Students with Special Needs Policy
Purpose -
To Provide support and assistance to students having difficulties accessing the curriculum due to disabilities, disorders and/or syndromes
Definition -
Students with special needs, for the purposes of this policy, include: students with mental health problems [eg depression]; students with medical health issues [eg autism, Aspergers, disgraphia, dislexia] information processing difficulties, language disorders, sensory impairments and students living in difficult circumstances.
Rationale -
- Some students have special needs as a result of disabilities, disorders, syndromes, circumstances at SBHS
- These students will require support and assistance to realise their potential
- Staff, students and family need to be aware of strategies to identify and respond on an individual needs basis
- Meet Department requirements
Aims -
- To improve the learning environment and learning outcomes for students with special needs
- To implement and maintain a whole school approach to address the specific needs of students with disabilities, disorders, syndromes
- To implement and maintain an active and confidential Register of Students with Special Needs.
- To advise at the beginning of every school year of students with special needs that they will be teaching
- To empower students to be proactive in problem solving associated with problems they may encounter such as bullying
- To heighten awareness at a whole school level
- To provide skills and strategies and a support network to enhance learning, social and emotional outcomes for students with special needs.
- To establish a mentoring program with the aim of establishing a long term support person for a student with special needs.
Outcomes -
- Identify the needs of our students and develop strategies to meet these specific needs
- All students with special needs to have strategies to deal with Issues related to their specific requirements which will be monitored by a mentor, Year Adviser, HT Welfare, Counsellor and assisted by external agencies [parents, medical professionals etc] where necessary
- Teachers to recognise that all students require ongoing, individual assistance
- To improve home and school liaison
Staff program -
- Relevant training be made available to all teachers of students with special needs to improve learning outcomes
- Staff to be active in reporting potential learning difficulties in students
- Teachers to be active in implementing individual learning programs for Students with special needs
- Teachers to report/advise positive and negative outcomes to Year Adviser for early intervention, monitoring and/or change of direction
- Teachers help formulate and support the individual student with special needs learning program.
- Year Advisers, Head Teacher Welfare, or Counsellors will maintain regular contact with parents and guardians and feedback to teachers as required.
- Teachers will attend crucial planning meetings
Procedures for Students -
- Make it known to Year Adviser if you are experiencing difficulties in learning or at home
- Understand that assistance is available if the school is aware of your needs/difficulties. Report to Year Adviser, Head Teacher Welfare, Counsellor or trusted teacher and let them know the difficulties being experienced.
Procedures for Parents -
- If you suspect your son is in need of assistance or has an existing/identified problem please contact the Year Adviser and they will liaise with the Counsellors and Head Teacher of Welfare, student’s teachers and relevant agencies. The school will liaise with parents on a regular basis for as long as required.
