Learning Links

05/06/2026

Strong communication skills are the foundation for learning, friendships and confidence at school.

For some children, expressing themselves clearly or understanding others can be challenging - and these difficulties don’t usually resolve on their own. When communication concerns are identified and supported early, children are better positioned to engage in learning and participate fully in the classroom.

Our Confident Little Communicators program is designed to provide structured, early support for young learners who are experiencing communication difficulties. Delivered in partnership with schools, the program focuses on building foundational speech and language skills through practical, evidence-based strategies that can be reinforced both in the classroom and at home.

By strengthening early identification and providing timely intervention, we aim to:
• Support children to develop clearer communication
• Reduce frustration linked to speech and language challenges
• Build confidence in interacting with peers and teachers
• Strengthen readiness to access the school curriculum

When communication difficulties are addressed early, they are less likely to become ongoing barriers to learning and participation.

Thanks to the generous funding of Club Marconi, 45 young learners will have access to Confident Little Communicators - supporting children in their local community to build strong communication foundations from the beginning.

If your school would like to learn more about our School Support Programs, or you're a funder wanting to create meaningful, measurable impact in your local community - we invite you to visit our website and make an enquiry. https://bit.ly/School_Support_Programs

04/06/2026

Preparing for your parent-teacher interview? Download our parent-teacher interview question sheet here:
https://ow.ly/m2cF50Z7r1f

If you’re concerned about your child’s learning, a parent-teacher interview can be an important first step.

Your child’s teacher can share what they notice in the classroom, including how your child:

• starts and finishes tasks
• follows instructions
• manages reading, writing or maths
• asks for help when they’re stuck
• responds to classroom expectations
• needs support compared with other children their age

This can help you understand whether the challenges you’re seeing at home are also happening at school.

You might ask:

“Are you noticing any areas where my child is finding learning harder than expected?”
“Do they need more support than other children their age?”
“Are these challenges happening often, or only sometimes?”
“Would you recommend we look into an assessment?”

For some assessments, teacher input can be an important part of understanding a child’s learning strengths and needs.

After the interview, write down what the teacher shared. These notes can be helpful if you decide to explore an assessment or seek further support.

Learning Links offers assessments and support to help families better understand their child’s learning.

Visit www.learninglinks.org.au to find out how we can help.

03/06/2026

💙 Confidence Champions – Celebrating Our People

At Learning Links, confidence grows through care, connection and encouragement – often in the small, everyday moments that make a lasting difference.

Through our Confidence Champions series, we celebrate the people who bring our brand promise of building confidence with care to life every day.

Meet our next Confidence Champion:

Lauren Broughall, Early Childhood Teacher – Sector Capacity Building

Lauren plays a key role in our Sector Capacity Building (SCB) program, where Learning Links partners with 52 preschools across the South West Sydney region. The program supports educators and leaders to strengthen inclusive practices, build capability, and create environments where all children – particularly those with additional needs – can participate and thrive.

Lauren works closely with educators and directors, helping them grow their skills, knowledge and confidence in supporting every child in their care.

Her approach is practical, collaborative and encouraging – creating a safe space for educators to learn, ask questions and try new strategies. Over time, this builds genuine confidence, with teams feeling more capable, supported and empowered in their roles. That confidence flows into the classroom and playground, supporting children to feel included, capable and confident in their learning.

This beautiful feedback from a Director at one our SCB preschools captures her impact:

“Lauren has been an amazing support to our preschool and always shares her wealth of knowledge.”

Thank you, Lauren, for building confidence with care and supporting educators to do the same. 💫

02/06/2026

June is a busy month for professional learning at Learning Links, with a range of live webinars and all-day workshops designed to support educators, psychologists and early childhood professionals in their work with children and young people.

From anxiety, ADHD and executive functioning to autism assessment and inclusive classroom practice, each session is designed to connect evidence-informed knowledge with practical strategies professionals can apply in real-world settings.

Quality professional development does more than build individual capability. It strengthens the support systems around children, helping schools, services and communities respond with greater confidence, consistency and care.

Visit our website to learn more about our upcoming webinars and workshops:
https://www.learninglinks.org.au/professionals/live-webinars/

01/06/2026

Parenting is one of the most important jobs in the world, but it does not come with an instruction manual.

This Global Day of Parents, we recognise the love, care, strength and everyday effort parents give to help their children grow.

We also acknowledge that parenting can be challenging, and every parent deserves support they can turn to.

Whether that support comes from family, friends, teachers, childcare educators, allied health professionals or community services, it can help parents feel less alone and help children feel more supported.

For supportive programs, parenting articles and family resources, visit learninglinks.org.au.

29/05/2026

Learning doesn’t happen in isolation.

For many students, challenges with emotional regulation, peer relationships or managing frustration can affect how they participate in the classroom and engage with their learning.

Our Links at School – Psychology program provides structured, school-based psychological support designed to strengthen the skills that underpin successful learning. Working alongside educators, our psychologists support students to build emotional awareness, develop practical coping strategies, and strengthen social and behavioural skills.

When these foundational skills are supported within the school environment, students are better positioned to participate in class, navigate challenges and stay engaged in their education.

With over 50 years of experience in learning and development, we understand the many factors that can influence a child’s progress - and the value of practical, evidence-based support delivered where students learn every day.

Thanks to the generous support of Dooleys Lidcombe up to 50 students in their local community will be supported to build skills that strengthen both learning and wellbeing.

If your school would like to learn more about our School Support Programs, or you're a funder wanting to create meaningful, measurable impact in your local community - we invite you to visit our website and make an enquiry. https://bit.ly/School_Support_Programs

28/05/2026

Ever wonder what a child’s speech therapy session looks like?

Speech therapy isn’t just sitting at a desk and repeating words.

It’s fun, playful, and built around your child’s needs.

Using a combination of games, puppets, flash cards, and tech tools, speech pathologists can support children with communication, language, listening, understanding instructions, social interaction, pre-reading skills and confidence - all while having loads of fun!

At Learning Links, our friendly speech pathologists work with children and families to build communication skills in practical, supportive ways.

Visit our website or call 1300 003 900 to learn more about speech therapy support for your child.
www.learninglinks.org.au

27/05/2026

Ever wondered what a child psychologist does? Check out our new article!

A paediatric speech pathologist is a mental health professional who supports children with learning, development and wellbeing challenges.

26/05/2026

Are you supporting students with ADHD? This article may be helpful to you:

Classroom adjustments to help students with ADHD reach their full learning potential. Here are some simple strategies for teachers to try.

25/05/2026

Is your child finding maths tricky, or do you support students who need stronger maths foundations?

https://www.learninglinks.org.au/resources/teaching-maths/

This Learning Links article shares simple strategies for teaching maths, with a focus on foundation skills like counting, place value and the four operations.

It explains why clear instruction, regular practice, visual supports and concrete materials can help children build confidence with maths. It also includes practical tips for supporting students who need extra time to develop these skills.

A helpful read for parents, carers and educators looking for clear, practical ways to support maths learning.

Strategies to improve the way you are teaching maths foundation skills. Explicit Instruction · Counting · Manipulatives · Worded Problems