nick333

Does anybody who has migrated have children with moderate learning(intellectual) difficulties.

We are due to arrive in Brissie in September to study and are trying to understand the level of provision for kids with difficulties.

Currently our son attends a special needs school in a class of 9 with two teachers.

Does anybody know how these kids are catered for in Aus/

Any advice or pointers in the right direction would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Jacqui

I can't comment on special needs education, but two of my children have hearing loss which requires them to sit near the teacher and have allowances made if they don't hear instructions properly. When we enrolled them at primary school last year, I put down their hearing loss details on the form, and the day after they started, the school nurse contacted me wanting further information. She then made arrangements for the children to be tested by a specialist, and they will now be visited at school every term to make sure they are coping all right. Something that should have been done back in the UK and never was, we've got this all sorted out within weeks of arriving here!

Last term the year 4 kids had to sit tests, similar to SATS. This was to decide if they needed extra tuition (if they were advanced or gifted) in years 5,6 & 7. Presumably this would also pick up on the kids that were behind. One of the boys in my daughter's year 6 class has ADHD and all the children are aware of his problems and are encouraged to help him fit in normally.

I'm sure you will be well-catered for, hopefully someone with more advice will respond. Have you checked any education websites for more info?