Inclusive Learning

At St Mary’s College, teachers are committed to creating engaging, purposeful, and inclusive classrooms that respond to the diverse needs of all students. Embedding inclusive teaching practices that support students with disability ensures alignment with the Disability Standards for Education (DSE) 2005 and promotes equitable access to learning.

DSE resources support teachers by providing effective strategies for determining and implementing reasonable adjustments, differentiation, and inclusive teaching practices. These strategies enable students with disability to fully participate in all aspects of school life alongside their peers.

A key foundation of inclusive pedagogy is the intentional reduction of exclusion and the removal of barriers to learning. By fostering learning environments where all students feel valued and supported, educators create opportunities for every learner to succeed. High-quality pedagogy, grounded in evidence-based practices, empowers teachers to make informed decisions about their teaching and to maximise student learning outcomes.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a proactive approach to planning and delivering learning experiences that are accessible to all students from the outset. UDL and differentiation focus on adapting the learning environment to meet individual student needs, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. The core principle of UDL is that learning goals remain consistent for all students, while multiple pathways are provided to achieve those goals.

The three key principles of Universal Design for Learning are:
• Multiple means of representation: Providing learners with various ways to access information and build knowledge, addressing the why of learning.
• Multiple means of expression: Offering alternative ways for learners to demonstrate their understanding, addressing the what of learning.
• Multiple means of engagement: Tapping into learners’ interests, offering appropriate challenges, and increasing motivation, focusing on the how of learning.
Through inclusive pedagogy and the application of Universal Design for Learning, St Mary’s College ensures that all students are supported to engage, participate, and achieve their full potential.

Jarrayirr Buru (Our Place) is a support team who work alongside teachers and students across the primary campus. Jarrayirr Buru supports our primary campus teachers to provide an inclusive school culture that supports our students in reaching their full potential. Our school environment is organised so that student diversity can be included as a resource, seeing differences as opportunities for enriched learning.

The Jarrayirr Buru teachers, teaching assistants and classroom form one of the ways in which the school responds to individual student needs at a Tier 3 level.