Supporting Our Students

Catholic schools recognise that each child can learn successfully. Our schools recognise individual students’ talents and abilities and therefore work to provide a supportive environment that will enhance students’ learning opportunities and uphold the dignity of each student.

Students with Disability

Students with disability often experience difficulties with learning in one or more areas of the curriculum. These difficulties may vary in cause, nature, intensity and duration. Learning, behaviour and social interaction may be impacted. These students have diverse abilities as well as learning support needs. The term ‘disability’ includes children with: an intellectual disability, vision impairment, hearing impairment, physical disability, language disorder, social communication disorder or mental health conditions.

Parents or caregivers who are concerned about their child’s progress at school should discuss these concerns, in the first instance, with the school principal or teacher. Acknowledging areas for support is an important part of the enrolment planning process. Catholic schools support parents’ right to choose the most appropriate school for their child.

Students with disability, in the Diocese of Armidale, learn within the mainstream learning environment. Each student requiring learning support has a Personalised Plan (PP). This is developed in collaboration with families to determine specific learning goals and measure progress over time. Specialist assessments may be recommended to help ascertain the nature of the student’s learning difficulties which informs their Personalised Plan. Families may engage with therapy services outside of school to support the student’s development of specific skills. This complements the school learning program.  

Learning support is delivered through a variety of means that may be applied flexibly over time. Most support is delivered within the whole class or small group setting. Technology is used to facilitate the learning of all students as well as provide accessibility options for students to curriculum content. In secondary education, formalised learning pathways are available to students with disabilities including the Life Skills curriculum.  

Catholic education upholds the inherent dignity of every student and actively recognises the individual gifts, talents and abilities of all students. Catholic schools work closely with students and families in shared responsibility to empower young people through their educational journey within a Catholic context. Together we nurture all students to become confident, resilient, full participants and future leaders in our communities informed by a faith life centred on the life of Jesus Christ.  

Relevant documents:

  • Disability Discrimination Act (1992)

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00763

  • Disability Standards for Education (2005)

https://education.gov.au/disability-standards-education

 

Your child’s success is our focus.


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