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Special Needs
Chatswood Hills State School's philosophy of a Stage Based Learning and Teaching community supports the provision of appropriate learning experiences for all students. Support personnel, along with the special needs committee, enhance the school philosophy by providing specific support and intervention for students with special needs, their teachers and families.
- The school recognises three broad groups of Special Needs children:
- Those with exceptional learning abilities
- Those with learning difficulties or disabilities
- Those with low incidence disabilities (physical, visual, hearing, speech-language, intellectual impairments or autistic spectrum disorder).
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The school's Special Needs Action Committee (SNAC) is chaired by the Deputy Principal and includes the Guidance Officer, Support Teacher Learning Difficulties (STLD), Advisory Visiting Teachers (AVTs) and classroom teachers as needs arise. SNAC facilitates the overall provision of services for all children with special needs in the school and preschool. This group reviews children's needs and plans the nature of the support/intervention program. SNAC ensures all referrals from teachers and parents are handled appropriately by specific support personnel and they then monitor the effectiveness of subsequent intervention.
Children with Special Needs are identified in a range of ways. The Year 2 Diagnostic Net and tests in Years 3, 5 and 7 help to identify support needs. Other whole class diagnostic tests are also periodically employed. In addition both teachers and parents may express concerns about particular children and other testing may be used to identify specific concerns.
Two STLD's are attached to the staff of the school and assist class teachers with children who are having difficulties with their work. The STLD also coordinates the work of a range of ancillary staff members who provide assistance through programs such as Support-a-Reader, Support-a-Writer, and Support-a-Maths-Learner. Other visiting specialists include the Speech Therapist, and various advisory visiting teachers for low incidence support needs.
Needs of exceptional children are catered for by ability grouping in Mathematics in all stages. Various teachers also provide opportunities for students to access particular activities such as Tournament of Minds, writers' workshops local eisteddfods, debating and spelling competitions etc.
In addition the Birds and Trees Project Club provides opportunities for students to engage in real life learning providing both extension activities for gifted students and real-life learning and development of adaptive skills. Other extension opportunities are available through student participation in Student Council, Games Ranger Program, Environmental Rangers as well as through school concerts and camps etc. Interschool sport and the Instrumental Music program, all provide opportunities for students to extend their learning.
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