Every child belonging. Every child growing. Every child achieving.
At Birkdale South State School, we are committed to ensuring that every student has access to high-quality learning opportunities that enable them to achieve success. We recognise that students learn in different ways, at different rates and with different strengths, and we are dedicated to providing the supports necessary for every child to access, participate in and engage with the Australian Curriculum.
Our Student Services and Supports Framework is built on the belief that inclusive education is everyone's responsibility. Through strong partnerships between families, teachers, support staff and external agencies, we work together to ensure that every child is known, supported and challenged to reach their potential.
A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)
Birkdale South State School utilises a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to identify and respond to student learning and wellbeing needs. MTSS is an evidence-based framework that ensures support is provided early, systematically and at the level required by each student.
Tier 1–High-quality teaching for all students
The foundation of our support framework is excellent classroom teaching. Every student benefits from evidence-based instruction delivered through the Birkdale South Learning Approach, including:
- Explicit Instruction
- Structured Literacy
- Retrieval Practice
- Cognitive Load Theory
- Visible Learning
Our teachers carefully differentiate instruction to meet the diverse learning needs within their classrooms while maintaining high expectations for all students.
Tier 2–Targeted support
Some students may require additional support beyond classroom instruction. Through ongoing assessment and data analysis, students may access targeted interventions designed to accelerate progress in specific areas.
Tier 3–Intensive individualised support
A small number of students may require intensive and highly individualised supports. These supports are planned collaboratively with families, teachers, Student Support Teachers and, where appropriate, external specialists to ensure students can successfully engage in learning.
Growing confident and capable readers
At Birkdale South, reading is our highest academic priority because we know that reading proficiency opens doors to success across all learning areas.
Our literacy approach is grounded in the Science of Reading and delivered through the highly effective Sounds-Write Structured Literacy Program.
Sounds-Write is an evidence-based linguistic phonics program that explicitly teaches students how the English code works. Through systematic and cumulative instruction, students develop:
- Phonemic awareness
- Decoding skills
- Encoding (spelling) skills
- Reading fluency
- Vocabulary knowledge
- Reading comprehension
Combined with explicit teaching, daily review, intervention programs and regular progress monitoring, our approach ensures students receive the support they need to become confident and capable readers.
Our commitment is simple:
Every student reading aloud every day.
Student support teachers
Our dedicated Student Support Teachers work alongside classroom teachers, families and students to ensure learning programs are accessible and responsive to individual needs.
Student Support Teachers:
- Collaborate with teachers to plan and implement adjustments
- Support the identification of student strengths and learning needs
- Assist with intervention planning and monitoring
- Work alongside families to develop shared goals
- Coordinate support plans and specialist referrals where required
- Support transitions between year levels and educational settings
- Build teacher capability in inclusive education practices
By working collaboratively, Student Support Teachers help ensure students receive the right support at the right time while remaining connected to their classroom learning and peers.
Differentiation and inclusive teaching practices
Research consistently demonstrates that effective differentiation benefits all learners. Differentiation is not about creating entirely separate programs for individual students; rather, it involves thoughtfully adjusting teaching practices so that all students can successfully access the same curriculum.
At Birkdale South, teachers differentiate through:
- Explicit instruction and modelling
- Scaffolded learning experiences
- Flexible grouping
- Additional visual supports
- Modified levels of support and prompting
- Adjustments to tasks and resources
- Alternative ways for students to demonstrate learning
- Strategic use of assistive technologies
These practices align with contemporary research demonstrating that students learn most effectively when they are provided with appropriate support while still maintaining access to age-appropriate curriculum and high expectations.
Reasonable adjustments and the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
As part of our commitment to inclusive education, Birkdale South State School provides reasonable adjustments for students with disability in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005, the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) and the expectations of the Queensland Department of Education.
Reasonable adjustments are measures or actions that assist a student to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. These adjustments are tailored to individual needs and developed through consultation with families, teachers and support personnel.
Adjustments may include:
- Curriculum adjustments
- Environmental modifications
- Communication supports
- Assistive technologies
- Additional adult support
- Modified assessment conditions
- Behavioural and wellbeing supports
- Alternative methods for demonstrating learning
The level of adjustment provided is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains appropriate and responsive to each student's needs.
Importantly, reasonable adjustments do not lower expectations for student learning. Rather, they remove barriers and create equitable opportunities for students to access, participate and succeed within the curriculum.
Partnering with families
We recognise that families are a child's first and most important teachers. Strong partnerships between home and school are essential in supporting student success.
Our Student Services Team works closely with parents and caregivers to:
- Share information about student progress
- Develop support plans and goals
- Coordinate specialist involvement
- Plan transitions and pathways
- Celebrate growth and achievement
Through open communication and collaborative problem-solving, we strive to ensure every child receives the support they need to flourish.
A school where everyone belongs
At Birkdale South State School, inclusion is more than a program—it is a commitment. Through evidence-based teaching, targeted supports, collaborative partnerships and a strong culture of care, we create learning environments where every student feels valued, supported and capable of success.
By focusing on strengths, removing barriers and maintaining high expectations, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to belong, grow and achieve.