19 July 2018

MacKillop Family Services Primary School was opened in Gilda Street, Maidstone in 2017, in recognition of the importance of early intervention to enhance educational outcomes. It sits alongside MacKillop Family Services’ School Campus in Geelong which caters for both primary and secondary students. As it celebrates its second year, the school is successfully working with local children who are disengaged from education and who struggle to experience success in a mainstream setting.

Principal, Anne Henderson, recognises that, ‘While all schools are committed to inclusion and are passionate about catering for the individual needs of their students, it is not always possible for mainstream settings to support students with diverse and complex needs.’

MacKillop Family Services Primary School offers a unique teaching and learning environment that ensures every child is offered an individualised program that is mindful of both their strengths and their barriers to learning. The school implements the Victorian Curriculum and is informed by best practice in teaching and learning, enabling it to provide a stimulating and engaging environment, where extensive adjustments can be made for individual students, as required.

Ms Henderson explains the personalised and collaborative model of the school, ‘There are no more than eight students in a class and while consideration is given to the age of the students, there is a focus on the individual needs of each child and how they might interact with others in a class group. A Key Teacher and Education Support is allocated to each class and they are also supported by the Head of Campus, who provides supervision and instructional coaching, the Education and Wellbeing Coordinator and the Educational Psychologist.

‘The key to the school’s success is working closely with families and other professionals to support the child. This multi-disciplinary approach means that our knowledge and understanding of the child is enriched and our combined expertise enhances the student’s academic and social-emotional outcomes.’

If you are the parent of a child who is struggling with learning in a traditional mainstream school setting and would like to learn more about MacKillop Family Services Primary School, Maidstone, you can phone (03) 8317 9730, visit our website www.mackillop.org.au/education or email educationservices@mackillop.org.au.