Introduction To Pine Rivers Special School

Pine Rivers Special School is a co-educational state special school. Students aged from approximately 5 to 18 years of age have a diagnosed intellectual impairment and may have additional disabilities. Children whose programs are in the Early Childhood Developmental Unit (ECDU) who attend from birth / diagnosis to approximately 5 years of age have diagnosed disabilities or are suspected of having disabilities.

The school is situated 21 kilometres from the centre of Brisbane in the suburb of Lawnton. The school adjoins Gympie Road, a major arterial road linking the settlements of Dayboro in the west, Narangba to the north and Bald Hills to the south. The residential areas within this area form the catchment for the majority of the students attending Pine Rivers Special School.

School aged students have gone through Education Queensland’s Education Adjustment Program (EAP) of disability diagnosis and verification and have an approved EAP Profile. School aged students must also fulfil Education Queensland’s criteria for entry into a special school. Please contact the school for specific information some on this process. All school-aged students have an Intellectual Impairment. In addition some have Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Impairment, Hearing Impairment or Vision Impairment. Approximately 32% of the students have Autistic Spectrum Disorder in addition to their Intellectual Impairment. The majority of students are ambulatory but the school has the facilities and programs to meet the needs of students in wheelchairs.

Before school aged students go through a referral process to determine their eligibility for enrolment in to the ECDU programs. Students either have a diagnosis of disability or are suspected of having a disability. Students enrolled in the ECDU may have an Intellectual Impairment, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Physical Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Vision Impairment or Speech Language Impairment.

There are currently 31 teachers on staff and 35 teacher aides, some of whom are part time. There are 6 therapists based at the school and we have access to a Guidance officer three days a week.

The school is serviced by a range of ancillary staff including a Business Services Manager, Schools Officer: Facilities and Grounds, Cleaners, Office personnel, and a computer technician.