Support Unit

Our Support Unit Classes at Kanwal Public School are designed to provide specialist and intensive support for eligible students with additional learning and support needs.

What are support classes?

Support classes provide specialist and intensive support for students with a diagnosed intellectual or physical disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health condition, sensory processing disorder or behaviour disorder. These classes are available in select NSW public schools, including some mainstream schools like ours. Kanwal Public School has five support classes.

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 Kanwal 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

• their NDIS providers (if applicable)

• the same specialist provisions as those available to students in mainstream classes, including disability provisions from the 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).

How can my child be placed in a support class?

Unfortunately, you can’t enrol your child directly into a support class, but as your local school, we can help you with this process. The first step is to phone and speak with us.

We 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 arranged by the learning and support team, once an enrolment is complete.

The local support class panel at Tuggerah Education Office considers the application and determines an outcome.

This application is called an ‘access request’.

Early action for your preschool child with additional needs is crucial.

If your pre-school child has additional needs and you are thinking of accessing a Support Class for them in Kindergarten, it is important to contact us early. This means two years before your child starts school. This way, we may be able to seek an early intervention (EI) class or resources for them the year before they start!

We are passionate that every child is supported in their transition to big school!