SPECIALISED LEARNING PROGRAM 
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
In 2019, Alkimos Primary School became one of the public schools to host the Specialised Learning Program (SLP) for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The SLP is a program for up to 25 students from Kindergarten to Year 6 with Autism who do not have the competencies at the point of enrolment to participate successfully, full-time in their mainstream classroom.
The program targets age appropriate academic engagement and achievement while supporting the students’ communication, organisational, socialisation and self-regulation skills. Evidence-based approaches including Positive Behaviour Support, progressive approach to Early Intervention, Direct Instruction, Facilitated Play, Visual Supports, Schedules, Explicit Instruction, Zones of Regulation, Protective Behaviours, Incidental Teaching and Modelling, underpin the Behaviourist Approach adopted in the program to support the students’ development. Each student’s individual program is based on their unique profile, strengths, needs and goals and encourages the development of social and communication skills.
Students spend some of their time in their ‘Homeroom’ class undertaking specialist support and some of their time in their Mainstream class. At Alkimos Primary School, we have three multi-aged Homerooms, one Early Intervention room, a Junior class and a Senior class. The aim of this program is to support students to eventually transition back into mainstream classes’ fulltime.
The Specialised Learning Program includes a Co-ordinator, Mrs Melinda Papadopoff, four Teachers and six to nine Educational Assistants.
The Early Intervention Homeroom is run by Mrs Jade Maybury and Mrs Claire Galiga. The Kindergarten/Pre-Primary Homeroom uses intensive teaching strategies to facilitate the learning outcomes so that the students have greater skills for mainstream participation and independence. Kindergarten students attend the program every Monday and Tuesday, and every second Wednesday – full days. Pre-Primary and Primary students attend the program, full time, with gradual transition into the Mainstream class.
The Junior Homeroom is run by Mrs Czarina Rowe. We use explicit teaching strategies and hands-on activities to engage students and teach academic skills. The students are provided with opportunities to support the development of skills such as communication, self-regulation, peer interaction and organisational skills. Students in the Junior Homeroom may spend part of each week in their Mainstream classroom.
The Senior Homeroom is run by Mr Jonathon Hobson and Miss Kayleigh King. The Senior Homeroom uses explicit teaching strategies to engage students and teach academic skills. The students will be provided with opportunities to support the development of skills such as communication, self-regulation, peer interaction and executive functioning skills. Students in the Senior Homeroom may spend part of each week in their Mainstream classrooms.
Other specialist teachers who take students in the SLP for a range of subjects such as Art, Music, Phys-Ed and Languages are Mr Wulff, Mrs Dupond, Mrs Nixon, Mrs Griffiths, and Mrs Birchall.
HOW DO I APPLY?
If you would like more information or would like an Expression of Interest Form sent to you, please contact the Program Coordinator, Melinda Papadopoff on 9562 9800.
Alkimos Primary School
340 Benenden Ave
Alkimos WA 6038
Phone: 9562 9800
E-Mail: Alkimos.PS@education.wa.edu.au
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