Specialists' News
Starting the Year with a Focus on Inclusion 03/02/26
Welcome back to Term 1, 2026! We are excited to warmly welcome all our families to the start of the new school year. We hope the holidays provided time for rest, connection, and enjoyment, and we look forward to a positive and productive term ahead for every student.
To begin the year, our teaching staff participated in in-house professional learning focused on understanding Autism and supporting student engagement in the classroom. Staff built their understanding of how autistic students may experience learning, communication, and social situations differently, while exploring practical strategies to support inclusion, emotional regulation, and participation for all learners. Teachers also developed a shared understanding of the Iceberg Analogy, recognising that behaviour is often the visible tip, with underlying factors influencing how students respond and engage at school.
During this professional learning, teachers explored key facts about Autism, including that Autism is a neurological difference that affects how individuals process information, communicate, and respond to their environment. We discussed how every autistic student has a unique learning profile, with individual strengths, interests, and areas where support may be needed. Staff also learned that many autistic students show strong attention to detail, may experience sensory sensitivities, and benefit from clear routines, visual supports, and predictable learning environments.
Teachers reflected on how students may notice details, process information, and respond to social situations in different ways. For example, some students may focus strongly on specific details and need support to understand the bigger picture, while others may need help interpreting social cues or managing sensory input. Importantly, staff discussed how these differences do not reflect a student’s ability, but rather how they experience and engage with the world around them.
This professional learning aligns with our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive classrooms where every child feels safe, understood, and supported to thrive. By building staff understanding of neurodiversity, we strengthen our ability to respond to students’ needs with empathy, flexibility, and evidence-based strategies.
We value the partnership between home and school and look forward to working together throughout the term to support your child’s growth and wellbeing. If you have any questions or would like to share information that helps us better support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your classroom teacher.
We look forward to a wonderful Term 1 together.
Kind regards,
Eva Tomazos