Support Unit

Our purpose-built Support Unit Classes at The Forest High School are designed to provide specialist and intensive support for eligible students with additional learning and support needs.

What are support classes?

Support classes provide specialist and intensive support for students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These classes are available in select NSW public schools, including ours.

Class Sizes

Class sizes in support classes are usually smaller than in mainstream classes because of the students’ higher needs. Class sizes will depend on the class type and, in some cases, the students' additional learning and support needs.

Teaching Staff

Every support class has a teacher and a school learning support officer (SLSO), and every student will have planning undertaken for their personalised learning and support that captures their needs and goals.

The class teachers are responsible for planning personalised learning and support for each student, in consultation with parents and carers and allied health professionals where it is appropriate.

Opportunities

Students in support classes at The Forest High School are part of our whole-school community. They will have access to:

• school-wide events such as assemblies, excursions, incursions and sport
• their mainstream peers for selected learning activities where appropriate
• support teachers transition
• the same specialist provisions as those available to students in mainstream classes, including disability provisions from the NESA for practical support in examinations
• transport assistance under the Assisted School Travel Program, if they are eligible.

How can my child be placed in a support class?

You can’t enrol your child directly into a support class but your local school can help you with this process. The first step is to speak to your child’s school.

The school will work with you to determine if your child is eligible and if this type of support will meet their needs.

This option is available when:

• Your child has significant support needs and meets the department's disability criteria.
• This type of specialist support will meet their educational needs.
• An application is completed in collaboration with you. This is usually arranged by the learning and support team at the school your child is enrolled in.

A local support class panel considers the application and decides an outcome.

This application is called an ‘access request’.