progress in relation to the goals and objectives of the Individual Education Plan (IEP).
How can I prepare for the Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting?
When you come to the Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting, you may wish to come prepared by asking yourself the following questions:
- What are my child’s strengths at school?
- Can I identify anything that has contributed to these strengths? What are my child’s needs at school?
- What are my child’s strengths at home and in the community? Is there anything that has contributed to these strengths?
- What are my child’s needs at home and in the community? What are my short-term educational objectives for my child? What are my longer term educational goals for my child?
- Have I noticed any changes in behaviour in my child?
- If so, have I noticed any patterns or reasons for the behaviour?
- What strategies am I using at home that have been successful?
- What tools/strategies/services will help my child learn?
Individual Education Plan – Who is on my child’s team Contact Sheet
You will receive a contact sheet identifying all staff working with your child, with information similar to the chart below.
| Staff Name | Role | Contact Information |
| E.g., Mr. Sam Support | Learning Support Teacher | ssupport@sd40.bc.ca |
What to expect
There is an IEP template for each Ministry of Education Designation.
This is a sample of a Category Q Learning Disability IEP template: PDF: Sample IEP template for Q designation
The Learning Support Teacher will consult with parents as well as all staff who are supporting your child to create the Individual Education Plan.
Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s classroom teacher and Learning Support Teacher regarding their child’s IEP.
Contact information is on the “Who is on my child’s team contact list.”
Parent Guide to Inclusive Education, Navigation
Next: Section E: Adapted & modified programming
Or return to the overview page for more: https://newwestschools.ca/parent-guide-to-inclusive-education/
