Early Education Program

The Bayside Early Education Program is a flexible educational program for young children with special needs, offering a number of models.

The Centre-Based Program operates at the Bayside Special Developmental School.  Children with special needs in two or more areas of development can access this program from the age of 2.8 years.  Educational programs are offered two days per week and are staffed by special education early intervention teachers and teacher assistants.  The emphasis is on the development of communication, fine motor, gross motor, social and cognitive skills in a play based environment.  Speech, occupational, physio and sensory therapists provide support to the group programs.  A water familiarisation program, staffed by a special education teacher, physiotherapist, support staff and students from a local high school, is conducted once per week for the children in a local swim facility.

The Family Playgroup is a supported playgroup for families with children with special needs.  It provides a network of support and information gathering for parents and/or grandparents, opportunities to consult with professionals or sit back and enjoy a cuppa, while a suitable play environment for the children with activities appropriate for their developmental level is set up.  It is staffed by an Early Intervention teacher and teacher assistant.  The group meets once a week in the local library and is followed by the council library’s story time which provides an opportunity to be included with other children in the community.

Bayside Early Education staff provide a consultancy service for children with special needs who are eligible to attend 3 or 4 year old mainstream local kindergartens.  This service is also available to children in child care centres.