MUSEC is a unique special education school (K-6) offering a rigorous academic program in early literacy and early numeracy, set in small classes with a high ratio of teachers to children.
Sometimes one size does not always fit all. That’s the message from Principal Sally Howell from the Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC) School, which caters for children Kindergarten to Year 6 who have special learning needs.
In terms of a special education school, MUSEC is unique in that it provides a rigorous academic program in early literacy and early numeracy, implemented by highly skilled and highly qualified special education teachers.
“We offer a structured small class program with a high ratio of teachers to children.
So, children who are struggling in busy, noisy classes of 20-plus children often flourish in a much smaller class,” explains Sally.
“A lot of our instruction is provided in groups of two to four children. So, it’s for the sorts of children who really need intensive instruction, children who don’t cope so well with the real busyness of a larger classroom with just one teacher.”
As the school is classified as a special school, children require a diagnosed disability to be eligible to attend.
“We have a lot of children with autism. In a typical year when we have 44 children, probably two-thirds would have a diagnosis of autism, with accompanying reading difficulty or mild to moderate intellectual disability,” says Sally.
“The other children have a diagnosis of mild or moderate intellectual disability without autism.”
There are three main pathways that children typically go through at MUSEC.
“Some come to us for a couple of early years, say Kindergarten to Year 1, and we build some early school skills around classroom skills, literacy, numeracy, and self-regulation, so that when they do go to a mainstream school they have a really successful experience,” explains Sally.
“Some stay with us from Kindergarten to Year 6, and sometimes children come to us after they have tried a mainstream placement, but the parents feel perhaps their child isn’t learning as well as they could in that larger class environment.”
For teachers who have students who may benefit from attending MUSEC, Sally recommends chatting with their parents, so they know their options.
“If you feel a child is really struggling in a larger class setting perhaps have a conversation with the parents so that they can at least see that there is another option available,” says Sally.
“As the Principal, I’m more than happy for any parent to ring and I can arrange a tour so they can make the judgement themselves if this is the right environment for their child’s needs.”
If you would like more information about MUSEC, take a look at the website or give the Centre a call on (02) 9850 9697.