ESF Levels of Adjustment Framework

The ESF Levels of Adjustment (LOA) provide a framework for identifying and documenting the adjustments and accommodations for students who require support for learning.

ESF uses LOA 1 to 6 to describe the amount and type of support a student requires in order to access the curriculum. The LOA also reflects the level of provision required.

Outlined below are the most common placements for students with LOA 1 to 6. Occasionally, placements may differ depending on the profile of the individual student.

  • LOA 1 & 2 – Mainstream with support
  • LOA 3 & 4 – Learning Support
  • LOA 5 & 6 – Jockey Club Sarah Roe School
LOA 1 to 2 Mainstream with support
LOA 1

Additional Differentiation: 

Additional, ongoing class-based teaching and learning adjustments led by the class or subject teacher, in liaison with the IN department and/or short-term small group or individual intervention in 1 or 2 dimensions of schooling.
LOA 2 

Regular Ongoing Differentiation: 

Regular, individualised teaching and learning adjustments of objectives, outcomes, materials or equipment, in multiple dimensions of schooling, as a result of class-based assessments and teacher judgement. A combination of additional small group support, for minimum 2 cycles of intervention, in multiple areas. The student has an IEP, there is an ongoing liaison between class/subject teachers and the IN department, and there is regular contact with parents. These students often sit well below age-related expectations in one of the dimensions of schooling.  
LOA 3 to 4 Learning Support Class
LOA 3 to 4

Daily, continuous differentiation: 

Daily, individualised teaching and learning adjustments of objectives, outcomes, materials or equipment

Access to daily push-in support in mainstream lessons and pull-out support that focuses on skill development/concept reinforcement / functional life skills teaching. Access to alternative curriculums at the secondary level.
LOA 5 to 6 Jockey Club Sarah Roe School
LOA 5 to 6

Continuous individualised differentiation: 

Continuous, individualised support. Systematic interventions and highly individualised teaching programmes through multidisciplinary approaches with a high staff-to-student ratio.

Updated: August 2022