The Hearing Support Unit (HSU – K-6 M)
The Hearing Support Unit (HSU) is located within the grounds of Kotara South Public School. The school is set in large, grassy grounds and offers many quality programs all of which offer excellent opportunities to children attending the HSU.
What Approach to communication do we take in K-6 M?
In K-6 M we take the approach of Sign Bilingualism. This approach includes the many preferences available to parents like Auslan in conjunction with spoken English and compliments our aims and objectives from the NSW Curriculum, St Gabriel’s Curriculum for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and The Expanded Core Curriculum for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. The right approach to communication will be the one that works best for you, your family and your child. The three main options of communication are:
· auditory-oral approaches
· sign bilingualism
· total communication
You can find further information about these forms of communication at: https://www.aussiedeafkids.org.au/making-choices-about-communication.html
Because the unit is located within a mainstream school, all children are integrated for Sport, Performing Arts, Assemblies and other extra-curricular activities.
Children can also be integrated into their age-appropriate classes for set academic lessons where appropriate. Their ability to combined with the demands of a purely auditory experience can easily be increased or decreased based on the assessments of both the classroom and HSU teacher.
If children demonstrate they can blend with an auditory only approach in a mainstream setting, further options can be investigated, always with the knowledge and support of the hearing support unit located on the premises.
Within the unit, children are provided with excellent staff/student ratios, experienced teachers, and teacher's aides.
The unit follows the standard curriculum of all six KLAs 1. English 2. Maths 3. Science 4. History/Geography 5. Creative & Performing Arts 6. Personal Development and Health Physical Education. A stronger emphasis is placed on language activities and use of residual hearing – something that is not possible within a mainstream class. The development of such skills is of great importance as children progress to integration in busy mainstream settings.
With the smaller class size and experienced specialist staff, more individual work opportunities are presented to the students.
The school, including the HSU (K-6 M), participate in the Essential Moves Program which has demonstrated excellent results in developing students' skills in all aspects of their life. The program focuses on developing fine and gross motor skills together with increased awareness of all senses.
For further information on student eligibility please contact the school on 4957 5319
