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enrolment information

Parents/carers of children who are seeking school placement are encouraged to contact Sunshine SDS to book a school tour. This visit gives you the opportunity to view our school, tour the school grounds, discuss how our school operates and ask any questions you may have in regard to enrolment.

 

If your child is beginning the journey of school entry, staff are available to support you through this process which involves completing enrolment documentation, assessment for eligibility and applying for funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities.  This funding is used to provide resources to support your child through their years at school.

 

Students transitioning from kindergarten, interstate or overseas are required to be assessed for eligibility.  Students attending Sunshine SDS have a moderate to severe intellectual disability (IQ below 50) together with an Adaptive Behaviour Composite score usually also below 50.  Our school fully supports this process which involves

  • Making a referral to Assessments Australia,
  • Liaising with early intervention services and/or previous educational settings,
  • Arranging an appointment for a psychologist to conduct the assessment at school,
  • Receiving and disseminating the reports and
  • Conducting a Student Support Group meeting to complete the PSD funding application. 

There is no cost to parents for this assessment process.

 

To enrol your child at our school:

  1. Contact the school or download and complete the enrolment inquiry form 
  2. The school will make contact with once the inquiry has been lodged for a school tour and to discuss your child’s needs and why you think they may be eligible to attend the school. We will provide you with support to initiate any assessments needed to confirm eligibility for enrolment.
  3. Collate the required documents outlined below
  4. Return the completed forms, along with the required documents, in person or via email to sunshine.sds@education.vic.gov.au
  5. A Student Support Group Meeting (SSG) will be held to discuss your child’s needs and to complete an Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ).

A student’s eligibility for enrolment will be in line with our Enrolment policy – and parents/carers will be advised of the enrolment outcome only after all of the above steps have been completed and validated.

 

Required documents

Required documentation includes:

You will also be required to provide information about:

  • Your contact details
  • Emergency contact details
  • Health information about your child (such as allergies or illnesses they need to manage)
  • Other legal orders relating to your child and their welfare (if any)

 

Sunshine SDS encourages Support Services and Children’s Services to visit our school throughout the year to provide information and support to their parent communities.

 

Please contact or email the school for further information:

 

School zones

Information about school zones, and our designated transport zone, is available on findmyschool.vic.gov.au. This website hosts the most up-to-date information about Victorian school zones.

Students are guaranteed a place at their designated neighbourhood school, which is determined on the basis of your permanent residential address. Enrolment at specialist and specific purpose schools is determined based on the school’s Enrolment policy.

The Department provides guidance for designated neighbourhood schools through the Enrolment: Placement Policy, to ensure that students have access to their designated neighbourhood school and the freedom to choose other schools, subject to facility limitations.

You can find more information and answers to frequently asked questions on the Department’s website under School zones.

For more information

If you have a question about school zones call the VSBA Hotline on 1800 896 950 or email: vsba@education.vic.gov.au

Sunshine Special Developmental School is a Child Safe school