AddressLocated in Melbourne's Western suburbs, Sunshine Special Developmental School (SDS) offers a unique and innovative learning environment for students aged from 5-18 years with moderate to severe Intellectual Disabilities. Sunshine SDS is a P-12 school and is organised around a Primary and Secondary Learning Centre Model. The school is home to a wide range of students from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Our Vietnamese community is strong and we welcome an increasing number of Burmese and African families into our learning community.
Sunshine SDS has an enrolment of 187 students and a staff compliment of: 3 Principal Class, 1 Learning Specialist, 26.9 Teachers and 50.11 Education Support Staff.
Our teaching and learning programs are tailored to meet the individual needs of students, and include the use of the ABLES (Abilities Based Learning and Education Support). The teaching and learning of the school is driven by data that is used to establish priority learning goals for students and to report on progress. Learning is aligned to the Victorian Curriculum, with an emphasis on English, Communication, Mathematics, Personal and Social Capability. The school delivers curriculum through a variety of engaging, hands on contexts for learning. Some of these programs include play based learning, an ‘Electives’ program and Intensive Interaction. Students participate in specialist programs to provide appropriate enrichment and stimulation. These include Visual Art, Library, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Health.
The school's team of Allied Health Professionals form a vital part of the support for all students and staff. The team includes Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, a Physiotherapist, Allied Health Assistants and a Psychologist. The school also has a Burmese cultural worker, a Chaplain and Nurse to provide additional support for both students and families.
Sunshine SDS promotes and upholds our vision of ‘Excellence in education for every student, every day without exception.’ And values LEARNING | COLLABORATION | RESPECT | COURAGE | PERSISTENCE
