Children with special education needs

School staff will help you if your child requires an individual education plan. This plan is written specifically for your child to address their academic and personal needs. All staff working with your child at school will use the plan. Your input in the planning process is very important and regular reviews will be conducted to ensure the plan is current and relevant.

Your child may not need an individual education plan however most children who require a lot of changes to their education program or their environment will need one. This plan is necessary as the school receives an allocation for your child under the student-centred funding model, where funding is provided based on the needs, and the teaching and learning requirements of your child.

Student health care plans

Your child may also need a health care plan if they require health care support. Talk with a staff member at your school about the details of your child’s health needs. You will need to complete a student health care summary. Staff at your child's school can help you with this.

As a parent you want to choose the school that best suits your child, your family and your individual circumstances. The best school for your child may be your local primary or secondary school, an education support school, education support centre, or a school with an endorsed education support program.

All schools have access to specialist teachers and school psychology services and resources, giving your child the support needed to participate in an education that fully develops their knowledge, skills and understandings.

If necessary, the physical school environment may be modified so your child can access facilities, to gain the most out of their school experience physically, socially and academically.

For information on schools, centres and programs for children with special educational needs or disability, refer to Choose a school.

Find information on how to enrol at a Western Australian school.

Find the list of endorsed programs for students with disability.

Once your child is settled into school, regular communication with the teacher and allied professional staff is very important.

The best way to make sure everyone is informed about your child’s needs is to make an appointment with the principal to discuss your child’s education at the school. Remember to take any recent specialist or therapist reports and other assessments that you have not given to the school. The principal may want to keep these on your child’s file.

Use these tips to help make sure meetings are mutually beneficial:

• Make a list of any issues or concerns you have.
• Share the progress and success you have observed with your child’s education program.
• Let school staff know how your child is feeling about school, their friends and achievements.
• Take a support person with you if needed.
• Agree on planned actions and desired outcomes with your child’s teacher or teachers and decide when these actions should be reviewed.

Generally, a staff member will take a record of the meeting. You may ask for a copy of this information or you may choose to take notes yourself.

If you are not satisfied for any reason, first speak with your child's teacher and then with the principal.

If required, specialist services may help your child’s teacher develop your child’s individual education and health care plan.

These specialist services include:

• School of Special Education Needs: Behaviour and Engagement
• School of Special Educational Needs: Disability
• School of Special Educational Needs: Medical and Mental Health
• School of Special Educational Needs: Sensory (Vision and Hearing).

These services have strong community partnerships and links to other services that can also support your child and your family.

Statewide School Psychology Service

This service provides specialist psychological assessment, intervention and consultation services for schools. Support is provided in the main areas of behaviour, learning, and mental health and wellbeing. Support for schools is provided at the individual child, group and whole of school level.

Talk with your child’s teacher or the principal if you believe support from a school psychologist may be of assistance. School psychologists will consult with you and the school staff who are working with your child. They can also provide assessment services and links to other services.

You may find yourself accessing support from different groups, agencies and organisations. To get the best outcomes for your child, it is important to ensure these services all work together.

It is important for you to be organised and have a system in place to manage information about your child. You may consider keeping any or all of the following:

• diagnostic and general notes on your child’s condition
• details of the people involved in your child’s care including all specialists such as psychologists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and medical practitioners
• medical records and other health information including medication requirements
• school records including individual education plans, reports and copies of education assessments
• notes from meetings with school staff and other support people which outline desired outcomes
• any research about your child’s condition which may be useful to discuss with teachers
• notes on your aspirations for your child such as milestones you hope they will reach and learning outcomes you want them to achieve.

The Department of Education is bound by law to maintain and respect confidentiality when collecting, storing and sharing information. All schools maintain appropriate processes for keeping records safe. Limits to confidentiality do apply when information reveals a risk of harm to a child or any other person or property.