AddressNELSON PARK SCHOOL
Nelson Park is a dynamic specialist setting which embraces educational excellence and promotes quality partnerships with home and community.
Nelson Park, established in 1967, caters for students between the ages of 5 - 18 years in the Geelong region with mild intellectual disabilities. Current enrolment at the school is around 360, with a small number of students on part-time placement. There are currently 100 staff including Principal Class Officers, Leading Teachers, Classroom Teachers, Specialist Teachers, Education Support Staff, Wellbeing Officers, administration and therapist staff. The main campus is situated in Bell Park, with a second campus located in Corio.
‘Life-long Learners’ reflects the school’s commitment to optimising the independence of each student. Nelson Park School is dedicated to the development of each student’s intellectual, social and emotional growth. Our primary focus is to enable students to discover their strengths and develop the confidence and skills needed to fulfil their educational and personal potential, both now and into the future.
This means engaging families and the wider community as learning partners in the provision of a diverse, evolving curriculum that inspires passion, supports personal growth and equips students with essential life skills. We empower students to become confident and adaptable life-long learners who are ready to build positive, purposeful futures. The care values of co-operation, learning and effort, respect and community underpin all of the school’s work.
Members of the school community have also developed a set of School Rules for both students and staff which reflect school values. These rules promote a safe and secure learning environment for all.
Nelson Park enhances the wellbeing of its students through the implementation of School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports (SWPBS) and the Berry Street Model of Education – trauma informed practices.
Students are supported within a multi-disciplinary framework that includes parents, caregivers, special trained teachers and assistants, a therapy team, student well-being officers and Disability Agencies. The school also actively promotes and builds quality partnerships with members of the wider community.
Staff at the school have developed a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum which provides appropriate, challenging and engaging learning opportunities within a safe and supportive environment. It develops in each student the essential skills and knowledge for life and prepares them to function as responsible, productive citizens.
Individual Learning Plans which reflect the Victorian Curriculum and Individual Student Goals are developed each year for all student at Student Support Group Meetings. These meetings are held termly with families to establish, monitor and review achievement against individual goals. The school’s reporting system, Accelerus directly reflects individual student goals.
The school has recently introduced a Whole School Instructional Model for Learning – the Gradual Release Model which allows students to learn through the highly structured approach of “I do, We do, You do” allowing them to develop independence and confidence. Teachers plan curriculum and assess learning collaboratively within Professional Learning Communities to ensure quality curriculum is delivered. A supportive culture of coaching is developing across the school.
The `Starting Right' Program is implemented for the first two weeks at the beginning of each school year. This program is used to establish the culture and environment in each classroom and develop relationships between all class members. Aspects of `Starting Right' are revisited at the beginning of each new term and an ‘Ending Right’ program is implemented at the end of each year to enhance transition for students within and into the school.
The school has four buses that enable transport within the community for life skill development programs.
Nelson Park provides attractive and safe buildings, grounds and equipment that stimulate and enhance a positive working atmosphere for students and staff.
Nelson Park School is committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision making.
Nelson Park School has zero tolerance for child abuse.
Nelson Park School is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.
Every person involved in Nelson Park School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role that they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.
Prep to 10 Curriculum
Nelson Park implements the Victorian Curriculum which is differentiated to cater for individual students learning styles and needs. The curriculum ensures that all students can achieve positive learning outcomes, build on prior knowledge and skills, and experience success. The curriculum also encourages students to experiment with and explore a wide range of materials, participate in practical activities that teach and reinforce concepts as well as reinforce concepts that can be transferred beyond the classroom.
The Early Years Literacy Program focuses on developing reading, writing and speaking and listening skills through shared and guided reading activities, the use of learning centre activities, handwriting and motor skills and phonemic awareness.
Specialist teaching programs are offered to students in Visual Arts, Design Technology, ICT, Health and Physical Education, Outdoor Education, Performing Arts (music, dance & drama) and Food Technology. Further programming includes Health and Human Relations, Library, Environmental Education, Swimming, Student Representative Council, Speech Therapy, Transition programs, Work Experience, Work Crews and Self Esteem and Enrichment programs.
SENIOR SECONDARY
In Year 10, students complete A Job Well Done in preparation to participate in Work Experience and opportunities to engage in the community. Work experience is offered as a weekly placement over 2 ½ years of senior secondary learning to develop and build skills for students to participate in the work force.
All students participate in the Personal Interdependence Programs (PIPs) over the three years of Year 10-12. This program is aimed at exposing students to employment and pathways options in their community through volunteering and industry exposure, STEM and STEAM opportunities whilst building their resilience and independent living skills.
Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC)
Nelson Park School’s senior secondary students follow the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC). The VPC has been developed by the Victorian Education Department specifically to enable students with disabilities to engage with a fully supported and tailored program to allow them a range of options to work towards their post school pathways. As an applied learning certificate, the VPC teaches skills and knowledge in the context of ‘real life’ experiences. Students apply what they have learnt by doing, experiencing and relating acquired skills to the real-world. It enables flexible, personalised learning where teachers work with students to recognise their personal strengths, interest, goals, and experiences.
Nelson Park School and Northern Bay College work in partnership to operate the Geelong Industry Trade Training Centre to the supports the vocational education development of our students. Students in Year 11 and 12 participate in VET ‘taster’ courses in Hospitality, Automotive and Building and Construction. The school also works in conjunction with a number of external providers to offer our Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to participate in a School Based Traineeships in Horticulture, Food Processing and Warehousing
SC1 Demonstrated high level understanding of initiatives in student learning including the Principles of Learning and Teaching P-12 and Assessment and Reporting Advice and the capacity to provide leadership in the alignment of these areas.
SC2 Demonstrated outstanding classroom teaching skills and the capacity to support colleagues to continually improve teaching and learning.
SC3 Demonstrated high level ability to monitor and assess student learning data at the individual, cohort and whole school level and to use this data to inform teaching for improved student learning.
SC4 Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills and high level interpersonal skills including a capacity to develop constructive relationships with students, parents and other staff and contribute to the leadership and management of the school.
SC5 Demonstrated commitment and capacity to actively contribute to and lead whole school improvement initiatives, manage major curriculum or student activities and a commitment to ongoing professional learning for self and others to enable further development of skills, expertise and teaching capacity.
SC6 Demonstrated capacity to lead and manage the implementation of school operations and health and wellbeing department initiatives in a P-12 special setting.
Leading teachers will be highly skilled classroom practitioners and undertake leadership and management roles commensurate with their salary range. The role of Leading Teachers is to improve the skill, knowledge and performance of the teaching workforce in a school or group of schools and to improve the curriculum program of a school.
Typically, Leading Teachers are responsible for coordinating a number of staff to achieve improvements in teaching and learning which may involve the coordination and professional support of colleagues through modelling, collaborating and coaching and using processes that develop knowledge, practice and professional engagement in others.
Leading teachers are expected to lead and manage a significant area or function within the school with a high degree of independence to ensure the effective development, provision and evaluation of the school's education program.
Leading teachers will be expected to make a significant contribution to policy development relating to teaching and learning in the school. A Leading Teacher has a direct impact and influence on the achievement of the school goals.
Leading teachers are usually responsible for the implementation of one or more priorities contained in the school strategic plan.
Lead and manage a stage of learning Professional Learning Team.
Lead whole staff learning programs in regard to curriculum development and delivery.
Manage professional development across the school.
Lead the development of common approaches to curriculum delivery across the school.
In recognition of the importance of leadership and management combined with exemplary teaching practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Leading Teacher may include but are not limited to:
- Leading and managing the implementation of whole-school improvement initiatives related to the school strategic plan and school priorities
- Leading and managing the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery;
- Leading and managing the provision of professional development and developing individual and team development plans for teaching staff within the priorities of the school;
- Leading and managing staff performance and development (review of staff);
- Teaching demonstration lessons;
- Leading and managing the development of the school's assessment and reporting policies and practices;
- Leading and managing the implementation of the school operations and policies related to student welfare and discipline;
- Leading the development of curriculum in a major learning area and participating in curriculum development in other areas;
- Responsibility for general discipline matters beyond the management of classroom teachers;
- Contributing to the overall leadership and management of the school;
- Contributing to the development of proposals for school council consideration;
- Developing and managing the school code of conduct.
Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.
The Department of Education and Training is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx
The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx
- All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
- Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
- A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
- Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx
To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program completed by the person.
