Principal’s Message
Welcome to Eastern Ranges School where we are committed and driven to seek success for all students in a positive, safe, energetic and collaborative environment that values diversity, respect and recognises the contribution of all, celebrates achievement and builds community.
Eastern Ranges School is located in Ferntree Gully in the North Eastern Victoria Region, we proudly provide education for children with autism and an associated intellectual disability, language disorder and complex learning needs, across the Foundation to Year 12 age range.
There are currently 200 students enrolled at our school. Our facilities include age-appropriate classrooms and playgrounds, therapy rooms, library, a gymnasium, sports court and pool. The Depot (to develop and build work ethic and employability skills), a primary school kitchen and industry standard kitchen, Eastern Ranges Coffee Beans Café run by our barista trained students, a contemporary living centre that develops functional living skills, and a professional learning centre which supports our commitment to lifelong learning for our school and wider community.
As an educational provider, Eastern Ranges School develops and implements innovative and specialised programs that focus on the needs of students with autism. Our programs are informed by current research and are embedded in best practice and prepare our students and their families for the future. Our vision is supported through our values of teamwork, respect, inclusion, responsibility, achievement and optimism which are underpinned by our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) commitment to work together to create safe, respectful and responsible learners.
Our focus is on creating personalised and engaging learning programs and experiences that align with the Victorian Curriculum (F-10) and outcomes of the Victorian Pathways Certificate (yrs 10-12), through a hands on and functional approach to learning.
Our highly skilled team of teachers and education support staff are complimented by a dynamic and outcome focused multidisciplinary team consisting of 3 Speech Pathologists, 3 Occupational Therapists, 2 Music Therapist and a Psychologist, transition team, and an engagement and well-being staff to facilitate a team approach to promoting engagement in learning and increased wellbeing for all.
Curriculum access is maximised through the work of our therapy team:
Speech Pathologists work in partnership with all staff to support our communication accessible community. They are committed to supporting our students access the curriculum and engage with their environment using their preferred mode of communication.
Occupational Therapists work with students and families to develop and further enhance play and social skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-care skills, sensory and self-regulation and pre-writing and handwriting skills.
Our Music Therapists encourage teachers to use music in the classroom that assist in engaging students in learning activities. On referral they also engage students in 1:1 or small group sessions to recognise and express feelings through music, use instrument playing/exercise to develop skills such as matching and sequencing, stimulate communication through song-based techniques and practice musical play.
Structured teaching is used to provide routine and predictability and to assist our students to make sense of the expectations placed upon them. We set high expectations for all and review evidence-based practices ensuring our students receive the very best educational opportunities.
Teachers work in collaboration with education support staff to deliver personalised programs that meet student’s needs. Access to learning is supported through strategies developed in collaboration with parents through a multi-disciplinary approach.
We recognise the value added by parents and carers and invite you to be partners in your child’s learning journey, our termly student support groups (SSGs) are critical in the setting, evaluating and reviewing of individualised goals and celebrating the progress of your child.
We realise that transitions can be challenging and anxious times and therefore focus on supporting you and your child as you move through the school and onto post school pathways.
At Eastern Ranges School we are committed to a constant cycle of school improvement, our 3 strategic priorities are:
- To maximise student learning growth for all students
- To improve student engagement and motivation in learning
- To improve the personal and social capabilities of each student
The school is further supported by a committed and informed School Council who establish the broad direction and vision of the school within the school’s community. Collectively we work together to reach aspirational goals that define Eastern Ranges as a centre for Autism expertise within the community.
Please contact me directly at the school if you require further information, would like a school tour or if you have feedback that could further enhance our school and the experience for your child.
Kind regards,
Sam Silverwood
Principal
Enrolments for Eastern Ranges School
The process of searching for a school for your child is exciting yet complex and can be overwhelming but also reassuring. We aim to remove as much anxiety from this process as possible in a child-centered, case-by-case approach.
Enrolment Criteria to establish eligibility
Eastern Ranges School has very specific criteria for enrolments that is supported by the Department of Education and the Program for Students with Disabilities. The criteria used to establish eligibility against the PSD finding model, which is a vital component of the individualized programming we provide to all our students.
In order to assess the eligibility of students for Eastern Ranges School we require: Enrolment Requirements 2023 June 23
In addition to the documentation requirements, eligibility is further determined by the residential location of students. Eastern Ranges School has a very defined zone for student enrolment according to our DTA (Designated Transport Area).
To Find out if you live in our DTA, enter your address into the DTA search function on the Getting to and from school for students with disability page of the Department’s website.
Click to view the ERS Enrolment Policy 2021
Help with student transport
If you live within our school’s DTA, you may be able to get help with transporting your child to and from school through the Department of Education’s Students with Disabilities Transport Program (SDTP). To find out if you live in our DTA, enter your address into the DTA search function on the Getting to and from school for students with disability page on the Department’s website.
Instructions for how to apply for help through the SDTP are also available on the Getting to and from school for students with disability page, along with information about SDTP eligibility criteria and other transport help available to families of students with disability.
School Tours
Tours are completed in set groups sizes which means places are limited and prior booking is required.
Please contact the school office for more information and availability.