Junior School
The Junior School is an exciting and vibrant space at Eastern Ranges School. The Junior Sub-School, consists of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder ranging from Foundation to Grade 3. The early years of education are pivotal for our students as they begin to transition to school life and we lay the foundations for their future learning at Eastern Ranges School.
Our building is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of our early years learners. All classrooms have access to sensory break spaces, outdoor learning spaces and private in class bathrooms to assist with the individual needs of all students.
We recognize the key learning that takes place in the early years of schooling, so we take a direct and individualised focus on communication, play skills and emerging independence with all our students.
Play-Based Learning
We are currently in the process of developing a play based learning space for the junior school students of Eastern Ranges School. This will specifically target developmental play and the vital role this has with the development of communication, interaction and social skills.
Play-based learning enables us to explicitly teach students the social constructs involved with positive and meaningful interactions, within a structured environment designed specifically to target their social learning needs.
This space is collaborative in design with input from classroom teachers, specialist teachers and therapy staff.
Structured Teaching
Our whole school pedagogy supports the Structured Teaching Framework and our junior school is no exception to this.
Students begin to work towards their independence from the early years as we introduce them to their individualised schedules to establish predictability within their day. This assists them to navigate their classes and transition with an increased level of independence.
This approach is further enabled in the ways that we present their educational resources. Learning experiences are designed to increase clarity of expectation, clearly define start and end points and reduce levels of prompt dependency which increases students independence in their learning.
Learning experiences are interest based to provide intrinsic motivation for engagement whilst also addressing student ILP goals (Individual Learning Plan) and the Victorian Curriculum.
Access to Specialist Teachers and Aquatics
Junior school students are fortunate to have access to a variety of specialist areas over the course of a school year. Such specialist teachers include;
- The Arts (Visual Arts and Performing Arts)
- Health and Physical Education (Physical Education, Human Relations and Outdoor Education)
- Music (Including Music Therapy)
- Technology
Students will transition to the corresponding areas and be involved with programs that deliver content according to the Victorian Curriculum within their specialisations.
In addition, Junior school students have access to our school based Aquatics program on a weekly basis for the entire school year. This is facilitated by our Health and Physical Education teachers and is further supervised by the classroom staff.
We look forward to continuing to provide innovative and exciting programs in the Junior School, in order to support our enthusiastic little learners.
Middle School
The Middle School consists of students from years three to six.
In Middle School the students are truly familiar with the process of Eastern Ranges School. As with the Junior School and Senior School, Middle School students take part in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Music, Health and Physical Education (H&PE), Swimming and Technology.
Components of H&PE include Outdoor Education and Human relations. These subjects are introduced with the expertise of the H&PE staff and are followed up by the class teachers throughout the year. The information, skills and content continues the development of the subject, which begins in the junior school.
2017 sees the introduction of the Vocational Room in Middle School. This learning space has been set up to accommodate different learning opportunities, such as a shop, weighing, packaging and assembling. The skills learnt and practiced in this area will be a benefit for the work that takes place in senior school where students begin to focus and plan for post school options.
Students in Middle School have the opportunity to work in like- minded groups within special times such as ‘Skills Group.’ Skills Group is run by the specialist teachers in the Arts and Technology
Structured teaching is part of the students’ daily routine. Students of Middle School are very comfortable moving around the classroom and the school independently and with purpose as they go about their learning schedule.
There are many opportunities throughout the year to share the achievements and the fun with parents and friends when we celebrate a variety of special days, such as Education Week, Science week, Footy Colours Day.
Our year culminates in a “Moving Up” ceremony for the years six students moving up to secondary the following year. This is an opportunity to celebrate the students’ achievements with their family and friends – it a great experience.
Senior School
Eastern Ranges School (ERS) is a developing toward P-12. At present, students have progressed to Year 11 resulting in the first cohort of students moving to Year 12 in 2018.
Transition planning is a significant part of senior school. As a result, curriculums have been developed that cater for the diverse needs of students. For students in years 7-10, the Victorian Curriculum will in general guide the development of individualised learning plans. For years 11-12, curriculums will be based on a pathways model, systematic instructional methods (structured teaching), and a positive support system (School-Wide PBS).
The pathway options for years 11-12 are:
- VCAL stream: VCAL units supported by VET courses and work experience.
- Applied Learning stream: modified VCAL units delivered through Pastoral programs, projects, work experience and volunteer work.
- Contemporary Living Stream: a curriculum based on functional living skills and community access and engagement.
It is expected that 2017 be a pilot year to trial the three curriculum options. An evaluation will be carried out periodically to determine improvement areas in each of the curriculum areas.