Supporting students with disability
The primary responsibility for meeting the learning and support needs of students with disability lies with their school and the classroom teacher.
The school learning and support team plays a key role in coordinating and planning support for students with disability and additional learning needs.
Children with special learning needs refers to children with learning difficulties, a behaviour disorder and/or a disability. These children have diverse abilities and learning needs. Parents or caregivers are often the first to notice that their child's development is delayed or that their child is having problems at school.
The term disability includes children with an intellectual disability, physical disability, vision impairment, hearing impairment, language disorder, mental health conditions or autism.
Children with learning difficulties experience difficulties with learning in one or more areas of the curriculum. These difficulties may vary in cause, nature, intensity and duration.
If you have concerns about your child's development or progress at school, it is important to discuss your concerns with the class teacher in the first instance.
Various levels of support are available for students according to their individual needs. The classroom teacher works in conjunction with the school's Learning and Support Team to address the educational needs of students with a disability, learning difficulty or behaviour disorder.
Parents and carers have a vital role to play in the work of the Learning and Support Team through discussing and planning for their child's needs. Your family doctor or your child's paediatrician may also be of assistance in this process.
The following services are available in all public schools:
- students who experience difficulties in basic areas of learning and behaviour are supported through learning and support processes in their local school.
- the integration funding support program is a targeted support program for eligible school aged students with confirmed disabilities enrolled in a regular class and attending on a full time basis.
- itinerant support teachers provide support for students with hearing and/or vision impairment and their teachers.
If you believe your child has special learning needs that require additional assistance please contact the Deputy Principal Wellbeing who leads the school's Learning and Support Team. Your child's needs will be considered in consultation with yourself, the classroom teacher and the school's Learning and Support Team.
More information about supporting students who require additional support can be found on our Special needs support page and our Learning support page.