School Profile
Belvoir Special School provides to the community of Wodonga and surrounding districts, a specialized educational service for school age students, aged five to eighteen, with intellectual and/or multiple disabilities. Students must meet statewide criteria to be enrolled at a specialist setting such as ours, and their placement may be referred by early intervention educational psychologists or medical personnel. Enrolment is subject to acceptance by the Hume Region in accordance with the school’s and region’s enrolment policy.
The school is a purpose built facility designed to be safe and stimulating for the students. Our school seeks to promote in all its students a positive attitude towards learning. It further seeks to provide a foundation in skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that will allow students to achieve their optimum level of independence.
In 2011, we expect to commence with an enrolment of 115+ students. The majority of these students will be enrolled full-time; a small percentage will be dual enrolled and some students will participate in a transition program at a mainstream local primary or secondary school. This will be determined by the individual needs of each student and in what setting these needs are best met. Students will be grouped in small home groups with each class staffed by a teacher and teacher-aide. All students will have an individualized learning plan catering for their specific needs. These plans are developed and monitored by the Student Support Group. (See page 10 for more details.)
Purpose and Core Beliefs at Belvoir
At Belvoir Special School, we believe that ‘Together we can have fun and learn.’ This belief is the basis of all we do. We do this by:-
- Operating within Department of Education and Early Childhood guidelines for the statewide school system.
- Providing a happy, stimulating, caring and secure environment for the whole school community.
- Respecting and protecting our students’ rights by treating everyone with courtesy and dignity.
- Promoting on-going communication between parents and staff, encouraging regular parent involvement and support.
- Providing individual programs for students which are developed from The Hume Special Schools Curriculum, VELS or VCAL curriculum in consultation with parents and Support group members.
- Promoting an innovative and progressive school environment which keeps abreast of current educational philosophy and practice.
- Providing a school community environment that offers support, understanding and information for parents, families and caregivers.
- Providing access to information on available support services and future options for families and their child.
- Utilising all appropriate support services, including speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, behavioural intervention and specific disability support.
- Adherence to Belvoir’s Strategic Plan which was formulated by the whole school community in 2008 and is our school’s guiding document for the next 3 years.