A special education program is a cluster of resources - specialist teachers and support staff based here at Emu Park State School. We service a cluster of schools which includes; Cawarral, Coowonga and Keppel Sands State Schools. Our school's special education program is dedicated to supporting the educational needs of students in one or more disability areas. Programs are available in the following disability areas:
Our school provides support in a variety of ways. We mainly support students in the classroom alongside their peers, whilst other programs might give students separate, specialised lessons when needed.
Our school staff plan collaboratively for every student to participate and learn. Our school Curriculum Framework guides the teaching and learning of all students. It sets high expectations for the learning achieved by all students, including students with disability. Students with disability join in the same curriculum activities and learning programs as other students in the class with the support of suitable adjustments. An adjustment is any change made to help a student participate at school, learn, and be comfortable and safe. This involves explicit teaching and scaffolded learning, teaching both the concepts on which the task is based and the language demands of the task, enabling all students to participate in the curriculum.
There is a wide range of adjustments that are possible for students including adjustments to curriculum, teaching strategies and assessment. Some examples include:
allowing a student extra time to complete an exam or assessment task
providing specialised equipment
modifying a classroom environment to make it more accessible
making class notes available in Braille
adjusting the level of complexity of lesson content
use of signed communication, including interpreters where necessary
providing additional support
using alternative methods to complete an exam or assessment task e.g. video, computer, digital recording device.