Our Curriculum

How we learn

Teachers, therapists, and educators at Ruru School work diligently every day to help students achieve their unique goals and curriculum objectives in a supportive environment.

Our students are aged from 5 years to 21 years old.

Overview

Ruru Specialist School takes an innovative approach to teaching and learning across the school for a diverse range of students aged 5 to 21 years. Our experienced and professional staff design quality programmes for each individual student.

We use an Expanded Level 1 Curriculum based upon the Principles, Key Competencies and Learning Outcomes of the New Zealand Curriculum. Our curriculum is adapted to provide meaningful and achievable learning goals for students and is delivered through the implementation of IEP/ICPs, classroom activities, and real-world learning such as work experience.

Across our five sites, students engage in individualised programmes where they are supported to reach their potential – teachers work alongside therapy and support staff to design learning activities that build upon what students already know.

Combined with ongoing assessment our students make great progress towards their goals.

We focus on reading, writing, maths and self-management and also cover other curriculum areas through thematic integrated units.

We focus on the Key Competencies:

Using language, symbols, and texts
Thinking
Relating to others
Managing self
Participating and contributing

which are aligned to the principles of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Key Competencies

Literacy

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At Ruru Specialist School we use the “?’ model as the basis for students’ literacy learning. The ‘?’ model consists of structured Literacy sessions; Guided Reading, Self-Selected Reading, Working with Words, and Writing. Students use customised alternative pencils to functionally participate in writing. Alternate pencils vary for each student and may be a computer, communication device, iPad, flip alphabet chart or an eye gaze frame.

Students use sensory stories as a vehicle to support the learning and development of literacy with the assistance of props, objects and tactile cues.

Numeracy

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Aquatics

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Ruru Specialist School offers an on-site Aquatics program. The school has a fully accessible hydrotherapy pool and qualified swim staff who oversee the sessions.

Students are allocated time with their class to participate in aquatics sessions. While the school is equipped with a range of resources, families provide appropriate swimwear, towel and other personal hygiene products.

Visual Arts

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Students enrolled at Ruru Specialist School have access to a visual arts program, appropriate to their age, individual needs and level of development.

We offer students a broad variety of art activities including a wide range of materials and sensory experiences.

Students will use various art tools to create, make, explore, and manipulate.

Students will respond and reflect on their own work and that of their peers.

Students will gain a sense of pride and achievement seeing their works displayed around the school or at a community event.

Sensory Learning

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At Ruru Specialist School students use their senses to develop their understanding of subjects within the curriculum. They learn, through the use of their senses, cause and effect, whether they like or dislike materials, objects or sounds and express this by using a consistent yes and no response. Students use their senses to become aware of and explore their environment independently. Sensory learning enables students to compare and contrast as well as develop an ability to anticipate what will happen next.