Specialist Programs

At St Joseph's we believe that early intervention is critical for assisting students to maximise their potential.  Students are supported in the following ways:

Specialist Literacy Numeracy Teacher
A specialist literacy/Numeracy teacher supports student learning in Kinder and Stage One. This additional teacher works with individuals and small groups to provide targetted assistance to students.

Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is a reading intervention program which accelerates Year One students with the lowest reading levels, to reach the average reading level of the class. 
Whilst undertaking the Reading Recovery program, each student receives a daily, individual, 30 minute lesson with a specialist reading teacher.  Students participate in the Reading Recovery for between 12 and 20 weeks.

Working with Specialist Agencies
St Joseph’s Special Needs Coordinator and St Joseph’s staff work in partnership with specialist agencies including speech pathologists, occupational therapists, Catholic Schools Office Education Officers and ASPECT to support student learning. Our goal in doing so, is to maximise the learning potential of each student.

Individual Education Plans
Students with additional needs are supported through an individual education plan.  This plan is created in consultation with the student, the student’s parents, teachers and other health and educational agencies.  It sets learning goals and a plan of action to meet the student’s learning needs. The student may work toward these goals in class, with a speech pathologist or with a teacher assistant.

Teacher Assistant Support
Teacher Assistants work with students across the school to assist with student learning.  This may be individually, or in small groups, following learning plans set out by the teaching staff.