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Form of workVerney Road School (VRS) is a state government educational facility in the North Eastern Victorian regional city of Shepparton. Students at the school are funded under the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) and have a mild to profound intellectual disability. Many students have multiple diagnoses of disability which may include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), associated impairments such as sensory and physical impairments and/or challenging behaviours.
Students’ ages range from three to eighteen years of age. The school has an Early Education Unit and three school aged sections, Early, Middle and Senior Years. Current enrolments are 219 which include 16 Early Education students.
Nearly 70 percent of our students travel to school on our contact buses. Our Designated Transport Zone covers a wide area including Euroa and Violet Town, Numurkah and Katunga and as far west as Nathalia.
Verney Road School has three units; Early Years (5-9 year olds), Middle Years (10-15 years) and Senior Years (16 – 18 years). Each unit is led by a non-teaching Leading Teacher. We also have an Early Education program for students from 2.8 – 5 years)
Over the last few years, the student enrolment has steadily increased. Facilities and programs at the school are being implemented to meet the growing demand. In 2020 there is a total of 23 classrooms with an average class size of 9 students. We also have an Allied Health Team, which includes Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Massage and specially trained Education Support Staff to deliver a range of programs and supports across the school. Accordingly teacher and Education Support (ES) numbers will also increase. Currently our total number of staff is 85.
Our curriculum is varied and strongly grounded in our belief that every child can learn. We aim to support our students to be as independent and likeable as possible. In Early and Middle Years the curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum. We have Learning Specialists who support our classroom teachers in English, Communication, Mathematics and Inclusion (ASD). Our curriculum also provides music, physical education and art as specialist programs.
Our Senior Years follow the VCAL Curriculum and focusses on developing pathways for the future. Every student at VRS leaves with a developed pathway such as further study at TAFE, work or apprenticeships while others attend Connect GV or Shepparton Access.
Development and support of teacher practise is monitored through the Performance and Development process for teacher practice. We have a VRS instructional model which is used to clearly identify expectations. Established routines are a vital part of daily teaching at VRS and a timetable of the day is displayed. Visual cues are used in every lesson and highlights the importance we place on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Our Wellbeing Team includes a social worker and a Parent Liaison ES. This latter role was developed to support our families in transitioning to the NDIS, but further supports families in a range of ways including transitions and medical needs. We are dedicated to both student and staff wellbeing as reflected in our current Strategic Plan.
Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible. Be a Learner.
SC1 Demonstrated expert knowledge of the relevant curriculum. Demonstrated ability to model exemplary teaching practice, including the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills across the curriculum, and implement school priorities.
SC2 Demonstrated expertise in the implementation and modelling of high impact teaching strategies that respond to student learning needs. Demonstrated ability to support teachers to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth
SC3 Demonstrated exemplary ability to model the monitoring and assessment of student learning. Demonstrated ability to support others in using data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.
SC4 Demonstrated exemplary interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative relationships with students, colleagues, parents and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.
SC5 Demonstrated ability to model behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated ability to support others to reflect on their practice and facilitate school-based professional learning.
Learning Specialists will be highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students. The role of the Learning Specialist will be to model excellence in teaching and learning through demonstration lessons and, mentoring and coaching teachers in improving the skill, knowledge and effectiveness of the teaching workforce.
The Learning Specialist role is aimed at building excellence in teaching and learning within the Teaching Service.
In recognition of the importance of exemplary practice for improved student learning outcomes, the key roles of the Learning Specialists may include but are not limited to:
- Demonstrating high-level expertise in teaching and learning practice
- Modelling exemplary classroom practice including through teaching demonstration lessons
- Working with the school leadership team to develop a shared view of highly effective teacher practice
- Leading and modelling the implementation of whole-school improvement strategies related to curriculum planning and delivery
- Playing a key role in the provision of professional learning, including through developing processes and protocols for observation and feedback of teacher practice and peer collaboration
- Modelling effective learning practice and supporting teachers to seek, analyse and act on feedback and on their practice
- Providing evidence-based feedback to teaching staff to inform their effectiveness and development
- Providing expert advice about the context, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervising and training one or more student teachers and mentoring and/or coaching teachers
- Modelling exemplary use of student data to inform teaching approaches
- Developing and promoting school-wide professional learning structures, processes and protocols through Professional Learning Communities
- Modelling exemplary professional learning practice included through seeking feedback from other teachers and leaders on their own classroom practice as part of critical reflection and inquiry to improve practice
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 values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. 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
Teachers who do not have an approved special education qualification but do have current provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching may apply. Preference will be given to applicants who have an approved special education qualification.
- 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.
