Special Education

Overview

The Waimea College Special Education Department is an integral part of our school. Since starting in 1989 with just nine students, we have grown to nearly 40 enrolled today. We support students verified under the Ongoing Resource Scheme (ORS) in five classroom spaces, including one specifically designed for the physical and sensory needs of students on the autism spectrum. Our students thrive with the range of inclusive and specialised classes and enjoy the support from our mainstream Year 13 Senior Special Education and Junior Leaders.

Learning happens in whole class settings, small groups, or one-on-one. Our therapy team, including an occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, social music therapist, and physiotherapist, provides specialist knowledge and skills to compliment our focused, functional, fun, and relevant curriculum.

We offer many ways for students to be involved with the whole school, from attending mainstream classes to joining social activities during form time, house events, regional sports opportunities, and break times being in and around the college.

Our curriculum is tailored to each student’s needs, catering to individual needs, focusing on literacy, numeracy, physical education, creativity through visual and performing arts, and practical life skills like travel training, food technology, and work experience. In their final years, we focus on transition skills for life after college. Students focus on how they will live, travel around, spend their leisure time, socialise, work and study.