- Outlook Inquiry re enrolment of my son who has a disability
From Kate Alexander
Date Fri 5/2/2025 3:14 PM
To @ooshnewcastle.com.au < @ooshnewcastle.com.au>
Dear ,
Subject: Inquiry About Enrolling My Son, in OOSH/Vacation Care
I hope your Fridays are going well.
I am reaching out to formally inquire about enrolling my son, in GOSH/Vacation Care in 2026, where my seven year old daughter,
attends.
has a rare genetic disease, SATB2 Associated Syndrome, as well as global developmental delay and moderate to severe intellectual disability. I
have attached a report of , psychologist, confirming 's diagnosis.
We are in the process of exploring school options for to begin in 2026. It has been recommended that he be enrolled in a School for Special Purposes, such as Five Islands, Lakeside School or Newcastle Junior School.
currently attends mainstream daycare at three days a week and two days a week. He receives
additional support at both centers through the KU Inclusion Agency and the Department of Education, which has helped him thrive.
is very social, enjoys playing alongside peers, and has not displayed any significant behaviours of concern at daycare or preschool. He is also completely non-verbal, has minimal receptive language and struggles with motor planning. receives NDIS funding for early intervention supports, including speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.
I strongly believe that would benefit from attending Gosh/Vacation Care alongside and his peers in the local community.
However, I appreciate that there are some barriers and risks to consider before determining whether you can accept his enrollment application. The key considerations are:
-
Toileting: is not toilet trained and is completely reliant on nappies. He is unlikely to be toilet trained in the near future.
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Risk of absconding: has a tendency to abscond for no particular reason. He enjoys chasing birds, exploring new environments, and will communicate his readiness to leave by running out the door or walking off. Given his speed, lack of verbal indication, and no awareness of risks such as cars, heights, or large bodies of water, he requires close supervision at all times. This is particularly significant as Public School is not securely fenced, and the OOSH room is adjacent to a carpark. ’s daycare and preschool are both fully fenced, and his educators are experienced in changing nappies, so these issues have not been a problem to date.
I have discussed ’s situation with from the NSW Inclusion Agency { ), who is willing to discuss with you. She
has advised that funding can be provided for an extra staff member to assist (though I am unsure of the specifics in this regard). She also advised training on nappy changing can be provided, along with an adult change table on loan to the service.
Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I look forward to discussing this matter with you further.
Kind regards,
Kate.