Port Lincoln High School

Intervention Programs

 

Special Options

Overview:

Port Lincoln High Schools Special Options program caters for a capacity of 24 students with varying levels of intellectual disabilities and other additional learning needs across years 7-12. Entry into the program is via a panel process managed by the Department for Education Regional Office.

Teachers in the Special Options space are highly dedicated to providing personalised learning programs for students. Working alongside the teachers are support staff (SSOs) who also have detailed knowledge of the individual learning profile of the students. We pride ourselves on the strong connections with students and families, Support Services and allied health services, working collaboratively to improve and meet individual learning outcomes.

Curriculum:

To best cater to the developmental needs of Special Options students there are two classes. A middle school class for students in year 7-9 and a senior school class for students in year 10-12. Special Options classes are offered a diverse curriculum, meeting the needs of the individual student and preparing them for transition into post school.

Special Options Middle School Class (Year 7-9):

Students participate in several Australian Curriculum subjects and special programs differentiated to meet their individual needs, including but not limited to:

  • English
  • Maths
  • HaSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
  • Health and Physical Education/Food Technology
  • Art
  • Literacy Intervention; Corrective Reading or Macqlit
  • Personal & Social Skills – Social Thinking Curriculum

Special Options Senior School Class (Year 10-12):

Students in the senior class are on their Modified SACE completion pathway, engaging in several core subjects and special programs differentiated to meet their individual needs, including but not limited to:

  • English
  • Maths
  • Society and Culture
  • Health and Wellbeing (Personal and Social Skills; Social Thinking curriculum)
  • Physical Education
  • Scientific Studies
  • Business and Innovation Studies
  • Personal Learning Plan (PLP) – Year 10
  • Research Project – Year 11

To complete Modified SACE, students need to successfully obtain a combination or 200 Stage 1 and Stage 2 SACE credits:

  • 10 Stage 1 SACE credits will be achieved at year 10 for Personal Learning Plan (PLP)
  • 140 Stage 1 SACE credits will be achieved at year 11
  • 80 Stage 2 SACE credits will be achieved at year 12

Please note that students enrolled in SACE-modified are not eligible for an ATAR score for university entrance.

Students may also participate in suitable Vocational Education and Training courses, Job Training packages and enterprising opportunities.

Assessment:

One Plans are annually updated by Special Options teaching staff, with SMARTAR goals reviewed every five weeks.

 

Literacy Intervention: Year 7-9

Overview:

Port Lincoln High School offers Corrective Reading and Macqlit literacy intervention to year 7-9 students delivered by specialised literacy teachers and SSO support staff. Students placed in literacy intervention carefully go through a screening process as part of transition to high school. This includes:

  1. Identifying at risk students from PAT R and NAPLAN Reading and Writing data.
  2. PAST screeners used to determine Phonological Awareness levels (Word Recognition part of Scarborough’s Reading Rope).
  3. Conducting a Corrective Reading and/or Macqlit placement test with students to determine what level of Corrective Reading the student will place at as there are four different levels.
  4. If necessary, conducting a CELF-5 (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals) Screener – Identifies students who may need a referral to a Speech Pathologist (first step in referral) for a language disorder assessment.

Assessment:

Student progress is closely monitored by ongoing mastery tests, reading fluency words per minute and semesterly PAST screeners.

Middle School Intervention class:

The Middle School Intervention class aims to offer a targeted learning program for identified students with additional learning needs who attract IESP funding. Units are differentiated to meet the students One Plan, while aiming to increase success and engagement.

Students will access a significantly modified curriculum, as well as targeted intervention for literacy and numeracy skills. Students work with up to three core teachers and always have access to a classroom Support Officer. 

Assessment:

One Plans are annually updated by Special Options teaching staff, with SMARTAR goals reviewed every five weeks.

Modified SACE:

Modified SACE subjects are highly individualised subjects in which curriculum and assessment are designed around development of one or more SACE capabilities and personal learning goals that are appropriate for the student.

A Modified SACE pathway enables students with a range of physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities to demonstrate their learning in a range of subjects. Modified SACE allows students to develop their capabilities and personal learning goals. Students learn how to identify, develop, and achieve their personal learning goals in the context of the subject undertaken. To be eligible for Modified SACE, students need to go through a school-based referral process with the Special Education Curriculum Leader and Secondary Assistant Principal.