Specialist support classes are available for students with moderate to high learning and support needs - as defined by the department's disability criteria.
Specialist support classes cater for students with moderate to high learning and support needs including students with:
- intellectual disability
- mental health disorder
- autism spectrum disorder
- physical disability
- sensory impairment
- behaviour disorders.
Portland Central School runs a Multi-category (MCAT) class for high school students in need of specialist support.
Our Learning Support Team (LST) - in consultation with parents, carers and allied health professionals, where appropriate - are responsible for planning personalised learning and support for each student.
Students in MCAT have the opportunity to participate in the school and community activities their school offers, on the same basis as students in regular classes. Students also have access to:
- itinerant support teacher (hearing or vision)
- support teachers transition
- specialist provisions available to students in regular classes, including disability provisions from the Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW for practical support in exaimations
- access to transport assistance under the Assisted School Travel Program.
For students enrolled in our MCAT class, there is flexibility for them to undertake some of their learning in other regular classes in the same school. This is largely dependent upon the resources available and the personalised learning and support needs of the students.
Placements and review
Applications for placement are through the Access Request process. An Access Request is arranged by our LST staff, but can also be organised through the local Educational Services team if a child is not yet enrolled. Teams can be contacted on 11 536 and calls can be made from anywhere in NSW.
A student is offered enrolment in a specialist support class in regular school through a placement panel process. A student's eligibility is determined through the department's disability criteria as well as the availability of a place in an appropriate specialist support class.
Enrolment arrangements for students with disability and additional learning and support needs are the same as for all students. To get information about enrolment, parents and carers can visit the local public school. More information is available at school enrolment.
School learning and support teams review the placement of each student annually. Reviews consider all aspects of a student's personalised learning and support, including whether or not the current placement is best meeting their learning and support needs.