Waterford State School offers programs for both school aged and before school aged children with special needs or a disability.
Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP)
Programs for children from 3 to 5 years run on a sessional basis – morning or afternoon, with some whole day groups.
Support visits to children who attend Waterford ECDP and also access mainstream kindergartens and childcare centres.
Home based programs for infants from birth to 3 years are supported by weekly playgroups at the ECDP.
In the ECDP, we carry out programs to develop and extend student’s skills e.g. language, play, number, independence, social skills and sensory motor integration.
Special Education program (SEP)
Special Programs are available for students enrolled in the SEP and who require additional support. This support is provided for students in mainstream classes through the Individualised Education Program (IEP) process. Parents, teachers, therapists and guidance personnel discuss the program that will best suit each child’s needs and work together to develop and implement individual and group activities as well as appropriate levels of support within the mainstream class. Waterford SEP operates a model, which involves everyone together in the learning process.
Who will work with the children?
These members of staff also work in collaboration with other professionals as the need arises, e.g. medical specialists. Parent involvement is encouraged as everyone who works with the child works as a team.