In Western Australia we currently have available to our children these options to meet their developmental needs.​

 

MAINSTREAM GOVERNMENT RUN OR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLING.​

An environment that caters for between 500-800 students with various needs, interests and abilities all following the same curriculum at the same expected pace. This particular set up can be incredibly successful for many. However if your child for various reasons is unable to keep up, they can struggle, fall behind, lose confidence, lose interest and feel excluded. There are dozens of reasons why this can happen, one of which is the over stimulation and overwhelm of an over crowded school. 

 

​MAINSTREAM PRIVATE.​

An environment that can also provide fantastic results, it can be less crowded and more accomodating of students individual learning. However the classes are still large and the pace of the curriculum intense. They are also often under prepared and unable to cater to the needs of individuals with special learning requirements.​

 

EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRES.​

This option can be an incredible learning environment for your child that requires additional help. They provide small classes, an individual learning plan, collaborate with therapists and parents and greatly support your child. However, your child requires an official diagnosis to attend, also what if perhaps your child does have a diagnosis but doesn't fit the level of disability required to attain such support.​

 

EDUCATION SUPPORT SCHOOLS.​

I can not sing these schools praises loud enough. They do a fantastic job, the staff are beyond paid workers, they dedicate their lives to the constant learning required to keep up with the ever expanding teaching methods that are necessary to help their students reach their full potential. Our son has attended one of these incredible schools since year 3 and has been very happy. However, your child may not meet the requirements necessary for such a specialised school, even with a diagnosis. ​

 

MONTESSORI/ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.

​A great choice for students, fantastic ethos. Love the encouraged individuality and emphasis on emotional well being. Their understated and non stimulatory environments help many to focus, and their 'teaching' methods work wonders to create independent critical thinkers. However, what if your child needs one on one help? What if your child needs a more specialised teaching plan? Montessori classes are ever increasing in size, and their focus on creating an independent thinker just doesn't work for some. ​

 

HOMESCHOOLING.​

And here we are, at the option that so many of us have chosen or fallen into due to no other suitable choice for our child. This arrangement is fabulous for many families that are in the right position, whether that's financially, availability, mentally, emotionally. If it works for you then excellent. However, there are many families where it just doesn't, even if they love the whole concept of homeschooling, the dynamics just don't suit.