Our latest annual report
MUSEC School charter

Learn what makes MUSEC School unique

The Macquarie University Special Education Centre has been operating as MUSEC School, a school for students with disability, since 2004.

In addition to being a K-6 special school, MUSEC School is a focal point for special education teacher training and for research and development in the most effective ways of teaching children with special education needs.

Our approach to education

Literacy and numeracy learning is the major focus at MUSEC School. We devote much of the day to these two Key Learning Areas (KLAs). Other KLAs include:

  • Creative and Performing Arts
  • History and Geography, or Human Society and its Environment (HSIE)
  • Physical Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
  • Science.

We use time teaching in these KLAs to broaden the students’ learning experiences, and to provide opportunities for generalisation of literacy and numeracy skills.

Significant emphasis is also placed on developing:

  • appropriate classroom skills
  • communication skills
  • independent work habits.

MUSEC School aims to facilitate effective inclusion in a less restrictive educational setting, for instance, a mainstream education setting when such inclusion is the goal for a student.

We believe that all children can learn when they are taught effectively. We adopt a truly child-centred approach to learning by designing and implementing individualised educational programs for each student.

MUSEC School is non-categorical in orientation. All instructional decisions are made on the basis of a student’s demonstrated skill level rather than according to a disability label.

Teaching programs and strategies implemented at our School reflect evidence-based instructional procedures for students with special education needs.

We avoid learning gaps by focusing on skills until we’re confident that the child has mastered the concepts being taught.

We operate four multi-age classes with between 10 and 12 students in each class. Each class is instructed by a Master Special Education Teacher, supported by a Special Education Teacher and at least one Classroom Assistant.

Teaching occurs in small groups and one-to-one, ensuring our students receive intensive, individualised literacy and numeracy programs.

Our positive teaching principles and procedures are to:

  • ensure effective classroom behaviour management
  • facilitate high levels of academically engaged time.

We collaborate with parents, carers and other professionals to develop an individual education plan (IEP) for each student.

We also employ a speech pathologist who works within each classroom to support the language needs of our students.

The MUSEC School team comprises:

  • the School Principal
  • four Master Special Education Teachers
  • a Speech Pathologist
  • five Special Education Teachers
  • five Classroom Assistants
  • a School Business Manager
  • an Administrative Assistant.

In addition, a visual arts teacher provides an art program in each class and an outside provider supports the school’s physical education program.

Our Principal and all MUSEC teachers have a teaching degree and a post-graduate qualification in special education.

MUSEC continually pushes our son at an appropriate pace, because every teacher appears to invest in every child. The skill and insight that each staff member displays continually exceeds my expectations.

A MUSEC parent, 2018

FAQs

We answer your frequently asked questions below:

Class sizes vary between 10 and 12 students with a minimum of three adults in the classroom at all times.

Often there are four or five adults supporting the class during literacy and numeracy sessions. This allows us to mix as needed between the following types of support:

  • small group (three or four children with one teacher)
  • paired (two children with one teacher)
  • one-on-one (one child to one teacher).

MUSEC School is registered with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) as a K–6 school with recognition as a special school.

Teaching programs at MUSEC School are aligned with the regular school curriculum but as a special school we devote more time to literacy and numeracy and less time to other key learning areas.

We start talking with parents about high school options when their children are in Year 4. Many of our students move on to other independent special schools. Some move on to support classes within a mainstream school.

Quite often the process begins with parents visiting the proposed new school. The Principal is available to attend with parents if desired.

The next step is typically a visit to MUSEC by staff from the proposed new school. This visit provides an opportunity to see the child and talk with the teachers.

Once a child has accepted a place at a new school, transition visits to the new school are scheduled. For the first visit the child is typically accompanied by a MUSEC teacher. Further transition visits are negotiated between the new school and MUSEC according to the needs of the child.

Page owner

E: School of Education