North Mandurah Primary’s new learning program for students with autism already a success

North Mandurah is the only school in the Peel region to pilot the Education Department initiative, with three classes of Kindergarten to year 6 students taking part.

Program coordinator Debbie Hawthorn said the program helped support students with autism, with no intellectual disability, to eventually transition into a mainstream classroom.

“The Department of Education felt there was a need for a program for children with autism to support those children that are just struggling a little bit in mainstream,” she said. 

“They would benefit from lots of explicit teaching and direct instruction as well as social skills support and help with play skills and self-regulation.

“The goal is to get them more involved in a mainstream classroom with better connectivity with their peers and ability to resolve problems.”

The school currently has 25 students enrolled in the program across the three classrooms, with at least one teacher and two education assistants in each class.

And, despite the program only being part of the school curriculum for a couple of weeks, it has already been dubbed a success.

“There’s been lots of positive feedback so far, the children really feel like they belong,” Ms Hawthorn said.

“Parents have said that their children are now happy to come to school.

“The teachers have been in support of the program and have just been phenomenal in accepting the students.”

Ms Hawthorn said the initial success of the program was a good indicator of where they can take it from here, including providing assistance to the local school community.

“We’re looking at becoming a centre of excellence where we can offer support and guidance to other schools who may be having problems or struggles with children in their school,” she said.

“We’ll set up networking days where teachers can come, like after school meetings.

“We just want to make sure that children with autism in the Peel region are provided with the right skills and expertise to help them be successful in mainstream school.”

Students in the program will begin integrating into some mainstream classroom lessons from week three of term one, but will remain in the program for as long as they need additional support.

Coodanup College will implement the program for high school students next year to allow for a “seamless transition” for this year’s year 6 participants.

North Mandurah Primary School principal James Peletier said it was part of a “new era” for his school, which included new uniforms for students, new staff and a new business model as an Independent Public School (IPS).

“It’s special for Mandurah,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to further growth in the future and becoming a vibrant hub in the centre of Mandurah.

“We’re focusing on getting it right for every child.”

And it seems the school is doing just that with parents eager to share their positive experiences so far this year.

Sean and Kylie Ellison moved from New South Wales so their six-year-old son Cooper could participate in the specialist autism program.

Mr Ellison said Cooper was “slipping through the cracks” until they found North Mandurah.

“I believe the program is definitely for him – either he fits into the program or the program fits into him,” he said.

“The teachers are fantastic and we’re gaining momentum every day – autism is a strange thing but they are not punished for that here.

“It’s still early days but I’ve seen it and I’ve talked to the teachers and I know he’s going to get the benefit out of it.”

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Laurel Engelsman has two sons in the program, who she said are excited to go to school for the first time.

“Every morning they’ve actually been up almost ready to go to school which is a complete turnaround from their previous schools,” she said.

“They talk about school which they normally don’t and they are actually just happy.

“They’ve done so much in the first week, I can’t imagine what they’ll achieve by the end of the year.”

It is estimated one in 65 students are diagnosed with autism, creating a high demand for a place in the new program.

It is expected another 10 schools around the state will offer the program by 2020.

Ms Hawthorn said all positions were full at North Mandurah but they were still taking expressions of interest for the future.

For more information contact Debbie Hawthorn on Debbie.Hawthorn@education.wa.edu.au or 9535 5800.