Special Education

Henry Kendall High School has a large Special Education Centre that caters for students from Years 7 to 12, with varied disabilities. The Centre has six classes catering for students with Autism Spectrum disorders, physical disabilities and intellectual disabilities.

An innovative and varied program of learning is offered to all students with an emphasis on the skills required for the individual's successful transition to the wider community. The Centre offers many opportunities for students to experience positive social interaction through inclusion in our Coffee Shop and Garden programs. A large work placement program also allows older students the opportunities for further social inclusion in broader areas of our community.

The Centre also implements unique individual social skills training programs for students. These students are then given the support and guidance needed to achieve their goals. The Centre is well established and respected throughout the school and wider community. Parental and community participation is actively encouraged.

Social Skills Training

Explicit social skills are taught through an extensive social skills program.

The need for social skills lessons has expanded from our students on the Autism Spectrum to all of our students enrolled in the Special Education Centre.

The lessons are individually based and delivered on one to one ratio with the students . Students come away from the sessions with tangible skills and meaningful experiences that can be transferred to real life experiences. As well as structured sessions, staff also teach social skills as needed. This flexibility in the program allows students to have staff help them when certain situations that have arisen due to misunderstanding or misreading of social situations.

Transition Program

When students begin high school in the Special Education Centre, we begin the process of equipping them with the skills needed in order to be successful when they leave us. We work closely with DET staff and officers to plan and implement a transition program that allows the student to progress to their chosen end point. These end points at the completion of school may change and through the individual Transition Programming process these goals and objectives are investigated and explored to best meet the needs of the individual student.

Sport & Healthy Lifestyles

Sport is encouraged and fostered amongst students across disability areas in the Special Education Centre. Through our inclusive philosophy all students are strongly encouraged to participate in mainstream whole school sporting activities. Through participation at the school level, our students can gain opportunities at regional and state level CHS Athletic, Swimming and Cross Country events. Each year many of our students achieve well at these elite levels.

For our more physically or sensory challenged students we participate at alternate carnivals and Gala days that are designed to give the greatest opportunities to these students too. Henry Kendall High School hosts a large annual Come and Try Day in our own facilities. This allows students with disabilities to experience NRL, AFL Netball, Bocce, Wheelchair Basketball and Football.

Work in the Community

As our students reach the next transition point it is vital that they experience work in the community. In Years 11 and 12 we aim to have a large proportion of our students in some form of work placement one day per week. Depending on the needs and abilities of the individual that may be a mainstream work placement, a supported industry placement or part of a work crew. The needs of the individual may also be better met by a placement within our school industry programs such as the Coffee Shop or Garden.

Students who are not suited to a working environment as their transition destination are also catered for with visits to and inclusion in programs provided by post school Community Participation providers where available.

Coffee Shop

Students operate a coffee shop each Wednesday. The coffee shop enterprise allows students to gain skills in preparing food and beverages and serving customers in a professional coffee shop environment. The students are also responsible for purchasing ingredients at the local supermarkets. Many of the ingredients are also grown and harvested in our extensive vegetable gardens.

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