Pathways to learning and social participation: the growing role of learning support programs
Michael Horn
Melbourne Citymission
Contact Email:   MHornmcm.org.au

Melbourne Citymission is undertaking an evaluation of its Learning Support Programs (LSP) operating in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs in 2007. As part of the groundwork for this study, an audit of community-managed LSPs has been undertaken to provide a profile of these fast growing programs.

In general, LSPs offer out-of-school hours tutoring or homework assistance with the aim of improving educational outcomes for students of all ages. The goal of most LSP’s is to prevent the disengagement and early school leaving of children in disadvantaged circumstances.

A total of 33 programs took part in the survey undertaken by telephone interview during fourth term 2006. Enrolments in 2006 totalled over 1,300 students across all ages, with a regular weekly attendance of over 800 students. Whilst the longest running program commenced in 1992, nearly half the programs have been running for only 2 years.

The audit suggests that LSPs are effective in making a substantial contribution to learning outcomes for disadvantaged students. It also indicates a lack of robust data on program outcomes and the need to share good practice. This partly reflects the opportunistic and individualised nature of their evolution.

The development of LSP’s outside the mainstream education system suggests that too many children from disadvantaged circumstances at primary and secondary levels are struggling to keep up with their peers and stay attached to school. This raises questions about the capacity of Victoria’s education system to ensure engagement and retention of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The rapid growth of this community based response should stimulate policy debate to understand why there has been such growth, where LSP’s fit within the suite of formal education programs and how governments might take a more proactive approach to supporting their future development, as has occurred in the UK.

Paper Download Information (if available):

Horn_42.pdf

Copyright © 2007 Social Policy Research Centre.