Enrolment Information

East Gippsland Specialist School is located in Bairnsdale in a purpose-built facility on Calvert Street. The school caters for students aged from 5-18 with mild to profound intellectual disabilities. Students travel to school from throughout East Gippsland with a bus service available for students who attend the school for a minimum of 3 days per week. East Gippsland Specialist School offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with skills in preparation for life beyond school.

If your child will be five years old by 30th April of the year of school entry, they are eligible to start school. Please visit our school and discuss your child’s need and why you think they may be eligible to attend.

East Gippsland Specialist School provides a comprehensive and innovative curriculum for primary and secondary students with intellectual disabilities. The school recognises that our students require additional resources and individual and innovative support to enable them to succeed.

Eligibility for Enrolment

A child may only attend East Gippsland Specialist School if they are deemed eligible and receive funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) under the criteria of intellectual disability. Before entering East Gippsland Specialist School, students will need to be assessed by a qualified educational psychologist to determine eligibility and then qualify for funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities under the criteria of Intellectual Disability.


Funding for Students with Special or Additional Needs

A child with special or additional needs entering a Department of Education school may be eligible for additional funding to provide additional assistance through the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD). This applies to mainstream schools and special settings. The application process can be quite lengthy and includes collection of information about the child including assessments and reports addressing the area of need.  It is important this this process is started as soon as possible with the school.

Once a child is funded through Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD), the funding will move with them if they transfer to another Department of Education school.

At East Gippsland Specialist School we start this process in Term 3 of the year prior to starting school.

Application Process for Enrolling at Prep Level

Visit the school, discuss your child's needs and why you think they may be eligible to attend the school. At this time we will collect information regarding your child to start the process. Paperwork will be provided by Assessments Australia to be completed by the parent/s and your child's kindergarten or early childhood setting or the school. You will be asked to bring in any information you have regarding your child to show they have had a history of issues. This is important to support your application.

We will ask for current (within 12 months of when the application is submitted) assessment reports in your child's area of need. This often includes:

  • Speech pathology
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Paediatrician
  • Ophthalmologist
  • Audiologist
  • Psychologist
  • Counsellor

A letter of diagnosis from a paediatrician is required. Where a child does not have a diagnosis a paediatrician will be able to their needs and the challenges they face.

A Student Support Group Meeting (SSG) will be held to discuss your child's needs and to complete an Educational Needs Questionnaire (ENQ). We will be notified of the outcome of the application and whether your child is eligible to attend East Gippsland Specialist School. Please contact the school for further information about transition on 03 5152 5922 or email us at east.gippsland.ss@education.vic.gov.au

Immunisations

A school entry immunisation certificate must be presented at the school office before children start school. This is a legal requirement upon enrolment to primary school in Victoria. This process assists health authorities in the event of a vaccine preventable disease occurrence in school. An unvaccinated child may be excluded from school for a period of time.

Transport Assistance

Students who reside within the school's Designated Transport Area (DTA) may be eligible for transport assistance.

Go to the Transport for students with a disability page of the Department of Education website for information, application forms and guidelines about eligibility.

View Our Enrolment Policy