At Sophia Mundi we have a Support Education Faculty that provides opportunities for working with students with learning support needs. Being a small school we are not able to provide individual support for every child with learning needs, and the value of Steiner Education is that by its nature, it incorporates a variety of learning styles and approaches in its classroom methodology.
Information from parents, class screenings and when appropriate, individual testing, are used to identify students with barriers to learning. Intervention is prioritized and focused on individuals and groups that are at higher risk of not being able to participate successfully in the classroom education. It aims to improve their learning and resilience through effective and appropriate support.
For younger children up to Class 3 we have “Extra Lesson”, an individual program that can help children when they have developmental difficulties that lead to disruption of their learning.
For students with special needs, special programs are planned that can involve individual support as well as classroom based approaches. Program support groups including the parent/carer may be formed to develop individual learning plans – a document which links the specific needs of the student to our curriculum.
Sophia Mundi has a Welfare Officer to support class teachers and class guardians in responding to individual students who require additional emotional assistance and support.
Linking with the local community gives Sophia Mundi access to an extended network of professionals and therapists who can provide expertise and experience that can support the needs of the students. We have begun to work with a visiting school doctor who works out of Steiner’s philosophy and currently comes once/term and supports teachers and parents with educational talks and discussions.