Supported learning at our school

At Lake Cathie Public School, our Supported Learning unit provides a nurturing, inclusive and structured environment for students from Kindergarten to Year 6 who require additional support to learn and grow. We embrace the philosophy of ‘Assume They Can’, inspired by the 2024 international campaign “Assume That I Can”, which encourages high expectations and challenges stereotypes about people with disability. This mindset underpins our practice, supporting positive progression in learning, independence and social participation.

Who we support

We have three support classes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as intellectual disabilities, speech, language or communication difficulties, physical disabilities and social emotional needs. Each class is led by a dedicated teacher and supported by an experienced, full-time school learning support officer (SLSO), ensuring every student receives a high level of care and tailored support. Our approach is flexible and student-centred. Students are grouped across our classes considering age, strengths, needs and personalised goals, enabling targeted teaching and meaningful learning experiences. We provide a range of adjustments and modifications to enable all students access to the curriculum in ways that are appropriate, achievable yet challenging.

How we support students

Each student has a Personalised Learning and Support Plan (PLASP) where goals are written in partnership with families and the student if appropriate and are closely monitored and reviewed. Learning outcomes can focus on:

• Developing social, emotional and communication skills

• Growing independence, confidence and progressive functional skills

• Building Life Skills through individualised programs

• Working towards appropriate and relevant NSW curriculum outcomes

Our students in Supported Learning have opportunities to participate in mainstream classes and whole-school activities; including playground interaction, integration in selected lessons, and involvement in stage and whole school events. This fosters a strong sense of inclusion, acceptance and belonging within our school community.

Our team works in close partnership with families, allied health professionals and external agencies, sharing goals to ensure every student is empowered to achieve their personal best in a safe, respectful and engaging environment.

How students access our support unit

Placement in our support classes follows a process where a specialist panel will review your child’s needs and the level of support applied for against the department’s eligibility criteria. The process usually includes:

• Meeting with our learning support team to talk about your child’s needs

• Providing documents such as assessments and diagnosis

• An application is then made for a support class through an access request process

• This is reviewed and a decision/recommendation is made by a specialist panel

• A Personalised Learning and Support Plan (PLASP) while be written with you for your child

You can contact our school office at any time for further details about our support options.

How we work with families and specialists

We work closely with families and specialists to support every student. Our teachers stay in touch with parents and carers to share progress and plan next steps.

We also work with therapists, counsellors and health professionals so students get the same support across school and home.

Learn more about additional learning support at our school.

Want to get started accessing support?

If you think your child could benefit from our support unit, please contact our school office or learning support team.

Contact us