Berry Street Web Docs BEST Centre Annual Report 2008

Berry Street Education & Training Berry Street believes that all children have the right to highest quality education and training. Education is essential for the restoration of hope and trust to the lives of vulnerable children and young people. To achieve this: All children should have the opportunity to experience the benefits and the positive social impact of school attendance in the mainstream school system All children must have quality early childhood education in order to achieve the best developmental and educational outcomes All children must have the most appropriate education to meet their needs whatever they may be at a particular time in their lives Berry Street is committed to: Providing for the highest possible expectation of children and young people’s educational achievements Providing education and training across the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains Providing pathways for young people into further education, training and employment Working in partnership with community, business, government and other education providers Advocating for quality educational outcomes and appropriate educational programs for children and young people in our care as well as for other marginalised children and young people Learning and teaching B.E.S.T Centre Morwell In 2008 at Morwell Campus, we accessed targeted funding to support the special needs of students under the “severe behaviour disorder” for 22 students. On entry in 2008, there were 27 students. Many of these students were not able to access additional resources to support their needs previously. All of our students have had strong diagnostic work done to better understand their functioning and identify areas for support. Typically many of our students have an intellectual disability or borderline functioning that has not been identified previously. Our most functional students have engaged in the learning process and have been able to identify goals and work to them with the assistance of our staff. In 2008 we provided a school program to 41 students, 34 boys & 7 girls. 14 of our students were Indigenous. Their outcomes were: • 10 moved away from the area • 3 gained employment • 8 undertook a transition to Year 11 or a Vocational Education & Training course at a local Secondary School • 8 transferred to the JPET pre-employment program • 12 have returned to the B.E.S.T Centre for 2009 Student attendance Students enrolled at both campuses of the B.E.S.T Centre attended, on average, 60% of the time. R eview of this attendance data indicates that for many students this attendance rate is most frequently impacted by personal issues for students and their families (including periods of time incarcerated), living arrangements (placement moves within the Out of Home Care system) and by other expectations placed on these students from external forces (such as attending court, Child Protection requirements, etc). Both campuses continue to actively monitor attendance and creatively engage students in the life of the School. B.E.S.T Centre Annual Report 2008 Noble Park & Morwell Campuses

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