Striving to meet diverse learning needs
South Island School strives to help all students realise their full potential and provides an inclusive education for students who have a wide range of abilities. The Individual Needs Department works in partnership with teachers, parents, ESF and other external agencies to support all students. It is a school-based, problem solving team delivering additional expertise and resources to empower all students to achieve their goals and experience success. Individual Needs teachers provide professional expertise to colleagues to promote a philosophy which values academic, social and cultural diversity and inclusion.
We have 5 Individual Needs Teachers in the department. Each of our Individual Needs teachers links with a year group and a subject:
- Trevor Wong: Year 7
- Natasha Goucher: Year 8
- Gavin Guest: Year 9
- Andrew Rueger: Year 10
- Anita Patel: Years 11&12&13
The department also has a large team of Educational Assistants. Educational Assistants assist in the education and supervision of students. South Island School uses an inclusive model in which students are primarily supported within the classroom to access a broad and balanced curriculum.
South Island School can also request parents, under certain circumstances, to employ an Educational Assistant to support their child for reasons such as health and personal care, the safety of students and staff, and curriculum access. For a student to have a parent funded EA, the student would normally be on the register at LOA3/4.