Flexispace Program
Supporting every child to belong, grow and achieve
The Flexispace Program at Birkdale South State School provides a highly supportive learning environment for a small number of students in Years 4–6 who require intensive social, emotional and academic supports to successfully engage in learning.
Designed around the principles of inclusion, regulation and individualised support, Flexispace enables students to access the Australian Curriculum within a structured, low-arousal environment that prioritises wellbeing, belonging and success.
Our goal is to build confident, capable and connected learners by reducing barriers to learning and providing the scaffolds necessary for students to thrive both academically and socially.
A calm and supportive learning environment
Flexispace has been carefully designed as a high-quality, low-arousal learning environment that supports students who may experience challenges with emotional regulation, anxiety, engagement, communication or other complex learning needs.
Within this environment, students receive:
- Individualised learning supports
- Explicit teaching and scaffolded instruction
- Predictable routines and structures
- Flexible learning opportunities
- Social and emotional coaching
- Targeted wellbeing supports
- Access to sensory and regulation tools
These supports help students develop the confidence, independence and self-regulation skills required to participate successfully in learning and school life.
The Tinker Space
A unique feature of the Flexispace Program is our Tinker Space.
The Tinker Space provides students with opportunities to engage in hands-on learning, creativity, problem-solving and innovation through practical experiences. Students can explore, create, build and investigate while developing important skills such as perseverance, collaboration, critical thinking and self-confidence.
These activities often serve as powerful engagement tools, helping students reconnect with learning through their strengths and interests.
Circle time and social connection
Developing positive relationships is a key focus of the Flexispace Program.
Students participate in regular Circle Time sessions where they learn and practise important social and emotional skills in a safe and supportive environment. Circle Time provides opportunities for students to:
- Develop communication skills
- Build positive relationships
- Practise problem-solving strategies
- Learn empathy and perspective-taking
- Strengthen self-awareness
- Celebrate successes and achievements
These sessions help create a strong sense of belonging while supporting students to navigate social situations with increasing confidence.
Mindfulness and emotional regulation
Learning is most effective when students feel calm, safe and ready to engage.
As part of the Flexispace Program, students participate in a range of mindfulness and regulation practices that help develop emotional awareness and self-management skills. These may include:
- Guided mindfulness activities
- Breathing techniques
- Movement and sensory breaks
- Reflection activities
- Emotional regulation strategies
Through explicit teaching and regular practice, students learn strategies they can use independently across a variety of learning and social settings.
Individualised learning and curriculum access
Flexispace students remain connected to the curriculum and their learning goals through carefully planned and scaffolded supports.
Working collaboratively with classroom teachers, Student Support Teachers and families, staff develop learning pathways that ensure students can successfully access curriculum content while receiving the support they require.
Supports may include:
- Adjusted learning tasks
- Explicit instruction and modelling
- Visual supports and schedules
- Structured routines
- Flexible learning environments
- Additional adult support
- Targeted intervention programs
These adjustments enable students to engage meaningfully in learning while continuing to develop independence and confidence.
Supporting the whole child
At Birkdale South State School, we understand that academic success and wellbeing go hand in hand. The Flexispace Program recognises that students achieve their best when they feel safe, understood and supported.
By combining high-quality teaching, personalised learning supports, social and emotional development, mindfulness practices and strong relationships, Flexispace provides students with the foundation they need to experience success at school and beyond.
Through this nurturing and responsive approach, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to belong, grow and achieve.