FAQs

Once you have completed our Eligibility Criteria check and are eligible, click the Book an Tour or Enrol Now button. Once you have toured the school you will be sent an email for complete and application form.  Applications need to be completed in full including all supporting documentation for your application to be considered. The Enrolment Process is digital. Remember to sign the application before you submit it with your supporting documents. If you have any questions during the application stage contact enrolments@sycamore.qld.edu.au.

The School is located at Alexandra Hills, on TAFE Campus. To find the School, drive into the TAFE, turn left at the roundabout and follow the signs to The Sycamore School Main Entrance at the rear of the campus. When you arrive, press the intercom button on the gate to be let in.

To book a tour, first complete an enquiry form and then you will be provided with the upcoming tour dates where you will be able to book in a tour that suits. Tours are conducted by our Enrolments Officer and if you cannot make the tour or need to reschedule you can email enrolments@sycamore.qld.edu.au

No, we do not have a catchment area. If our Specialist Team believe that we can provide your child with the appropriate support and resources to thrive, we welcome young people from all over Southeast Queensland, as well as applications from other parts of Queensland and interstate.

Each class has between eight to twelve young people supported by a Teacher and an Education Support Officer, who together form the Collaborative Education Team (CET). The CET share values and work together towards the educational goals and outcomes of the young people in their class. The CETs work closely with the Head of Teaching and Learning in collaboration with families to design individualised educational programs to support each young person’s Personalised Learning Plan.

Our Specialist Support Team which comprises of a Social Worker, Chaplain, Behaviour Specialist, Behaviour Assistants and Allied Health Assistant provide additional support where needed.

The school currently caters for young people from Preparatory to Year 10.

After Year 10, young people and their families are supported to transition to other schools, vocational schools, various settings and work readiness programs that suit the aspirations of each young person.  Our Vocational Pathways Coordinator and Collaborative Education Team work closely with the young people and their families to identify the most appropriate pathways for each young person, taking into account their individual strengths, interests and goals. We also provide ongoing support and guidance throughout the process to ensure a smooth and successful transition to the next stage of their education and career journey.

With only twelve young people in a class, at this stage we do not have the enrolment numbers to support the variety of subjects to offer a Year 11 and Year 12 option.

We do not have a dedicated bus service for our young people. We understand the importance of transportation to and from school. Some of our families have grandparents or family members who support drop-offs and pick-ups, while others hire support workers to assist with transportation. In addition, some High School students utilise public transport and buses, or ride bikes to school, at the discretion of their parents and carers. There are two Outside School Hours Care providers who drop off and pick up young people from our School.

Our School does not have any specific requirements in terms of the level of ASD diagnosis. Instead of focusing on the level of diagnosis, we look at the individual support needs of each young person and whether we can support them within our environment.

Our enrolment process involves a comprehensive review of each young person’s needs. This includes reviewing educational plans, behaviour support plans, therapist reports, and may progress to discussions with parents/carers as well as the young person’s current educational setting. Our Review Committee assess this information to determine whether our School is the right fit for each application and whether we are able to support their individual needs.

Our enrolment process is designed to ensure that we are able to provide the appropriate level of support to each young person who joins our School. The process begins with an application review by our Review Committee. They review all applications and supporting documents, educational plans, behaviour support plans, therapist reports and assess each young person’s needs to determine whether our School is the right fit for their individual needs, based on the areas of support required and the dynamic of our already existing cohort. If the Review Committee determines that our School may be able to support the needs of a young person, the application may progress through 8 different stages.

It is important to note that our enrolment process is thorough and can take some time, as we want to ensure that each young person we enrol is set up for success. We encourage families to apply early and be patient throughout the process.

The enrolment application deposit is non-refundable because it covers the cost of the thorough and individualised review process we undertake for each application we receive. This includes a review by three specialist staff members to determine what level of support each young person will need if they attend our School, whether they progress further in our enrolment process or not. As this process incurs significant expenses, the application fee is non-refundable.

We do not have a traditional waitlist, but we have an expression of interest list. The size of our EOI list varies throughout the year and we cannot provide an exact timeline for when a place will come available for a child. Families who are on our Expression of Interest List will remain on it for two years as per our Enrolment Policy. After this time, their application will expire, and to remain on the list for a potential placement, they will need to resubmit a new application along with updated supporting documentation and a $250 application for enrolment fee. We encourage families to submit their application as soon as possible.

If our School is not able to meet a young person’s needs, we recommend exploring other educational options and resources available through the Department of Education or other relevant organisations. These resources may include information on other schools, programs, and services that may be better suited to a young person’s specific needs.