Ask the student what will help and consider a learner profile
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Identify needs and approaches to support’
On this page:
On this page:
Current page section: Ask the student what will help
Go to top of current page: Ask the student what will help
Go to top of current page: Ask the student what will help
Go to top of current page: Ask the student what will help
Ask about sensitivities and preferences
Ask about sensitivities and preferences
Design any learning environment around the what works for students. Build in flexibility from the outset.
Support self-advocacy with learner profiles
Support self-advocacy with learner profiles
Having students create a learner profile for themselves is a great way to have them develop a better and fuller understanding of who they are as learners ...
This develops their independence and places them in a better position to self-advocate for the tools, learning materials, and presentation options that can optimise their learning experiences.
Naryn Searcy
Maximise the benefits of a learner profile
Maximise the benefits of a learner profile
Encourage students to:
- express aspirations and passions
- address assumptions
- identify potential barriers to learning and wellbeing
- describe their accessibility and technology needs and preferences
- suggest beneficial teaching and learning approaches.
Let students personalise learner profiles
Let students personalise learner profiles
A learner profile is created by students and whānau.
Students can choose to present information in any media.
What to include in a learner profile
What to include in a learner profile
Discuss with the student and their whānau what to include a learner profile.
- Important people
- Cultural connections and experiences
- Languages spoken
- Things the student is good at
- Memorable life experiences
- How they like to unwind and relax
- Likes and interests
- Dislikes and things they avoid
- How they like to learn and what helps
- Things that make it hard for them to learn
- What they do when they need help
Useful resources
Useful resources

Developing learner profiles
Read time: 3 min
Publisher: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Download PDF (211 KB)

Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Identify needs and how to provide support”:
-
Current page Ask the student what will help
Return to the guide “ASD and learning”

How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: ASD and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
-
Identify needs and how to provide supportShow suggestions for Identify needs and how to provide support
- Ask the student what will help
- Partner with whānau
- Assessment and monitoring
- Organisations, programmes, and resources
-
Key areas to supportShow suggestions for Key areas to support
-
Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8
-
Helpful classroom strategies years 9-13Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 9-13