What is an Individual Learning Plan (ILP)?

From healthcare cover to car insurance to fitness programs, we tend to benefit more from a service when it’s personalised to our individual needs. But what about education?  

Read on to learn everything you need to know about Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), including what they mean in an education setting and their purpose, and a list of inclusions typically found in an ILP. 

What’s the meaning of ILP in Education? 

So, what is an Individual Learning Plan, exactly? An Individual Learning Plan (ILP), sometimes referred to as an Individual Education Plan (IEP), is a working document detailing a course of action an Australian school will take to help a child with special education needs gain the skills and knowledge to fulfil their learning goals. An ILP is developed with consultation from the child’s parents or caregivers to ensure these goals are supported at home, too.   

Not every student has a linear learning experience, particularly children with learning disabilities and special education needs. These students often require additional support and a more tailored teaching approach. That’s where an Individual Learning Plan can be a beneficial tool to implement.   

What is the Purpose of an Individual Learning Plan? 

An Individual Learning Plan (ILP) helps students with learning difficulties to work towards their educational goals at their own pace and details any additional support they may require.  

Individual Learning Plans don’t have to outline just one area in which the child needs support. It is recommended that the ILP focus on three or four individual targets.  

That’s why it’s important that the targets set out in the ILP follow the SMART goal framework, as follows:  

• Specific: The student’s targets are specific i.e. meeting the standards of a specific curriculum area, improving social skills or classroom behaviour.  
• Measurable: The targets can be measured to ensure they have been reached i.e. achieving a specific grade in a curriculum area.  
• Achievable and Agreed: The targets are achievable and within the child’s capability. They are agreed upon by all contributors of the child’s Individual Learning Plan, including the child, parents or guardians, and the school.  
• Relevant and Realistic: The targets are realistic and are relevant to the overarching objective of the ILP.  
• Time-bound: The targets can be obtained in a set timeframe.

ILPs can also be used to document the appropriate systematic adjustments made in accordance with the Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992.  

What should be included in an Individual Learning Plan?  

The contents of an Individual Learning Plans can vary depending on the specific needs of the child, but you can typically find the following:  

• An overview of the child’s learning disability or impairment, including any reports or assessments from the child’s family, past schools or other professionals.
• The roles, responsibilities and details of the team who developed and will carry out the ILP, including teaching staff, therapists and other specialists.  
• An outline of the child’s functional needs, strengths and interests collected from family and from classroom observations.
• Long and short-term learning objectives that the child will work towards. The long-term goals can be divided into smaller and more obtainable goals using the SMART goal framework (as detailed above). This should also include a success criterion to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach and if the goals are being met.  
• Evidence-based teaching strategies that will be used to support the child’s educational development and outcomes. Other strategies used at home or by other professionals outside of school can be included in the ILP to ensure consistency.  
• A detailed outline of how the child’s progress will be tracked and evaluated regularly. You can find our more in our how to monitor and review an ILP blog.
• It’s also a good idea to include transition or handover documentation for future educators, schools and professionals to ensure they’re aware of the ILP and its details including goals and teaching strategies.

Here’s a couple of examples showing some features you might find in an Individual Learning Plan, such as the roles and responsibilities of the team involved and the teaching strategies that will be used to help the child reach their learning goals. 

If you have students in your class who would benefit from an Individual Learning Plan to reach their full potential, download our free guide which highlights eight common challenges schools face in managing learning support – and how Learning Pathways can provide the solutions.