There is a new educational establishment opening soon – an autism school Gold Coast (and surrounds) for students who require additional support. We’ve got some details about this exciting innovation that might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Autism School for Gold Coast students – An Aussie First
In an incredibly exciting development for parents, a purpose-built school is set to open in April 2018 that will be perfectly designed for students with differing needs. From the colours to the land to the architecture to the furniture down to every sensory detail – it’s set to cause an educational stir and potentially make a huge difference to a lot of families in need.
Josiah College
Josiah College will be part of Emmanuel College, one of the area’s leading private schools. This new school will be partially funded by the Federal Government and will be able to eventually cater for 64 children from year 2 through to 10.
Autism School Gold Coast – A Passion Project
Emmanuel and Josiah College executive principal Patrick Innes-Hill says the college has been many years in the planning and that experts in the field of autism have played an important consultancy role.
“Some of the key challenges for children with autism are social and sensory in nature, and although many children with autism succeed in navigating the social and sensory demands of mainstream schooling, others require something different – and Josiah is for these students.”
Specific and intuitive design
Architects have designed the new school taking into account recent research into the sensory sensitivity in children on the spectrum. Mr Innes-Hill explained that noise from outside, flickering lights, the hum of an aircon or the movement of a fan may have an impact on learning.
We know that children with differing needs can find typical classroom environments very challenging – background noise, glaring lights and a myriad other triggers can provide real distractions and stress. The ABS reports that 86% of children with autism reported ‘difficulty’ in a wide range of areas. A school like this is designed to be a safe haven. 10 to 20% of these children are outside of mainstream education – many of them being home-schooled or moved from school to school.
“As a school with intentionally small classes, specialist staff, and an autism-friendly version of the Australian curriculum, we will be able to not only maintain the student’s academic progress, but also help them to develop the skills they will need if they choose to transition successfully back into neuro-typical education,” says Mr Innes-Hill.
Autism School Gold Coast
This will truly be an excellent and much-needed educational development and it’s one that we’re very excited about!
Private high schools nearby:
If you are looking for private high schools that are near Josiah College, check out:
State high schools nearby:
If you are looking for state high schools that are near Josiah College, check out:
- Australian Industry Trade College
- Benowa State High School
- Nerang State High School
For reviews of more schools across South-East Queensland, click here.
MY DAUGHTER AND HER FAMILY HAVE JUST MOVED TO QUEENSLAND AND ARE LIVING ON HOPE ISLAND.
MY GRANDSON IS UNDER THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND IS CURRENTLY ENROLL.ED AT SOUTHPORT SPECIAL SCHOOL.
BEING A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER, I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLASS HE IS IN, WHICH INCLUDES CHILDREN WHO DO NOT SPEAK, WHO MAKE SCREECHING NOISES ETC.
IN AS MUCH AS I FEEL FOR THESE POOR CHILDREN, I WOULD LIKE MY GRANDSON TO CONTINUE PROGRESSING AS HE WAS IN VICTORIA. HE CAN READ REASONABLY WELL AND CAN HOLD A CONVERSATION WIT SOMEONE WHO REALISES HIS PROBLEM.
I WOULD THEREFORE BE VERY INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL.
MY GRANDSON IS FOURTEEN YEARS OLD, FIFTEEN IN OCTOBER.
HIS PARENTS AND I WISH HIM TO BE PREPARED, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO BE PREPARED FOR LIFE (SUCH AS IS POSSIBLE FOR AN AUTISTIC BOY.)