Ursula Frayne Catholic College, Perth, Western Australia

Education Support

The Middle and Senior Schools' support program at Ursula Frayne Catholic College provides a variety of support options to a number of students with a diverse range of disabilities. Typically the program looks to provide opportunities for all students to participate in regular classes with ongoing support and modified programming. Additionally, students are engaged in a number of programs focussed on developing specific academic, social, recreational and independent type skills.

Middle School Program

The Middle School support program is aimed at maximising the regular school experience for students with disabilities. All students participate in their regular core classes, along with electives. This is achieved on the basis of co-teaching arrangements in core classes, along with one to one teacher assistant support and intensive back-up in the support class. Additionally, students in the support program are engaged in specific academic programs focussing on the development of language, numeracy and social skills.

The Frayne Middle School support program also runs a number of unique programs designed to enhance recreational, social and practical academic skills:

River Ran by Us - fishing / science program: Students in the support program (along with regular peers) are involved in fishing and water sampling in various river locations.
GLAD (Gardens for Locals, Aged and Disabled): Students are involved in a community gardening program focussed on working with aged and disadvantaged in the local community. Students learn specific gardening skills such as planting, pruning, weeding, mowing, etc.
Support Art Program: Students involved in making high interest projects with regular Art Teacher.

Senior School Program

The Senior School support program continues to maximise the regular school experience of students with disabilities, along with providing specific transitional skills. The participation in regular classes is dependent on their ability to connect with curriculum; i.e. students with mild disabilities are engaged in a predominantly regular program, with participation in vocational courses such as Communication in the Workplace, Vocational English and Maths. These students are supported by intensive back-up in the support classroom, along with instances of co-teaching in these subject areas. A number of these students are involved in the INSTEP program, while others who require more support are engaged in work experience organised through the support program.

Students with low incident disabilities engage in regular classes to a lesser extent and this participation is maintained through one to one teacher assistant support and/or co-teaching arrangements. Quite often participation is flexible and is dependent on the exercises being completed within these vocational courses. Many of these students are involved in more specific language, numeracy and social skill development programs.

The Senior School support program additionally has a number of specific courses designed to enhance independent and transitional skills:

STRIVE Gardening Program: Community based gardening program.
BOJELAC Jewellery Program: Students involved in jewellery program designed to make items for sale to the school community.
Small Business Program: Students involved in a number of money-making enterprises.
Senior School Camp: Students involved in a three day camp designed to enhance independent and recreational skills.