Promoting Equity and Excellence in Inclusive Education

Welcome to Beresfield Public School's Inclusive Education Unit, our dedicated support unit. We offer three classes, each with limited student placements.

At Beresfield Public School, our purpose-built Inclusive Education classes are specifically designed to offer specialist and intensive support to eligible students with additional learning and support needs. We are committed to ensuring that every student has the chance to succeed. By providing tailored support that addresses the diverse needs of all our learners, we promote both equity and excellence in education. Our dedicated educators cultivate a collaborative and nurturing environment where each child is valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential. Through inclusive practices, we aim to build a community where everyone can thrive, celebrate their unique strengths, and contribute to a dynamic and vibrant school culture.

What are support classes?

A support unit within a mainstream school is dedicated to supporting students with autism and/or intellectual disabilities. Inclusive Education 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.

Class Sizes

Class sizes in the Inclusive Education Unit are usaully smaller that in mainstream classes because of the student's higher needs. Class sizes will depend on the class type, and in some cases, the student's 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 Beresfield 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
• support teachers transition
• 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 to enrol

How can my child be placed in a support class?

While you can’t enrol your child directly into a support class, we can help you with this process if you are in our local zone. The first step is to speak to us. Enrolment into our Inclusive Education Unit is different from other public school enrolments, it involves a referral and placement process. If you believe our Inclusive Education Unit may be the right setting for your child, the first step is to speak to us. We will work with you to understand your child’s needs and help you explore the right support options available.

1. Find your local school: you can use School Finder to locate your local public school.
2. Discuss support pathways: talk to your local school about available support pathways for your child.

Enrolment is considered when:

• your child has significant and ongoing support needs
• they meet the department’s disability criteria
• this type of specialist support is the most appropriate.

For placement in the unit, your child's current school must submit an application called an access request. This is done in consultation with the family. A local placement panel then reviews the application and makes a recommendation.

Learn more about access requests.

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!

Have a question for our principal or teachers?

Our friendly office team can help you get in touch.

Contact us