Specialised learning programs
Our inclusive and accessible programs deliver on the educational outcomes of the national curriculum alongside an expanded core curriculum—which provides for the teaching of a range of skills and knowledge to enable students to work around any learning barriers in the standard curriculum.
This builds a sense of belonging and gives your child the confidence and knowledge to navigate life beyond school.
Discover our programs below.
Sign Bilingual Program K–6
This program is for children who use both Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and English in its written form. We provide a language-rich environment where students have peers and language role models with whom they can directly communicate.
Every child in our program has:
- early access to both English and Auslan from fluent users of the languages;
- autonomy in choosing their preferred mode(s) of communication when learning or socialising; and
- full access to the curriculum through language they understand.
Being able to access these options helps our students to develop - socially, linguistically, intellectually, culturally, physically, and emotionally - which contributes to a healthy Deaf identity and positive self-worth.
Our literacy programs are designed specifically for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and we differentiate our instruction based on each child’s speech perception and language abilities.
Students begin with the Foundations for Literacy program, which consists of hands-on activities and related language and literacy tasks. They then progress through four years of the Fingerspelling Our Way to Reading program and its complementary Reading Comprehension program, or—for students with the ability to perceive sounds in English words—phonics instruction. Our highly qualified staff, both Deaf and hearing, embed English and Auslan learning throughout the whole curriculum and provide the children with a warm, inclusive community.
Blind and Low Vision Program K-6
This program offers a mainstream curriculum with specialist support for children who are blind or have a vision impairment. Our students receive training in Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology, Social Skills and Independent Living Skills as part of our ECC.
Students can fully access their learning program, as each literacy and numeracy unit is delivered through technologies and independent skills. These include:
- Braille
- Braille displays
- Braille notetakers
- Computer/keyboard skills
- Low Vision Aides (LVA)
- Proloquo2Go
- Grid 3 device.
Our Accessibility and Inclusion Team make braille books, large print books and tactile books for blind and low vision students.
Spoken Language Program K–6
This program is for children who have a hearing loss and are learning to listen and speak.
Each day starts with students completing the 7 sound Ling test, to ensure their listening devices are working. This is necessary to have full access to the day’s classroom activities and instructions. There are regular oral communication and vocabulary sessions where teachers target common class language goals through a variety of activities.
Our lessons are based on the national curriculum, as well as each student’s Individual Education Plans (IEP). We do this by embedding student goals into the lesson content.
Students also have a weekly individual session with their Teacher of the Deaf which focuses on their specific IEP goals.
Our students also have the opportunity to join a local, mainstream school for the afternoon session, where they can develop their social skills and apply what has been learnt in our school environment in a mainstream setting.
Our teachers
Our highly qualified and competent teachers are accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). To continuously improve our practice, teachers also work towards the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, from proficient teacher to lead teacher level.