Information for Families

What to pack in the school bag 

We empower students to be as independent as possible during all tasks at school and this includes carrying their school bag and managing their belongings.

These days there are a huge variety of bags/cases and we encourage you to choose one your child can help to move and unpack.

In their school bag, each student should have;

• their lunch box and drink bottle – every class is equipped with a fridge for keeping food fresh and chilled
• a full set of spare clothes – you never know what we might get up to and it is very helpful to have spare socks, jocks/undies, t-shirts, pants
• any special requirements your child may have, for example they may use a preferred sunscreen for sensitive skin
• communication system – we’d love for all students to continue using their AAC at home and in the community so please make sure it comes in every day!

It is really helpful to;

• clearly label your child’s clothing and possessions 
• pop in some empty plastic bags for us to send home any dirty clothes

Eligibility & Enrolment

Nepean School is for students with a physical disability and/or complex health impairment.

To enrol at Nepean, students must meet strict criteria set out by the Department of Education. 

It is the responsibility of families to provide the required documentation for their child’s enrolment, this includes; 

• A report/letter detailing the disability or health impairment from a paediatrician or  medical specialist (NOT a GP)
• A report/letter detailing need for ongoing therapeutic/paramedical service requirements from a Physiotherapist
• A report/letter detailing ongoing therapeutic/paramedical service requirements from an Occupational Therapist
• A report/letter detailing ongoing therapeutic/paramedical service requirements from a Speech Pathologist 

Once this information is received by the school, we are able to submit a request to enrol the student to the Regional office. The enrolment application and supporting evidence is assessed by regional staff, once a decision is reached, our school will let families know the outcome. 

This  can be a lengthy and time consuming process, we encourage families to reach out to their medical and therapy teams to get these reports ready as soon as possible.

For more information on eligibility and enrolment, please contact our Transitions to School leader, Angie, at angela.code@education.vic.gov.au  

Students with Disabilities Transport Program

Families may be able to access transport support in two different ways.

Bus service – our school is supported by 3 different providers who work within Department of Education Student Transport guidelines to provide safe bus travel to and from school. This service is provided at no cost to families. 

Conveyance Allowance – this is a small payment made to families who choose to provide all transport to/from school themselves. 

To find out more about transport options, please email our Transport Coordinator, Tam, at Tamara.McDonald@education.vic.gov.au 

How can I be involved?

We love to work in active partnerships with our families. Along with being part of school events such as Assemblies.

There are lots of different ways families can be involved at Nepean;

• volunteer in a class program 
• join School Council
• share a special skill or interest you have, for example gardening
• helpers on incursions and excursions 

We’d love to have your help! If you would like to support the Nepean community, please have a chat with your child’s class teacher.