We believe all students with diverse learning needs and from diverse backgrounds have a right to access a full and engaging education on the same basis as their peers. At St Mary’s, we seek to empower learners by celebrating differences and providing educational opportunities aimed at eliminating discrimination while focusing on growth and progress for all.

St Mary’s has a structured, comprehensive Learning Diversity system and team in place in order to meet the learning needs of all students. The school has a well resourced, dedicated Learning Diversity space where students who have additional learning needs can go to receive targeted, individual or small group support that addresses their particular learning need, whether that is in reading, or another core learning area, or learning to speak English.

 The Learning Diversity Team consists of a Leader and Learning Support Officers. The role of this team is to collaborate closely with school leadership and teachers to identify students at risk, implement, oversee intervention programs, monitor their progress and assist teachers in the implementation of classroom adjustments for students. We also offer support to parents of students with diverse learning needs and from diverse cultural backgrounds.

At St Mary’s we are committed to best practice strategies to meet the needs of students with varying abilities. We recognise that sometimes a student’s academic, physical or social and emotional learning needs can be very different from those of their peers. These differences may relate to:

• cultural background

• socio economic status

• additional learning needs

• exceptional ability

• physical, cognitive, social and emotional or sensory needs

At St Mary’s we support students with diverse learning needs through:

• Clearly defined processes to identify at risk students 

• Access to Learning Diversity support

• Offering a wide variety of adjustments, intervention programs and strategies for at risk students

• Systemic review and monitoring of student progress

• Development of Curriculum Plans or Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs) for students with a disability or other specific learning need

• Development of Behaviour Support Plans (BSP) for students with behavioural concerns

• Program Support Group (PSG) meetings with parents.