If you have a child or young person with CP who is attending school, it is important to have an open line of communication with the school, so that you and the education staff can be clear about how to provide them with the best education and how to understand their needs.

Good communication also helps the school to work with you to support your child or young person’s learning and wellbeing. This can include informal communication, such as an email, or a quick chat at pick-up or drop-off times, or more formal communication, through Student Support Group meetings, or by making an appointment. Find a way of communicating that suits you both.

Let the school know if there is anything happening at home that might affect your child or young person at school.

Teachers need to make sure that all the students in their care get a full educational experience and have every opportunity to participate, learn, and grow. Remember schools cannot discriminate against students with CP.

Specialist staff, such as a physiotherapist, OT, visiting teachers or speech pathologists can provide advice and guidance about the environmental adjustments your child or young person may require. These include things like seating arrangements, accessibility for aids like wheelchairs, classroom sound quality, sloping boards and bathroom modifications. 

Each child or young person with CP has their own strengths and abilities. When teachers are better aware of the needs of each student they can be included and supported to enjoy their education.

Other tips to help teachers and school staff create more inclusive learning experiences for children and young people with CP include:

• allowing the student more time with transitions and tasks, to help them with understanding and processing instructions
• providing group discussion time – by giving students time to discuss a problem or question quietly with their classmates, they get a chance to gather their thoughts and prepare to be called on
• using assistive technology and equipment as required – such as using an eye-gaze, computer-navigation system or speech-to-text for students who need support with handwriting
• regularly check in with the student with CP to help them achieve set goals
• varying teaching strategies – all students learn differently, so varying teaching methods, like lecturing, reading, videos, interactive apps, small group work, projects and discussions, can help every student
• making classrooms physically accessible – make sure there is plenty of space between desks and other obstacles, so a student with a wheelchair, walker, or other devices, can move as freely as any other student
• providing inclusive playgrounds and run recreation activities that all students can participate in, regardless of ability level
• being proactive about addressing bullying, through education and awareness, and by acting when there are any signs it is happening – students with disability are at greater risk of bullying than others. It can lead to long-term harm and, in the short term, it can cause a student to become more excluded and withdrawn
• dealing with discriminatory language immediately – do not tolerate any language that is discriminatory against anyone, by gender, sexual orientation, race or religion, or disability
• providing choice in sports – even students with CP who have physical limitations can participate
• practicing collaborative teaching – whenever possible, general and special education teachers should collaborate on finding ways to make every classroom more inclusive for every student.

So that all school staff can access the right information about your child or young person, and put any reasonable adjustments in place, the school will create a number of plans, including:

• an Individual Plan to record your child or young person’s learning goals and how the school will support these
• a Student Health Support Plan to record any of your child or young person’s medical and personal care needs
• a Behaviour Support Plan to record if your child or young person has behaviour support needs.

If your child or young person is eligible for funding to support them at a new school, the school will complete the application process. You may need to provide copies of reports from your child or young person’s healthcare team and meet with school staff, so they can gather information for a funding application. This information helps the school to put things in place to support your child or young person as they move through primary and senior school.