Ingle
Farm Primary School has a special education class for students in
years 3-7 who through a guidance assessment have been
diagnosed with an intellectual disability, and have found to have special
learning needs that can be helped by placement in a small special class.
They may also have other disabilities such as physical or speech difficulties.
We endeavour to provide a positive learning experience and to provide
the best supported environment for these students to learn.
All students have a detailed Negotiated Education Plan
that is developed with parents / guardians and with advice available
from a disability coordinator. The Negotiated Education Plan is a specific
measure taken to improve the learning outcomes for students with learning
difficulties.
The class has a maximum of 12 students, and has support
from a School Services Officer for a significant number of hours per
week.
We
focus on each child developing self-esteem and encouraging them
to reach their maximum potential academically, while improving their
social skills.
Students
from the special class learn swimming at Strathmont Swimming Pool
once a week. This is seen as both a survival skill, helping with
coordination, and self-esteem. We have an inclusion program in which
students from the special class are included in a mainstream class
of the appropriate year level. This helps to socialise with their
peers, become more accepted and make friendships with students who
are not in the special class. At present inclusion occurs on two
afternoons each week, although some students are able to access their
mainstream
class for other curriculum areas when this is appropriate.
The Language Support Class is a short term, Junior Primary
small class setting. It is specifically for students with a severe specific
language impairment (language disorder) but no other primary disabilities,
such as intellectual disability.
The Language Support classroom has recently been renovated. It now includes
an office/area for the speech pathologist to work with the students.
The classroom is spacious and is an aesthetically pleasing learning environment.
The students are supported by a full time teacher, a Speech Pathologist
(2 days a week) and a School Services Officer (15 hours per week). The
curriculum provides a high degree of routine, structure and visual scaffolding
and aims to develop oral language, social and literacy skills.
The
curriculum is based on each child’s learning
needs and an individual speech and language program for each child
is implemented.
The children participate in group language activities including individual
speech therapy sessions.
The students are also involved in a coordination program three days
a week and they participate in swimming once a week. In addition, the
students attend mainstream classes two afternoons a week. This is extremely
beneficial for their language and social skill development.
To
be considered for placement in the class, students must fulfil a number
of criteria.
This includes being identified by
the School Speech
Pathologist and Guidance Officer (psychologist) as having a severe specific
language impairment, as well as being identified as a student with a
communication disability under the “Students with Disabilities” policy.
Appropriate referrals are made to the Class Placement Panel and applications
are considered.
For
further information, queries should be directed to the school’s
Speech Pathologist, Guidance Officer, or the Principal of the student’s
current or local school.
