It was a day for the senses at Salisbury School in Richmond as it joined the first-ever nationwide celebration of specialist schools last week.
Deputy principal Ros Allen-Hall says the Specialist Schools Aotearoa Celebration Day was created by the Special Education Principals’ Association of New Zealand to celebrate the vital role of the schools.
The plan is to make it an annual event with a different theme each year. In line with this year’s theme, ‘Exploring through our senses’, Salisbury students headed to various sensory stations that included making their own smoothies and getting to know a tree through the touch of the bark, while blindfolded.
“It’s celebrating the inclusive, supportive spaces where our learners succeed. It’s also a celebration for staff and thank you because they really go the extra mile in building those relationships. It’s a different relationship with these complex needs and our staff work to empower our students.”
Salisbury School is the only specialist living/learning programme for girls with high needs in the country, taking girls between eight and 15 years of age, and Ros says when schools are specifically designed for them, students have a sense of belonging and outcomes are stronger.
She points to the core finding of an Education Review Office (ERO) report for all specialists schools last year that praised the ‘built-in’ approach as opposed to ‘bolted on’.
“This is the only living/learning programme for just girls and it gives our girls a safe learning space.”
