If your child goes to school in Kawartha Lakes (or anywhere in Ontario), chances are you’ve heard the letters IEP tossed around.

Maybe by a teacher, maybe in a meeting, or maybe from another parent at pick-up. But what exactly is an IEP - and what does it mean for your child?

The Basics

IEP stands for Individual Education Plan. It’s a written plan that outlines the supports, accommodations, and sometimes modified expectations your child needs to succeed in school. Think of it as a roadmap - one that helps teachers, support staff, and you (the parent or caregiver) all stay on the same page.

Here’s the important part: in Ontario, an IEP is a legal document. Schools have to follow it.

Who Gets an IEP?

Not every child has an IEP - but a lot more do than you might think. If a student has been formally identified with an exceptionality by the school board, they must have one. But even without a formal identification, schools can put an IEP in place if they see a student needs extra support.

For families in Kawartha Lakes, this might mean your child has an IEP for:

Autism
ADHD
Learning disabilities
Speech or language needs
Anxiety or mental health challenges
Or even just specific subject areas where extra help is needed

What’s Inside an IEP?

Every IEP is different (because every child is different), but most include:

Accommodations: Changes in how your child learns (like extra time on tests, quiet spaces, or sensory breaks).
Modifications: Adjustments to what your child is expected to learn (like different grade-level expectations).
Goals: Short-term and long-term targets your child is working toward.
Support Services: Things like EA support, speech therapy, or resource room time.

The IEP also names the people responsible for each part of the plan - so you know who is doing what.

How Does It Happen?

In Ontario, schools are required to develop an IEP within 30 school days of when a student starts needing support. Usually, the process looks like this:

A teacher notices your child needs support, or you raise concerns.
The school gathers information (observations, assessments, conversations with you).
The IEP is drafted and shared with you for input.
Once finalized, teachers and staff use it daily.

And it doesn’t just sit in a folder somewhere - it gets reviewed and updated regularly (at least once per term).

Why It Matters

For families in Kawartha Lakes, school can sometimes feel like a maze. An IEP is one of the clearest tools you’ll get to help navigate it. It gives your child a fair shot at success, and it gives you a way to hold the school accountable if the plan isn’t being followed.

Most importantly: it recognizes that your child learns in their own way, and that’s okay.

If You’re New to the IEP Process, It Can Feel Overwhelming

You might walk into meetings with a knot in your stomach. (We’ve been there.) But you don’t have to figure it out alone. Teachers, principals, and special education resource teachers (SERTs) are part of the team - and so are you.

Your voice matters. You know your child best.

And here in Kawartha Lakes, there are parents, caregivers, and groups like ARK who have been through the process and are always willing to share what they’ve learned. Because while the paperwork might feel official and heavy, at the end of the day, an IEP is about making school a place where your child can learn, grow, and feel like they belong.

What is an IEP?