School Transition - The Shepherd Centre

We encourage parents to begin looking for a school about 12 months before their child begins school. For some children the option is simple as they will be going to their local state school. However for others the decision may be more difficult if they have a wider choice such as private schooling, catholic education, department of education, hearing support class etc.

When looking at a school you should discuss what support is available for your child, e.g. Itinerant Hearing Support. If your child has additional needs other than hearing loss, what support will be provided for that? This gives you an idea of what resources your child will have on starting school.

Most children have a transition meeting in term 3 or 4 of the year prior to going to school. Your Shepherd Centre teacher is happy to attend that should you wish this to happen. Your teacher can also discuss with you other transition support options they can offer prior to going to school, such as school in-servicing on hearing aids etc.

A full report on your child’s listening, speech and language development will be completed at the end of the year prior to going to school. This will be given to you to give to your child’s teacher and support person at school. We are also able to provide some in-service support to the school in the first term.

Should your child go to a private school and not be eligible for regular itinerant support (e.g. because they have a moderate hearing loss) your Shepherd Centre teacher will be available for consultative support for up to two terms in your child’s first year of schooling.

The Shepherd Centre also runs a School Readiness group learning program to help children and families prepare for the transition to mainstream school. Please visit our Group Learning Program page for further information.

To enquire about school transition services, please call 1800 020 030 or email enquiries@shepherdcentre.org.au

Has your child been diagnosed with a hearing loss? Do you have concerns about your child's hearing? We can help. For more than 40 years, The Shepherd Centre has been teaching deaf and hearing-impaired children to listen and speak.…