Quality Education for Students with Special Needs
The School
As
a Specialist School Sara Cohen School enrolls students from 5 to 21 years of
age. The Rutherford Street site caters for secondary aged
students and in this context the years leading up to transition from school
are recognized as an important time in the life of our young people.
Younger students enrolled at Sara Cohen School attend one of two satellite
classes. The Concord School hosts a class for primary aged
students and Macandrew Intermediate School
hosts a class for intermediate aged students.
Our Values
Sara Cohen School:
Recognises the Key Competencies of the Curriculum, and objectives within the New Zealand Disability Strategy, in line with the Treaty of Waitangi, as a focus for quality teaching and learning.
Celebrates difference and diversity.
Models respect and care of all students and staff.
Supports professional growth which fosters the delivery of innovative, high quality learning programmes.
Creates opportunities to promote inclusive practice.
Influences on the school's
development
The 1989 Education act recognised in law the
rights of all young people to an education. Since then children and young
people with disabilities have been able to enrol as of right in their
neighborhood school. In Dunedin support for children and families came from our
tertiary institutions and professionals who worked with families who
enrolled their children in their local school.
Specialist teacher support
Since 1989, before the advent of Special Education 2000 Sara
Cohen School has provided itinerant specialist resource teacher support to students
enrolled in primary and secondary schools around Dunedin. A resource bank has been developed over a
number of years and provides students in schools with resources that
extend their programmes. The itinerant teachers work with members of the host
school staff to support students in the classroom.