Early Education

Purpose

The purpose of Lake Colac School’s Early Education Program is to develop the school-readiness of the children within our community who have the greatest needs. Regardless of which kindergarten or early childhood centre they attend, or which school they are likely to attend once they reach school-age, we will educate eligible students in preparation for their school lives.

The Program

Each student will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that is taken from the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). Our program will be tailored to suit the individual child’s needs with a focus on developing their communication, learning, independence, social and self-help skills. This will be done in consultation with the child’s other education providers, therapists, early intervention providers, paediatricians, NDIS supports, and other wellbeing and educational professionals. The focus will always remain on the student’s skill development to access to future education.

Class sizes are designed to be as small as possible to ensure the greatest amount of time interacting with educators and their peers. Our programs are run as 4 sessions per week, Tuesday to Friday (to support their access to kindergarten or early education/day care service), from 9:00am until 2:00pm. Students will be provided with up to 2 sessions per week and may be offered additional sessions based on availability and individual needs.

Eligibility

1. Parents/guardians must provide documentation and evidence that demonstrate that their child has a disability or significant developmental delays. This evidence may be from a range of medical professionals or alternative early childhood/intervention services.
2. Only children aged between 2 years and 8 months and 4 years and 8 months as at January 1st of the year of entry are eligible for the program (see Table 1 on next page).
3. Approval to be enrolled in the program is only granted by the Regional Director of the South Western Victoria Region. Applications are made by the principal of the school.
4. NDIS eligibility is NOT required.
5. Enrolment remains at the discretion of the Principal. Where it is impractical to obtain confirmation of disability within a reasonable timeframe, the Principal may approve enrolment prior to the receipt of formal documentation.
6. The Regional Director of the South Western Victoria Region (or their delegate) must approve all enrolments prior to student attendance in the program each year.