Learning and support

Learning

At Beresford Road Public School, our teaching is grounded in the NSW Department of Education’s What Works Best evidence base so every child is known, valued and cared, ensuring that all students are equipped to be life long learners. We set high expectations and use explicit teaching so success criteria are clear and accessible for all learners. Teachers provide timely, effective feedback and routinely use data to inform next steps and targeted support. Assessment is purposeful and aligned to syllabus outcomes, while strong classroom management and a relentless focus on student wellbeing create safe, engaging environments for learning. Collaboration among our teachers, students, families and specialists drive continuous improvement and inclusion across our learning community.

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Student Wellbeing

At Beresford Road Public School, student wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where every child is known, valued and cared for.

Our wellbeing approach aligns with the NSW Department of Education’s Wellbeing Framework for Schools and is guided by evidence-based practices from What Works Best, ensuring that all students are supported to thrive – academically, socially and emotionally – as lifelong learners.

Safe and Inclusive Environment

We foster a culture of respect, belonging and safety through our school values: Be Safe, Respect, Participate and Strive for Excellence.
Students are taught positive behaviour expectations across all settings, and our staff model kindness, fairness and inclusion. The school’s clear supervision, health and safety procedures ensure all students can learn and play safely.

Positive Behaviour and Social-Emotional Learning

Our whole-school Behaviour Expectations Matrix and Real Schools restorative practices framework support students to make positive choices and understand the impact of their actions. Staff explicitly teach social and emotional skills, such as resilience, empathy, problem-solving, and self-regulation through our school-developed Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program. Student behaviour aligns with the Department of Education’s Behaviour Code for Students, and our school delivers an ongoing anti-bullying education program that promotes respectful, inclusive, and safe relationships within our community.

Targeted and Personalised Support

Our Learning Success Team coordinates wellbeing and learning adjustments for students who require additional help. Working in partnership with families, external specialists and classroom teachers, we ensure every child receives the right support at the right time. Our school has a school counsellor who can be available for students who may need extra social, emotional or behavioural support.

Health, Safety and Daily Routines

Student wellbeing is strengthened by healthy habits and clear routines. Programs such as Crunch & Sip encourage positive nutrition and hydration, while playground and arrival/departure procedures prioritise student safety. We are also a SunSmart and allergy-aware school.

Student Voice and Leadership

We empower students to be active participants in their school community through leadership opportunities such as the Student Representative Council (SRC) and House Captain roles and our year 6 student leaders. Students are encouraged to share their ideas, contribute to decision-making, and take pride in shaping our positive school culture.

Partnership with Families and Community

We recognise that wellbeing is a shared responsibility. Families are invited to participate in school events, workshops, P&C meetings and community partnerships that strengthen the connection between home and school. Open, respectful communication helps us work together to support each child’s learning and wellbeing journey.

Our Commitment

Beresford Road Public School remains dedicated to fostering a learning environment where every student feels safe, connected, respected and engaged. Through strong relationships, high expectations and inclusive practices, we equip our students with the skills and confidence they need to become capable, compassionate and resilient lifelong learners.

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Additional learning support

Beresford Road Public School’s Learning Success Team (LST) is made up of the Principal, Deputy Principals, Assistant Principals, and the School Counsellor. The team meets weekly to discuss and respond to student needs, ensuring a coordinated approach to learning, wellbeing, behaviour, and attendance support.

Our focus is on early identification and intervention. Through regular collaboration and data-informed decision-making, the team works to ensure that every student receives the right level of support at the right time. The school offers targeted, explicit, and intensive intervention programs for students requiring additional learning support. These include small group and one-to-one instruction focusing on foundational literacy skills, such as MiniLit, phonics-based instruction, and DIBELS Reading.

Our School Learning Support Officers (SLSOs) play a vital role in implementing personalised adjustments, supporting students within classrooms, and facilitating small group interventions under teacher direction. The LST also works in partnership with parents, carers, and external agencies to promote a consistent and inclusive approach that supports each child’s wellbeing and learning success.

Personalised Plans

At Beresford Road, we use Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) to ensure personalised, goal-focused, and inclusive learning pathways for students. IEPs are collaboratively developed twice per year with parents, carers, and relevant staff to identify strengths, learning priorities, and adjustments aligned with the NSW Department of Education’s Inclusive Education Policy and the Disability Standards for Education (2005). BSPs are developed for students who require additional behavioural or emotional regulation support and outline proactive strategies, environmental adjustments, and staff responses that promote safety, consistency, and success.

Together, these plans form part of our whole-school commitment to ensuring every student is known, valued, and cared for, and that all learners can participate fully and achieve their personal best.

High potential and gifted education

Classroom level:

For selected students, at Beresford Road:

  • Maths Olympiad
  • HPGE Writing
  • Subject Acceleration

For all students at Beresford road:

  • Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking
  • Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning
  • Advanced learning pathways, including accelerated or compacted content
  • Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies
  • Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth
  • Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking including cross-curricular projects
  • Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation
  • Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE
  • Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control
  • Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy
  • Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment
  • Strengths-based feedback and goal setting
  • Opportunities for leadership within the classroom
  • Structured peer collaboration and reflection
  • Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance

School level

All students, at Beresford Road, have access to participate in the following groups:

  • Debating
  • Public Speaking
  • Coding and Robotics
  • Academic competitions
  • Music lessons
  • Music ensembles (choir)
  • CAPA Showcase (drama)
  • Art in the Dark (visual arts)
  • House sports competitions (athletics carnival, swimming carnival, cross country)
  • Peer mentoring / Circle work
  • Student leadership (SRC)
  • Student Leadership conference (annually)
  • Wellbeing program (SEL)
  • Media Team
  • Chess Club
  • Eels Cup and Wanderers Cup

System level

All students, at Beresford Road, have access to participate in the following groups:

  • The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
  • The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
  • The Schools Spectacular is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools.
  • The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.

The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration