Celebrating Neurodiversity at ENPS

At Essendon North Primary School, we believe that everyone learns, thinks, and experiences the world in their own way - and that’s something to celebrate! We are committed to recognising and embracing neurodiversity, ensuring that every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17th -23)

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is about recognising the incredible strengths and talents of neurodivergent individuals. Different ways of thinking bring fresh ideas, creativity, and problem-solving skills that enrich our school and community.

Neurodiversity means that our brains work in different ways, and that’s what makes us unique. Whether someone has dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autism, ADHD, or another neurodivergent trait, they contribute valuable perspectives and abilities to the world around them.

With an estimated one in five people being neurodivergent, fostering a culture of understanding and support helps everyone feel like they belong.

Autism Acceptance Month (April)

April is all about acceptance, inclusion, and celebration for our autistic students. It’s a time to learn from one another, challenge misconceptions, and recognise the strengths that autism brings.

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day, recognised by the United Nations as a day to promote understanding and acceptance. We’ll be sharing more about this in the coming weeks!

Inclusion at ENPS

At ENPS, inclusion isn’t just something we talk about during special weeks - it’s something we commit to every day. Through the Disability Inclusion Program, we ensure that every student has the support they need to thrive.

We foster a culture of inclusion through:

• Celebrating each student’s strengths - because diversity makes our school better!

• Personalising learning so that every student has the tools they need to succeed.

• Making environmental adjustments and accommodations to ensure that the classroom supports diverse learning preferences.

• Working closely with families through Learning Support Group (LSG) and Student Support Group (SSG) meetings.

• Creating flexible, welcoming spaces where students feel safe, supported, and valued.

• Teaching kindness and inclusion to build a culture of respect and belonging.

• Providing ongoing professional learning for teachers to ensure inclusive practices.

• Collaborating with external allied health professionals to ensure support is targeted and meaningful.  

By embracing different ways of thinking and learning, we are building a school community where everyone belongs. Let’s continue to grow together and make ENPS a place where all students feel seen, supported, and celebrated!

The ENPS Disability Inclusion Team

Serena Walker, Kathryn Tanaskovski, Connor Smith and Kate Barletta