Support unit

The support unit is an integral part of the school. Our aim is to provide as normalised an educational experience as is possible, whilst meeting each student's individual needs within the classroom. Classes have up to ten children in each with one teacher and a School Learning Support Officer (SLSO). The SLSO moves between all five classes. This allows the students to get to know all the staff and become comfortable with them. This is also beneficial to our students whilst in the playground as the SLSOs are familiar with all the children, enabling them to meet individual needs.

Support unit classes follow all six Key Learning Areas as set by the Board of Studies:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science and Technology
• History
• Personal Development, Health, Physical Education
• Creative and Practical Arts.

All children have an Individual Education Program. This program focuses on meeting the individual child's needs: therefore building on success. These programs have a heavy focus on Mathematics and English covering reading, writing, talking and listening. (Communication skills are essential so visuals and visual timetables are used where needed).  

Generally the morning block at school works on developing English/Literacy skills. The first hour after recess focuses on numeracy skills. We also focus on developing personal care skills and social skills. 

Lessons are individually based, small group based and whole class activities. This gives us the opportunity to treat topics being covered in mainstream classes, increasing integration opportunities by teaching common areas but at different levels.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education are also covered. Physical Education gives all children some time for integration with mainstream grades. We also engage in Creative and Practical Arts. 

Home learning builds gradually, according to each child's ability, needs and progress. Kindergarten children will not have homework, however as the year progresses, a home reader may be introduced if appropriate. Children have a very busy day at school and are ready for a change by the time they get home.

All support unit students have full playground integration. We build this process with new students by firstly gaining confidence in the classroom, then the playground, without it being full of other students, and then full playground integration with additional support from School Learning Support Officers (SLSO). School Learning Support Officers provide extra support in the playground and shadow children as needed as well as assist in setting up play. This is in addition to the four teachers already on playground duty. In the morning, support class children play in the area outside their rooms.

Older children are permitted to play in the same area as their mainstream peers. (Same privileges and the same rules.)

Children have shown that they quickly develop an understanding of the playground and with support and positive encouragement/rewards this system has worked extremely well for many years. If you have individual concerns about your child in the playground please discuss it with staff before your child starts so we can plan to meet their needs.

An orientation program for children starting kindergarten in the following year takes place in Term 4. This occurs after places have been offered by the Regional Placement Panel.

Children generally visit Hobartville for an hour, for three or four weeks in a row. All sessions are in the support unit classroom.

Visit One: Informal play visit, designed so that children can get a feel for the classroom. 

Visit Two: A small craft activity and some free playtime.

Visit Three: Craft Activity

Visit Four: Structured activity and play.

Parents are invited  to a meet and greet coffee session with families who already have children in the support classes, generally near the end of term 4.

There is also a general parent information evening early in Term 4.

At the orientation session we aim to give each child a chance to become familiar with the classroom and staff. Additional orientation visits or individual visits can be organised if necessary.

Parents can message their childs teacher throgh the Sentral Portal. Teahcers may also send you messages or photos through the portal.

Teachers also use this for communicating messages. A newsletter is sent home every Thursday. Parents receive a written report twice a year on their child's progress.

Parents receive a written report twice a year.

Formal interviews are held in Term One each year and additional interviews are available by request. We are always happy to meet with parents to discuss any issues or concerns.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our support unit. Enquiries are best directed through our office to the Assistant Principal Support.

The Department's special transport scheme transports a number of children to and from school. We have a special transport bay within the school grounds, which is for authorised vehicles only. Children are collected from the transport vehicles each morning and returned by the staff in the afternoon. Access to this service is subject to department guidelines. 

There is Before and After School Care in Richmond that many children at this school use. A regular school bus brings children from Before and After School Care each day.  If you wish to apply for special transport, an application needs to be made late in the year, after the offer of placement in the support unit has been accepted.

All children at HPS have a weekly library, music and P.D. Health lesson with special teachers. This includes children in the support unit.  All classrooms have an Interactive panel which is used extensively across the grades. Students in the support class have access to iPads which support their learning. And the library is also open at lunchtime.

The canteen is open 3 days a week. We encourage children to use the canteen as real life experience. The canteen staff request that they are informed of any special dietary restrictions for any child. They are familiar with visual communication systems and we encourage children to use these when needed. For example some children may have a visual to request one particular item or a child may have a visual with a choice system of three items and the child must choose what they will buy. The canteen encourages any volunteers.

There is online ordering for the canteen and we encourage you to use this for lunch orders.

Children with special health care needs have a Health Care Plan, formed under consultation with parents, to ensure that we have put in place any needed procedures and that all staff are adequately trained to maintain a safe environment for each child. All regular medications must be kept in the school office and are dispensed from there. 

Toileting/personal care issues need to be discussed with staff. We generally use the toilets in the main playground. There is a K-2 boys toilet, a K-2 girls toilet, a 3-6 boys toilet and a 3-6 girls toilet. We also have two disabled toilets that we use for children with physical disabilities or students who are still being toilet trained. When children start school we take them to the toilets on a regular basis.