STaR on the rise
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Research behind the STaR program indicates that inclusive early childhood practice is of benefit to children with and without disabilities. |
Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are being given an opportunity for mainstream education thanks to a dedicated team from Macquarie University.
Over a decade of research by Dr Coral Kemp and her students from the Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC), has shown that inclusive early childhood practice is of benefit to children with and without disabilities.
"For many years we had a little preschool at MUSEC, eight children with disabilities -some severe - and 12 children without disabilities," says Kemp. "For my doctorate I followed those children with disabilities into school. Some were extremely successful beyond our wildest dreams. Some whom we thought would do really well were not as successful. We believe that the preparation we gave them was really valuable but after that it depends on the next educational environment."
STaR Early Years Program
The STaR Early Years Program has built on the success of the MUSEC preschool but incorporates the 0-3 age group as well.
Following a successful pilot run at a childcare facility in Meadowbank, and Federal Government funding, this program will be established in 12 centres across Sydney over the next year.
Objectives
"As well as aiming for inclusive childcare, the STaR program's main objective is to accelerate and enhance the children's development with the goal of helping children with special needs attend a mainstream school, where this is in the best interests of the child and family," explains Kemp.
There have been numerous success stories to date, including:
Parents, who were unable to find places for their children in preschools have been accommodated and can now work or have some form of respite.
Children with disabilities are learning, not only from their teachers but from their typically developing peers. According to one parent, she is greeted each day by children who tell her what her daughter has done that day. On bike day, her daughter had even been given a bike to ride by one of her typically developing peers.
"Other children allow for the disabilities but they still expect them to learn and achieve," says Kemp. "They are great at that age. People build up prejudices as they get older. Little children don't have them."
One child with a disability, who had a moderate developmental delay when he entered the STaR program, graduated from the academic program at Meadowbank and got 8/10 for his spelling test at the end of kindergarten.
Research opportunities
Research opportunities are available for postgraduate students with an interest in Special Education.
Research in the project is ongoing with papers being published on a regular basis. It focuses on issues such as: How many children can be accommodated? Have the skills of staff improved? Are parents' needs being met? What is the overall development of children?
"So far we have had nothing but enthusiasm and support," says Kemp. "It's been 14 years in evolution and we've learnt a lot in that time. If you focus just on the children with disabilities, everyone is disadvantaged. You have to focus on all the children and make sure all their needs are met."
For further information contact Dr Coral Kemp via email at coral.kemp@mq.edu.au