Support Programs
St Peter’s provides a range of support programs to students with additional learning needs.
EMU Mathematics
What is EMU?
EMU Mathematics is a mathematics intervention and additional assistance program for children in the early years of schooling, targeted at students in Years 1 and 2. It is an approach to assisting children who are vulnerable in aspects of number learning, and who are at risk of not learning school mathematics successfully.
EMU Mathematics provides students with extra assistance through small group withdrawal. A specialist teacher will work with a group of up to 4 students who may be experiencing difficulty in learning Mathematics.
Small Group Withdrawal in EMU
- At St Peter’s, withdrawal is 4 times per week, 40 minutes per session, outside of a student’s usual Numeracy lessons.
- Children are assigned to a small group on the basis of the similarity of their Number Learning Profile and class, so that they are always working at their level of need.
- Sessions include further diagnosis of individual difficulties and activities focusing on the Counting, Place Value, Addition & Subtraction and Multiplication & Division aspects of the Early Numeracy Research Project (ENRP) Learning and Assessment Framework (Clark et al., 2002).
Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is an early literacy intervention and prevention strategy. In terms of intervention, Reading Recovery provides intensive, individual help for Year 1 and Year 2 students having difficulties in learning to read and write after approximately one year’s schooling. Through daily individual lessons of 30 minutes, students are helped to make rapid progress, catching up to the class average usually within 20 weeks. After successfully completing Reading Recovery, students are able to work independently with an average group of learners in their classroom without additional specialist help.
Over a number of years and with the use of recommended implementation strategies, Reading Recovery emerges as a successful prevention strategy, reducing the numbers of students identified for intervention.
Students successfully complete Reading Recovery when they are able to work with appropriate independence, using the same strategies which proficient literacy learners use to increase their control over reading and writing while engaging in classroom activities throughout the year.
Literacy Support
St Peter’s offers students specialist support in the Literacy Learning Area through small-group withdrawal, as well as in-class support. Students with specific learning needs are able to access phonological support programs to assist with developing age appropriate spelling understandings.
Reading support is also offered to students in middle to upper year groups through small-group Reciprocal Reading sessions, an interactive teaching strategy for supporting readers to develop comprehension strategies.
St Peter’s also has a number of highly trained Educational Assistants who rotate throughout the school, offering additional in-class support during class dedicated literacy sessions.
Children with Special Needs
St Peter’s promotes the inclusion of all students, offering a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum for all students. At St Peter’s Primary School, students with special needs are given every opportunity to develop to their full potential, while being educated alongside their peers. Students with special needs are well supported within St Peter’s with a mix of whole class, small group work and individual programs being utilised depending on the particular needs of each student, at that point of time. Classroom activities are organised and differentiated to ensure that students receive work appropriate to their level and are suitably challenged. We have experience supporting children with a diverse range of needs including:
- ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)
- ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Anaphylaxis
- Asthma
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cancer
- CAPD/APD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Diabetes (Type 1)
- Downs Syndrome
- Specific Learning Difficulty- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Dyscalculia
- Executive Functioning Difficulties/Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- General Learning Difficulties
- Global Developmental Delays
- Hypermobility
- Leukaemia
- Speech and Language Difficulties
- Other Physical, Medical & Mental Health Needs
St Peter’s school has a Special Needs Coordinator to support the students, teachers and parents in their journey and experiences at our school. Our Coordinator provides personalised communication, management and liaison for all students, parents and outside agents to ensure a coordinated, caring, positive and successful learning journey for all students.
