School & Student Supports

Unsure how our allied health team can help?

Get in touch to start the conversation!

If you are unsure which students need support the most or where to begin, our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can complete an observation and then work with you to plan for your needs.

As examples, this may include collaboration to decide which children may benefit from participation-based allied health support, or you may have questions around unsettled classes or routines.

Or it may be that some children need extra support on developing a particular academic skillset such as handwriting.

We can collaboratively set goals to support you in determining your funding direction.

Let us show you what interactions can look like!

Do you prefer to learn by watching ideas play out in real life? Our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can model interactions and strategies with children in the classroom so you can see, reflect and practice the strategies and ideas you choose.

Flexible packages to meet your needs

Let us know what you need to meet your goals, and we will work with you to create a support package which integrates into your academic and pastoral care timetables.

Too time poor to create resources?

We collaborate with you to create, make and provide any resources planned to ensure they fit your existing routines and needs.

Session notes: you get a copy - and for every session

The notes we write during each session are collaborative and include the goals we set together, what we observe and work on with you plus next visit planning. And you get a copy of all session notes too!

Professional learning opportunities

Let us present on a topic of your choice at your next pupil-free day. Topics can include (but are not limited to): 

• Communication and literacy;
• AAC, including high-tech communication devices;
• Handwriting skills (fine motor) development for children;
• Unsettled behaviours and emotional regulation;
• Inclusion;
• Social skills and how to support peer interactions; and
• Sensory needs including attention span (focus) to classroom tasks.

Need evidence for your Disability Inclusion Program (DIP) funding applications?

Our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can complete individual assessments in bulk.

Examples of these include:

• Sensory Profiles (Occupational Therapy), which can be considered as part of environmental set-ups;
• Speech sounds assessments;
• Language assessments – including comprehension (receptive language), expressive language and social communication.

Added value: Noah’s Ark assessment reports provide participation-based strategies and recommendations tailored to your school, classrooms and existing routines and they can be used for funding applications. We can then provide not only a report but feedback and collaborative support on how to incorporate these strategies. If you identify that you need our therapists to model strategies with you in the classroom, we can do that too.

Unsettled classroom?

Wondering how to meet all learner’s needs in the classroom? Or support them to participate across your daily programs and routines?

Our Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists are here to support children to be ready to learn and to participate across the school day.

Your goals may include increasing independence in routines, quality engagement, transitioning between routines and enhancing literacy.

Our allied health team can support to identify individual and group needs – and all from a strengths-based perspective!

So, you’ve got a communication device in your classroom...?

Did you know...

1. We all use so many methods to communicate throughout our day (think emails, texting, phone calls and gestures) and AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is just another way to communicate!
2. It is OK to not know how to use it! We can talk you through easy and achievable first steps and how to learn with the AAC user – it's a learning journey for you too. Just as a child learns, so too can their communication partners.
3. We can even offer staff professional development half-day sessions, so you get time to fully focus on the content and ask questions too.

Talking about literacy

The strong links between oral language skills and reading and writing mean our Speech Pathologists can help you support academic progress.

Or are children in your classroom struggling to be understood by teachers and peers?

If some children in your classroom already have a diagnosis of speech sound or language disorder, then phonics and foundational literacy skills such as blending and segmenting, reading and comprehension may be impacted.

If no diagnosis is known or information is lacking, our Speech Pathologists can differentiate between speech sound delays, comprehension and grammatical errors which may all impact a child’s ability to communicate with teachers and peers effectively at school.

Build social communication skills at lunchtime with LEGO® - Based Therapy!

Here’s a group program that’s evidence-based and fun for children – and can be run at lunchtime!

Building Connections is Noah’s Ark’s LEGO® - Based Therapy group program – and not only do children love it, but the program is also run by experienced therapists.

It aims to support the growth of social skills, communication skills, independence and confidence.

Research tells us that children learn when they’re interested and motivated – plus you’ll enjoy being part of the fun.

Other evidence-based and therapist-led group program options include Building Blocks, Shoot to Score (basketball), Move, Balance, Breathe (mindfulness), and Jump on Board (board games).

We can also support setting up lunchtime activities if you had other ideas or goals and capacity build your staff for future planning and programming.

Inclusion

Think practical strategies to collaborate in creating inclusive environments for all children – Noah’s Ark has been doing this for more than 50 years.

We can work with what you already have in your classroom, with Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists providing evidence-based strategies and information around your existing programs and routines.

We recognise and can help you develop what you are already doing to contribute towards inclusion.

Environmental set-ups

Our Occupational Therapists can review and, if required, design with you any changes to your existing classroom to optimise participation for all children.

Assessment includes considering how to use the space you have available to you as well as your existing equipment to be fit for purpose.

Let’s collaborate on what in-class support and information sharing of evidence-based therapy looks like for you!

To get in touch and explore about other ways in which we can work with you, contact the Noah’s Ark Client Relations team at hello@noahsarkinc.org.au or call 1800 819 140.