Canossian School has developed an inclusive education model offering the mainstream curriculum in partnership with Canossa Catholic Primary School (CCPS). Through this partnership, the school is able to stay true to the Canossian tradition of our Foundress, St Magdalene of Canossa. We offer a Catholic education focussed on nurturing the whole person through the formation of the heart. The school provides a safe and caring environment for children of all religions, race, gender and ethnicities who have been diagnosed with a hearing loss. To ensure that students are able to access the mainstream curriculum, the school provides a tiered system of supports to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
With the inclusive model, students spend most of their days learning alongside their hearing peers at CCPS, joining them for within-classroom experiences as well as learning experiences beyond the classroom such as learning journeys, level camps as well as overseas trips. This inclusive environment provides the language immersion necessary for our students to develop their oral-auditory skills and allows greater opportunities for developing friendships through shared learning experiences.
Specialist teachers at the school complement these learning experiences during support classes and withdrawal sessions, where the emphasis is on strengthening communication, language and mathematical concepts learned. The school maintains a small student:teacher ratio to facilitate close monitoring of learning of each student through their individualised education plans. These plans vary in the intensity and range of supports needed which are determined through a series of formal and informal assessments conducted by a multidisciplinary team of therapists, in consultation with teachers and parents. The audiological needs of each child is taken care of by the audiological team who work closely with both the medical professionals at our community hospitals as well as local suppliers of paediatric hearing devices. The team develops resources to equip parents with knowledge and skills for supporting the development of their children.
To engender independence in our students, the school provides opportunities for students to develop their adaptive skills to meet the needs of their environment. Some of these skills are delivered by the audiologists by way of a specialised curriculum that fosters self-advocacy, management of hearing devices and functioning with hearing loss in a manner equal to that of their hearing peers. For them to explore their aesthetic talents and interests, the school conducts co-curricular activities.
Parents play a key role in providing support for the learning of their children. In recognition of the role of parents, the school has a Parent Guidance programme conducted by an officer who works with both parents and teachers to ensure adequate support is provided at home for the learning and social/emotional needs of students. When these needs are met, students achieve their academic potential and they develop positive relationships with peers and adults.
To ease the transition of students from preschool or early intervention programme into primary education, the school conducts a Bridging Programme for students who are registered with the school and awaiting entry into Primary One. The programme is conducted over a period of 10 weeks and parents are invited to attend the sessions so that they are kept informed of the expectations of primary schooling. In a similar vein, the school also has provides transition support for its graduating students to prepare them for the secondary schooling experience.