Learning
Special Needs Unit
Our classroom
From humble beginnings as one prefab when the Unit opened in 1989 our Special Needs Unit was refurbished in 2001.
We now have three classroom areas, one that is used for whole group activities, cooking and eating, a small sensory room, a room for our touch screen computer as well as a Quiet Room, store room and an office. It is very difficult to imagine how we managed without the new spaces.
As part of the refurbishment a covered Taxi set down area was built. This was a wonderful practical addition as it saved mad dashes in the rain!
In 2007 a covered way linking the Unit with the rest of the school was completed.
This has allowed access to all areas of the school in any weather, fabulous.
The Special Needs Unit is a busy place. We have thirteen students in the unit and also look after two students in the mainstream.
Students
Students in the SNU are funded through the ORRS funding scheme and can stay at school until the end of their 21st year.
We have six students verified as Very High Needs and seven with a High Needs verification.
Staff
We have one fulltime teacher Cindi Holt and two part time teachers Marlene Goodes and Lois Bond. Teacher aide support for students in the Unit, in mainstream classes and community programmes is provided by six teacher aides. Their contribution is essential for student learning.
Therapies and advisory support
Therapy support and programme planning is provided fortnightly by Heather Drysdale - Speech Language Therapy, Sue Byers Physiotherapy and Kathleen Williams Occupational Therapy. Carolyn Ayson provides a wonderful Music Therapy session each week for a group of seven students. This is a new addition to our programme in 2008
We are assisted by a Special Education Advisor Anne Russell who helps us plan for individual students and provides advice as required.
These specialists have also run Professional Development sessions for our staff this year. They have been very well received as they relate directly to OUR students and OUR issues.
Programmes
Mainstream classes
Four of our students attend mainstream classes with teacher aide support.
Classes attended this year are PE, Dance Drama, Foods Technology, Samoan, Art, English, Information Technology and Workshop Technology. Five of our students attend form time and all of our students attend assembly
Work in the Unit
Literacy and Numeracy programmes for those who can, follow the NZ Curriculum . Relevant Lifeskills areas and practical work are most important for our students.
The Key Competencies in the new curriculum will certainly be relevant to the learning for all of our students.
Students with Very High Needs have a varied programme of activities including Cooking, visiting the Library, physical activities, art , music, enjoying reading as well as sensory and therapy programmes.
As well as working in three separate groups we have whole group activities in three afternoon sessions, Art, Music and Drama. We have introduced playing cards, Scrabble and Monopoly with a small group of students. There are so many skills to be learned in activities such as these.
