Student Support Services

Special Needs Committee

Who is on the Committee?
A member of the Executive staff, LA teacher, ESL teacher, School Counsellor and other members as necessary.
This committee helps with the diagnosis of learning and social difficulties, supports teachers and liaises with parents.  Teachers may refer any student about whom they have concerns and to follow up the recommendations of the committee.  They may also refer to external agencies.

The School Counsellor

A school counsellor is located in the school for one day each week to help with children's social, emotional and welfare problems and to administer diagnostic tests when appropriate.  Students, parents and teachers may initiate an interview at any time by contacting the school front office.

ESL - English as a Second Language program

Hawker Primary School has an ESL program, which caters for children where a language other than English is spoken at home.  It aims to provide these children with the opportunity to be confident in and competent with English, and to acquire adequate fluency to cope with social, emotional and educational situations in their environment.

Learning Assistance Program

The school has a part-time Learning Assistance program to assist children with special needs.  The LA teacher works with children with learning difficulties, such as reading, spelling and maths.  The LA teacher liaises with the Special Needs Committee, School Counsellor, parents and other agencies and professionals e.g. Schools’ and Community Centre and speech therapists.

Integration Support

Hawker Primary has several special needs students that are integrated into classes.  These students also receive extra support from a Special Teacher’s Assistant

Parents should speak to the classroom teacher or counsellor about concerns regarding the learning or social development of their child.