Tutor Learning Initiative

Policy

This policy outlines the operation of the Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) in Victorian government schools.

Schools receiving TLI funding must:

• provide small group learning support to students who are performing below their age-expected standard in literacy and numeracy
• record and update information about which students are identified for TLI support by adding TLI tags on CASES21
• use the TLI group learning plan (DOCX) to record the delivery approach and learning goals for each group of TLI students, unless all students in the group have an Individual Education Plan in place
• measure student attainment using a standardised assessment tool at the commencement and the conclusion of the year in which students participate in tutor learning
• employ and record tutors on eduPay using the TLI code: 80026. Note that if tutors are being appointed from the school’s existing staff, their tutoring FTE must be re-coded to the TLI code: 80026 using a General Ledger (GL) override on eduPay. Refer to eduPay General Ledger Overrides (PDF) (staff login required). For further assistance refer to the eduPay User Guides (staff login required).

Details

The Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) provides government and low-fee non-government schools with funding to employ tutors to deliver targeted small group learning support to students who are performing below their age-expected standard in literacy and numeracy.

This includes students identified as ‘Needing Additional Support’ (or exempt) in the reading and/or numeracy domains of NAPLAN or were in a year level that did not complete NAPLAN but have been identified by other assessments as achieving at significantly below the expected level for their age in literacy and/or numeracy.

Tutors work with small groups of students (generally up to 5 students) at a time. Tutoring can be delivered in-class, out-of-class, or in a hybrid model. The specific model of delivery is a school-based decision.

Tutoring must be delivered by a qualified teacher registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, or one of the other approved categories outlined in the guidance under Tutor arrangements. Tutor employment arrangements must be consistent with the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 (VGSA 2022) and relevant department employment policies.

TLI funding enables schools to provide students the equivalent of 2.25 hours of small group instruction per week for up to 2 school terms.

All Victorian government schools are working to embed the VTLM 2.0 in their teaching and learning programs from the start of the 2028 school year. Tutors are recommended to deliver small group tutoring in line with the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 (VTLM 2.0), including using explicit instruction and synthetic phonics to teach reading in F–2.

Related policies

• Individual Education Plans (IEPS)
• Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support
• Recruitment in Schools
• Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0
• Victoria’s approach to teaching reading F–2 (PDF)

Contact

Schools can direct queries as follows:

• for queries about TLI in your school, contact your school’s education improvement leader (EIL) located in your regional office
• for general queries about the initiative, contact: tutor@education.vic.gov.au
• for queries relating to tutor HR and recruitment, contact the Schools Recruitment on: sr.tutor.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au or 1800 641 943
• for queries regarding funding, contact the School Financial Management Support Unit: schools.finance.support@education.vic.gov.au
• for information regarding VIT teacher registration for tutors, refer to the Victorian Institute of Teaching
• for queries about the tutor laptops contact: notebook@education.vic.gov.au