This class supports students who have an impairment ascertained in the Intellectual and Autism Spectrum Disorder categories.  Programmes and services are developed to support and enhance future pathways of students.  Goals set have been incorporated in the following areas:

·          Life skills

·          Personal development

·          Language

·          Functional literacy

·          Functional numeracy

·          Technology

·          Learning appropriate classroom behaviours

·          Motor skills – gross and fine

·          Social skills

Depending on the progress made by children the time allocated for support can be reduced or increased.  Many children benefit from support during their total school career.  Other children may only require short-term support.  Children who complete their programme of support should be able to take greater advantage and achieve greater success in their future years of schooling.  Periodic reviews are carried out to assess children’s needs to access support from the Special Education Class.

An important emphasis of the programme is one of Personal Development.  Children who have learning or social difficulties often experience feelings of inadequacy, failure and low self esteem.  The approach of the Special Education Class is one of building children’s confidence and of making academic work rewarding and less threatening.  The child’s abilities are assessed and an Individual Education Plan is developed to support their learning needs.  Academic skills initially may be developed simply to elevate self esteem and self confidence until a positive cycle of learning and work routines are established.