Special Education Program (SEP)
An inclusive approach to education and values is promoted, working collaboratively with class teachers, parents, carers and other specialists to meet the individual needs of students.
Students may be eligible for the provision of SEP support and additional targeted resources if they are identified as meeting criteria for one or more of the six Education Adjustment Program (EAP) disability categories of:
- Intellectual Disability (ID)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Speech Language Impairment (SLI)
- Physical Impairment (PI)
- Vision Impairment (VI)
- Hearing Impairment (HI).
The SEP provides focused and differentiated teaching strategies to enable students with significant educational support needs to access the curriculum, participate in school life and achieve educational outcomes. This is achieved by identifying barriers to student learning and making adjustments that minimise their effect on student learning and achievement.
Coomera SEP provides support to students with disabilities, their parents, carers and teachers through:
- Cooperative planning Individual Support Plans (ISPs)
- Access to parent-teacher resources
- Alternative life skills and social skills programs
- Inclusion of children in the mainstream class according to level of need
- Small group withdrawal in SEP facilities to focus on achievement of specific goals
- Access to Education Queensland therapy services.
Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP)
Coomera State School provides early childhood development programs and services for children prior-to-Prep age with a suspected or diagnosed disability with significant educational support needs in the areas of:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Hearing Impairment
- Intellectual Impairment
- Physical Impairment
- Speech-Language Impairment
- Vision Impairment
The purpose of early childhood development programs and services is to enable the:
- engagement of children in a wide range of learning experiences to maximise their individual potential
- assessment of educational support needs prior to Prep
- transition to Prep
- establishment of partnerships with families to ensure quality educational outcomes in the critical early years of schooling.
Services Include:
- Centre based program
- Centre based playgroup
- The daily program sessions generally involve:
- Communication
- Gross Motor Development
- Fine Motor Development
- Socialisation and Emotional Development
- Thinking Skills
Access to ECDP
Children can be referred to the Coomera ECDP by Parents, Paediatrician, Community Agencies and Childcare Centres.
Information is gathered regarding the child’s needs and forwarded to the Principal Education Officer–Student Services (PEO-SS) at Education Queensland Gold Coast Regional Office.
Information is presented at a fortnightly panel meeting at Regional Office where eligibility for participation in the ECDP will be determined.
A formal letter is sent to notify parents of the decision and, if approved, will direct parents to contact Head of Special Education Services (HOSES), to arrange an enrolment meeting where information about specific times and requirements will be discussed with parents.
Parents and professionals can also refer the child directly to the Principal Education Officer–Student Services by phoning (07) 5656 6688.