Specialist schools

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with intellectual disability, including those with additional disabilities.

Mild

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a mild intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘special schools’.

Mild to profound

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a mild through to profound intellectual disability. These are also known as 'dual-mode' or 'multi-mode' specialist schools.

Moderate to profound

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a moderate to profound intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘special developmental schools’ or ‘SDS’.

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for autistic students with severe language impairment and high needs.

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing (bilateral, that is moderate/severe/profound).

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with significant physical disability and/or a significant health impairment who require regular paramedical support.

• sub-average general intellectual functioning which is demonstrated by a full-scale score of two standard deviations or more below the mean score on a standardised individual test of general intelligence, and
• significant deficits in adaptive behaviour established by a composite score of two standard deviations or more below the mean on an approved standardised test of adaptive behaviour, and
• a history and evidence of an ongoing problem with an expectation of continuation during the school years.

Documentation required to support the above

A signed psychologist’s report from within the last 24 months reporting the results of an IQ test and assessment of adaptive behaviour.

• a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and
• significant deficits in adaptive behaviour established at a composite score of two standard deviations or more below the mean on an approved standardised test of adaptive behaviours, and
• significant deficits in language skills established by a comprehensive speech pathology assessment demonstrating a composite score of two standard deviations or more below the mean

Documentation required to support the above

A diagnosis provided by professionals with experience and knowledge in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder that includes:

• comprehensive report from a child psychiatrist or paediatrician and
• concurring reports signed by a psychologist, including a comprehensive assessment of adaptive behaviour (not more than 12 months old) and
• a signed report from a speech pathologist containing a comprehensive speech pathology assessment (not more than 12 months old) and where appropriate, an occupational therapist.
  

• a significant physical disability, and/or
• a significant health impairment, and
• requires regular paramedical support.

Documentation required to support the above

• a statement detailing the disability or health impairment from a relevant medical specialist, and
• a statement detailing paramedical service requirements from a registered physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
  

• a bilateral sensory-neural hearing loss that is moderate/severe/profound, and
• the child needs intervention or assistance to communicate.

Documentation required to support the above

An audiogram with a written statement from a qualified audiologist.

Identify schools that you are interested in, based on your child’s needs.

You can search for specialist schools near you at findmyschool.vic.gov.au. The website includes:

• a map and a list of specialist schools near your home address
• the type of disability they support
• school contact details.
  

Specialist schools have specific enrolment eligibility criteria. These are set out in the school’s enrolment policy.

Visit the website of the specialist school(s) that you are interested in. You can find out more about the school, their eligibility criteria and how to apply. Some schools may offer tours to prospective families.

You can also contact one of our regional offices. They can talk to you about other types of learning arrangements. For example, enrolling your child in both a local school and a specialist school. This is called 'dual enrolment'.

Either your local school or specialist school can help you to apply to enrol at a specialist school. Check the specialist school website for details.

The school will work with you to gather the documents about your child’s disability. The documents include assessment information from professionals. This information is needed to check if your child is eligible. The school will tell you if further information or assessment is needed.

The assessment information that is needed depends on the type of school you are seeking to enrol in.

Intellectual disability school

Either your local school or the specialist school will make a referral to the department’s assessment service to conduct a cognitive assessment, if this has not already been completed.

Deaf, autism or physical disability school

You will need to:

• gather information about your child’s disability and
• organise assessments to support your child’s eligibility.

The school can help guide you on what information and documents are required.

Transferring between specialist schools with the same enrolment criteria

If your child is transferring from one specialist school to another specialist school:

• check with the school you intend to enrol
• the school will help you to determine if new assessments or other supporting evidence are required.
  

Once you have gathered all the relevant information:

• the school will submit the documents to the department’s assessment verification service
• the verification service checks if the assessment information meets the department’s eligibility criteria.

The school will contact you if any further information is required.

The school will inform you of the enrolment request outcome.

An enrolment decision is made based on whether:

• your child meets the eligibility criteria
• your child meets the enrolment criteria in the school’s enrolment policy and
• the school has enough space.

If a specialist school does not have enough places for all eligible students, applications will be prioritised according to the ‘priority order of placement’. Find this in the school’s local enrolment policy.

If your child is eligible but has not been offered a place, you can lodge a written appeal with the specialist school.

Once your appeal has been received, a staff member from the regional office may contact you with further information. Appeals are considered based on:

• the specialist school's eligibility criteria and
• other local factors, such as the availability of space, the priority order of placement, and support available at the school.
  

In limited circumstances, you may request to enrol your child at a specialist school based on their individual needs and circumstances.

This can occur even if your child does not meet the school’s eligibility criteria, or if their eligibility is unclear. In these circumstances the specialist school will work with you to submit a non-standard enrolment appeal application.

The Regional Director will consider your application. They will look at the child’s specific individual education and support needs in relation to what the specialist school can provide. Approval is not guaranteed.