NSW public schools are well prepared to support students with disability and additional learning and support needs and staff are ready to answer your questions.
Visit our Inclusive learning support hub for more information on:
- Children starting school with additional needs
- Support and adjustments available
- Personalised learning and development
Support Unit
The campus includes a support unit which caters for students with physical and intellectual disabilities and autism. It also supports the integration of students with disabilities in mainstream classes. We believe that the diversity of our student body is one of the strengths of Blackwattle Bay Campus.
Our Support Unit caters for students with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities and students with autism. The total numbers of students starting Year 11 at the school is approximately 400, with about 26 students in the Support Unit. We make it a priority to make our Support Unit students feel part of the whole school and create many opportunities for inclusion.
Curriculum
All students in the Support Unit will study 3 core subjects over 2 years. The core subjects are:
- English Life Skills
- Work & the Community Life Skills
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Life Skills (PDHPE)
Students also study 3 or 4 elective subjects. These can be selected from:
- Creative Arts Life Skills
- Design and Technology Life Skills
- Food Technology Life Skills
- Human Society and Its Environment Life Skills
- Mathematics Life Skills
- TVET/ TAFE subjects
- Visual Arts Life Skills
*Please note that some of these elective subjects may not be available due to enough student interest, timetabling and teacher availability.
Students and parents/carers will develop an individualised study pattern in consultation with Special Education teachers. This will include Work Experience for one day each week.
Students who aspire to and are successful in a TAFE application, will be supported by the faculty to integrate this with their pattern of study.
Integration into mainstream subjects, working towards Mainstream or Life Skills outcomes, is approached on a case-by-case basis. This involves a collaboration between students, parents, mainstream and Special Education teachers.
Work Experience
It is essential that all students are well prepared to enter the workforce once they finish their studies at Blackwattle Bay Campus. To help students decide on a career path and learn work related skills, all students will participate in work experience during the two years they are at the senior campus. The work experience placements will be selected to meet the needs of individual students.