Rationale for ILPs/EIPs

Teachers develop a Individual Learning Plan (ILP) as a versatile document that plans, analysis's and
evaluates an individual students learning and educational journey. The document combines the
knowledge of the current and past classroom teacher, as well teachers across all subject areas and
importantly parents. Everyone involved with a child at school should support a childs Individual
Learning Plan. The developed plan should consistently and regularly be reviewed and modified and
evolve as goals are achieved and the student matures in their learning and knowledge.
The main purpose of an Individual Learning Plan is to link the childs specific learning needs to the
curriculum. Planning should be done in a way that allows all students equally to participate in
classroom activities. As is stated in Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 - everyone has
the right to equal opportunities and rights. Equal opportunity implies a fair and equal right to be
able to freely take part in varying areas of life, including education. Students (people) shouldnt be
discriminated against for any purpose, including sex, gender, religion or culture. Developing the
ILPs ensures that the teachers not only have an in-depth knowledge of each students but
demonstrates how they will be implementing and improving each students learning, and giving each
an equal right and opportunity to learn and develop.
Further, to the legislation UNICEFs (United Nations Childrens Fund) mission is to provide and
protect children to ensure that they are natured and expanded to ensure they reach their full
potential. Article 28 (right to education) states - Every child has the right to an education.
This further accentuates the purpose for teachers to provide an ILP, with all students not only
having the right to be treated equally and fairly, but should be always challenged and pushed to
learn. They (children) have a right to education. It should be the aim of a teacher to guide, mould
and develop students to reach their full potential. UNICEF further enhances these ideas through
Article 29 (goals of education) stating - Education must develop each childs personality,
talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the childs respect for humans rights, as well as
respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.
The Victorian Government considers the physical safety and emotional well being of individual
children as a priority. The Children, Youth and Families Act highlights some of the values the
government expects for individuals; including - the protection of children, and providing
community services (including education) to support children and their growing minds. The act
also covers the area of mandatory reporting, which teachers and educators must abide by. Where
the act states that mandatory reporting must be completed by - A person who is registered as a

teacher under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 or has been granted permission
to teach under the Act. The presumption behind this legislation is that Children have a right to be
safe. This right can only be ensured if adults take responsibility for childrens safety. Through the
ILPs completed by teachers the child will be nurtured through their educational experiences by
creating, innovative, supportive and safe places to learn and mature. Without the prior planning or
knowing your individual students, which is required through VIT (Victorian Institute of teaching for
Graduating teachers) standard 3 the desired environment of safety and growth would not be able to
come to full potential. This alone highlights the need and desire for ILPs.
In addition to the VIT standard 3 mentioned above highlighting the need to know your individual
students. Its also crucial that teachers know each individual student and how they learn effectively,
which is highlighted through VIT Standard 1. Further to this, Standard 4 demonstrates the need for
ILPs. Stating - Teachers use their professional knowledge to establish clear, challenging and
achievable learning goals for students as individuals and groups. Teachers in addition to knowing
their students and each of their individual learning styles, a teacher must also be able to set
reachable and foreseeable goals for a student to strive and achieve. This is the main frameworks
and ideas based behind an ILP and one of the main reasons apart from legislative reasons why an
ILP should be constructed.
An ILP is formulated as a tool for both teachers, students and parents to utilise and be able to see
and track the educational growth of a student. There are many legislative reasons why they should
be constructed, including creating safe, nurturing and fair environments for learning. Children all
have the right to a safe, non-discriminatory environment and one that assists them to learn to their
full potential. This can be done through a teachers knowledge of an individual and their learning
style and by setting them realistic academic goals. An ILP assists a teacher in this process.