Page 1518 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 11 August 1992
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MR WOOD - the answer to Ms Szutys question is:
(1) There are currently seven primary school aged students with special needs being integrated in mainstream classes in the Pilot Integration Program.
(2) Parents were invited to consider whether they would like their child to participate in the Pilot Integration Program. Parents have been meeting on a regular basis with Principals, teachers and officers of the Department to monitor the implementation of the program. In the near future parents will be participating in a schoolbased conference known as an In-school Review for their child to review identified objectives for the students educational program; evaluate the progress of the student to determine program outcomes; and to formulate recommendations for future educational programming and placement.
(3) There was one verbal request from a parent for an additional place in the Pilot Integration Program:
(4) The Pilot Integration Program involves students with
special needs of primary school age who were selected in
the main, from Malkara and Cranleigh Special Schools but
also from other settings on the basis of.:
- student profiles; and
- discussion with staff at the students school.
(5) Primary aged students with special needs who were mobile and without severe behaviour difficulties were chosen for the Pilot Integration Program to enhance the possibility of this program being successful.
(6) Currently the seven students involved in the Pilot Integration Program are integrated into six mainstream primary schools. The Pilot Integration Program was initiated to examine the feasibility of integrating students with special needs into mainstream classes. The program was limited for two reasons: there was a need to adequately prepare mainstream teachers to teach students with special needs prior to placement and the high cost of, providing additional staffing resources to support students in this study. Any extension of the program will depend on the availability of additional funding.
(7) Parents are always able to request integration for their child. My Department will foster the integration of students with special needs into mainstream schools when this is in the best educational interests of the student and other students in the school and within the Departments overall resource capacity. At the same time my Department recognises the essential nature of special programs or settings for students who are assessed as being in need of such a placement. The best interest of the student and other students in the school will be
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