Principal's message

Every student at our school is unique, with a wide range of diagnoses and presenting behaviour, and they are supported accordingly via a personalised approach.  The school is guided by the principles of trauma-informed practice, and of the philosophies of contemporary educators in special education, and child psychologists such as Dr. Ross Greene. Staff seek to find out what is driving certain behaviours, and lead from the basic premise that if 'students could do well at schoool, they would do well.  For other students the emphasis is on owning their behaviour and accepting consequences.

Bridge Road has a strong focus on student wellbeing.  We implement many programs to build self-esteem and promote a positive self-concept.  We practice mindfulness, random acts of kindness, reward whole school success and promote healthy eating.  Each week for example, Build Up Awards are given out, where a prize is drawn each week from raffle tickets awarded when students display prosocial behaviour, such as checking on their peers, providing comfort, or giving compliments.  Our therapy dog visits every Friday thanks to Delta Dogs, and a music therapist attends every Tuesday.  We also have a social worker 2 days per week, and a school counsellor 2 days per week, meaning there is always someone available for students to see on Bridge Road School days.

Bridge Road School's reintegration program is based solely on our students. Typically, when students have completed their second term at Bridge Road School, we start counting good days at their home school. 

Our students need safe spaces, and time to calm down.  We have created a range of safe spaces and activities throughout the day to ensure all students are catered for during an emotional crisis or more importantly to stop the crisis from occurring.  All spaces can be fully supervised, and students can choose to enter these spaces as required.  The pillow room is a favourite place to relax, sleep and hide.  By providing different lunch time options, such as iPads, the forest swing, or sporting activities, we have dramatically reduced conflict between children on the playground.  As we have three breaks throughout the day, this is very important.

Building relationships with our families is also very important.  All staff at Bridge Road School work closely with families.  We communicate daily with families via email or phone calls.  Staff go out of their way to make positive phone calls to families to highlight the strengths of the children. We also run a parent group on a fortnightly basis.

Without the support of our home schools the Bridge Road program would fail. Bridge Road School teaching staff visit every student in their home schools on a weekly basis. Together with our home schools and families, we hold student reviews each term.  We offer every school ongoing support with crisis management, risk plans and personalised learning and support plans.  It is an important partnership for our students.  As we like to say, "We are just borrowing their students; we are not a forever school."

Bridge Road School is a successful program.  We have a high success rate of reintegrating students back into their home school fulltime.  Most of our students arrive at Bridge Road School, disengaged, unmotivated and with limited academic success.  Students leave Bridge Road School with improved self-worth, increased self-esteem,and increased confidence.  The staff's passion for their job and their dedication to their students is truly evident in the acamdemic, social and emotional growth in our students.

Bridge Road School strives for continuous improvement through analysis of data, collection of evidence, school evaluation, community feedback and staff reflection.  Bridge Road School is a small, supportive, inclusive setting, and with our help, our goal is for students to return to their home schools, and 'cross the bridge'.

David Lomas
Principal