Support Unit

What are support classes?

This class could be in a mainstream school or a School for Specific Purposes.

Asquith Public School has three Support classes in our mainstream setting, which provide specialist and intensive support for eligible students with a diagnosed intellectual or physical disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health diagnosis, sensory processing disorder or behaviour disorders.

Class Sizes

Class sizes in support classes are usually smaller than in mainstream classes because of the students’ higher needs. Class sizes will depend on the class type and, in some cases, the students' additional learning and support needs.

Teaching Staff

Every support class has a teacher and a school learning support officer (SLSO), and every student will have planning undertaken for their personalised learning and support that captures their needs and goals.

The class teachers are responsible for planning personalised learning and support for each student, in consultation with parents and carers and allied health professionals where it is appropriate.

Opportunities

Students in support classes at Asquith Public School are part of our whole-school community. They will have access to:

• school-wide events such as assemblies, excursions, incursions and sport
• their mainstream peers for selected learning activities where appropriate
• the same specialist provisions as those available to students in mainstream classes, including disability provisions from NESA for practical support in examinations
• transport assistance under the Assisted School Travel Program if they are eligible.

They will also be able to apply for access to Itinerant support teachers (hearing or vision)

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You cannot enrol your child directly into the support class at Asquith Public School.

The first step is to speak to your child’s local school to help you with this process.

Use  School Finder  to confirm your local school and proceed with enrolment.

The school will work with you to determine if your child is eligible and if this type of support will meet their needs.

This option is available when:

• Your child has significant support needs and meets the department's disability criteria.
• This type of specialist support will meet their educational needs.
• An application is completed in collaboration with you. This is usually arranged by the learning and support team at the school your child is enrolled in.

A local support class panel considers the application and decides an outcome.

This application is called an ‘access request’.