Special Education Program

Primary and Secondary

Special education programs are provided for students with disabilities (Prep to Year 12) with significant educational support needs. Previously special education programs for students with disabilities have been referred to as Special Education Units or Classes (SEU/SEC). From 2008, these will be recorded and identified as Special Education Programs (SEP). The term 'program' has been used for a number of years by Education Queensland to refer to a clustering of students with disabilities and specialist teachers with experience and/or qualifications in dedicated area(s) of specialisation (previously referred to as coding) to support these students- educational program. They are provided on-site or as outreach support by staff from these special education programs to another school site.

Schools offer special education programs for students with disabilities with significant educational support needs who live in the local community and whose educational needs are identified through the Education Adjustment Program (EAP) in the areas of:

Ä    intellectual impairment

Ä    autistic spectrum disorder

Ä    speech-language impairment

Ä    hearing impairment

Ä    vision impairment

Ä    physical impairment

Early Childhood Development Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities - Prior to Prep

Education Queensland currently 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:

Ä    intellectual impairment

Ä    autistic spectrum disorder

Ä    speech-language impairment

Ä    hearing impairment

Ä    vision impairment

Ä    physical impairment

The purpose of Early Childhood Development programs and services is to enable the:

Ä    engagement of children in a wide range of learning experiences to maximise their individual potential;

Ä    assessment of educational support needs prior to Prep;

Ä    transition to Prep; and

Ä    establishment of partnerships with families to ensure quality educational outcomes in the critical early years of schooling.

Early Childhood Development programs and services for children prior to Prep age with a suspected or diagnosed disability may be provided on-site at an Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP) or via outreach support to the home or another site (e.g. kindergarten, child care centre) in order to support children with disabilities and their families.

The Roma State College Special Education Program adopts an inclusive approach to teaching and learning.

A range of support modes and programs exist across the college including:

Ä    SEU based classes at each campus

Ä    In-class support

Ä    Small group tutorials

Cooperative learning opportunities:

Full-time SEU based classes, for each campus, have been specifically established to support students in their academic, social and communicative development. In conjunction with general curriculum delivery across all key learning areas, students are given explicit instruction in the areas of; receptive and expressive communication, interactive and social engagement strategies, stress / anxiety reduction and management techniques, and daily living skills. Our goal within the Special Education Unit classes is to deliver a holistic, flexible, need based daily program within a highly structured learning environment.  

Our in-class support structure sees our special education teachers and aides working together, with classroom teachers, to support the student.  This style of support provides our students and classroom teachers, with additional resources and guidance and enhances academic, social and communicative learning and skill development within the general classroom.

Small group tutorials, conducted by special education teachers, also operate for the purpose of providing intense and specific support across all key learning areas.  These tutorials also provide support to students when researching and preparing assessment items and tasks.

All support programs and structures are developed, in collaboration with all school community members, for the purpose of providing a flexible and customised learning experience based on each child’s learning needs.

To find out more about our Special Education Program please contact our Head of Special Education Services based at the Middle Campus.