Physical Education

The Physical Education program at BSDS supports students to move in as many ways as possible.

By participating in a range of games, physical activities, and sports, students develop their confidence and ability to perform a range of different movements and skills, which in turn improves their strength, endurance, and coordination.

Students are supported to learn how to participate in games alongside their peers, learning about teamwork, fair play, and following the rules of a game. The PE specialists at BSDS collaborate with Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, and Physiotherapists, to ensure that activities are functional, provide students with a better understanding of how their bodies move, and are catered to the individual needs of students.

Some of the special PE programs running at BSDS include:

Perceptual Motor Program (PMP): PMP is a station based program aimed to teach Early Years students about waiting and turn taking whilst developing fundamental movement skills like catching, throwing, jumping, rolling, skipping, crawling, balancing and climbing.

Specialised Coaching: This program brings in specialised coaches from different sporting organisations to teach students about a range of different sports. Coaches teach sport specific skills as students participate in games.   This program provides students with the opportunity to practise cooperation skills with their peers in a fun and exciting sporting environment.

Swimming Program

Each year, we offer a swimming program to selected student groups, providing them with the opportunity to develop their skills in a supportive, community-based setting. Guided by qualified AUSTSWIM instructors, students learn essential water safety and swimming techniques. The program also places a strong emphasis on developing independence with dressing skills, as students practise changing into and out of their swimwear and school uniforms in the changing rooms. It’s always full of fun, learning, and personal growth, with students gaining valuable skills they can enjoy and use confidently with their families in the community.

Bike Education

Our Bike Program is designed to promote physical activity, independence, and confidence while developing leisurely skills in a fun and engaging way. Following individual assessments, the most suitable bike is carefully selected to match the student's physical abilities and support requirements, ensuring a safe and enjoyable riding experience.

The program is delivered in collaboration with our Physical Education teachers, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, who work together to assess and tailor the right equipment and support for each student. They help ensure that students receive the necessary guidance in developing essential motor skills, balance, and coordination. It encourages active participation and provides students with a sense of accomplishment as they master new cycling skills.

Beyond the physical benefits, the Bike Program gives students the opportunity to build self-esteem, support self-regulation, and enjoy outdoor activity in a supportive environment. It’s an excellent way for students to develop confidence while embracing the joy of cycling.

The Art program provides students with regular opportunities to learn through the exploration and creative use of a diverse range of materials.

Art activities provide sensory stimulation to promote learning and development through fun and engaging experiences. Sensory experiences provide open-ended opportunities where the process is more important than the product - how children use the materials is much more important than what they make with them. Language development is also supported whilst making art, often by just talking about what is being created. Art provides opportunities to learn words for colours, shapes and actions.

Social and communication skills are also developed when working with a peer, a member of staff or within a group and through the sharing of materials and tools. Art is a great vehicle for promoting achievement. Showcasing student work can enhance self-esteem and contribute to a sense of inclusion. The development of creative thinking skills and expressing individuality are important self-esteem builders. 

At the heart of the Performing Arts program at Broadmeadows Special Developmental School is communication - empowering students to express themselves and connect with others in new and creative ways.

Through a rich combination of music, dance, and drama, students explore their emotions, build confidence, and develop social and expressive skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Each Performing Arts session includes engaging activities such as singing, playing instruments, dancing, costume dress-ups, games, improvisation, and performance. These activities offer wonderful outlets for students to share their thoughts and feelings, while also learning to work collaboratively.

Dance Program
Our Dance Program brings stories to life through movement, rhythm, and sensory exploration. Students engage in creative storytelling using their bodies, instruments, and props—building awareness of rhythm, space, and expressive movement. From flowing scarves to drums and shakers, each session blends music, dance, and imaginative play to support sensory integration and emotional expression. Whether through guided choreography or spontaneous movement, students develop confidence, coordination, and a deeper connection to themselves and others.

Drama Program
The Drama Program focuses on storytelling, role play, and character development. Through games, improvisation, and performance, students learn about empathy, communication, and cooperation. Drama allows for a safe space to take creative risks, build self-esteem, and shine on stage—no matter the role!

One of the highlights of our Performing Arts program is the Annual School Concert, held at Aitken College.

This special event brings together students from all year levels to perform in front of a live audience, celebrating all their hard work and creativity throughout the year. The concert is a vibrant, fun-filled evening, where families, friends, and the community come together to cheer on our students and share in their achievements. It’s an event that students look forward to, marking the culmination of their performing arts journey each year.

BTV is a student-led television program created by the talented students at Broadmeadows Special Developmental School (BSDS). It’s our way of celebrating and sharing all the amazing things happening across our school community. From classroom projects and special events to student achievements and creative talents, BTV highlights the voices and stories that make BSDS such a vibrant and inspiring place to learn and grow. Tune in and see what makes our school so special – straight from the students themselves!

Food Technology is a hands-on, sensory-rich learning experience that students love. Through engaging cooking activities, students explore healthy eating, kitchen safety, food preparation, and teamwork. Whether they’re whipping up a simple snack or preparing a full meal, students build practical life skills that support independence and confidence both at school and at home. Food Tech lessons are also a great way to develop communication, fine motor skills, and the joy of trying new things.

From garden to plate, it’s all about learning through doing—nurturing healthy habits, creativity, and a love for good food.

Broadmeadows SDS offers specialised small group maths tutoring for targeted student groups, with a focus on building functional numeracy skills aligned with each student’s IEP goals. These targeted sessions aim to develop a strong foundation in number recognition, counting, and basic operations through hands-on, engaging activities.

Students explore mathematical concepts such as measurement, time, money, shapes, and patterns in ways that are meaningful and relevant to their everyday lives. A combination of visual aids, tactile resources, and technology supports diverse learning styles and promotes conceptual understanding.

Maths tutoring sessions often include the use of games, manipulatives, and interactive tools to encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and mathematical language. Students are supported to build confidence, persistence, and independence in their mathematical thinking through consistent, individualised practice.

Literacy

Broadmeadows SDS provides some specialised individual and small group literacy programs for selected students.

Comprehension and reading for meaning provide a strong focus for the literacy program and students reflect on their reading by asking and answering questions. Students are encouraged to use technology to increase their knowledge on writing topics and as a medium to publish or present their written works. All of these literacy programs are tailored to the individual needs of the students and relate back to their PSG goals. These programs include intensive letter and sound recognition, with a focus on phonics to assist with reading and writing.

Students practise basic reading to build an understanding of sentence structure and to increase sight word recognition and general vocabulary. They engage in language games and activities as well as a range of fine motor activities to improve hand-eye coordination and promote handwriting skills. Students are encouraged to share personal experiences to build confidence in oral language and social conversational skills. They also record their experiences in writing journals where they use wordlists and dictionaries to assist with spelling.

RDA

Riding Develops Abilities at Oaklands Junction is a program accessed by some students weekly.

Included physical benefits:
• Improved balance
• Strengthened muscles
• Stretching muscles
• Increased range of motion in joints
• Sensory integration

DIR Floortime

Learn to Play

The aim of Learn to Play Therapy is to build the spontaneous pretend play ability of children, and to give a child the ability to play by him/herself and with others.

As children grow in their ability, they generalise their play ability skills to home, friends and school settings.

Learn to Play focuses on pretend play, as this type of play is the most complex and mature form of play. Pretend play also impacts on language (particularly narrative language), social interaction, and emotional integration of the child’s experiences.

The play skills that are the focus of Learn to Play Therapy are:
• Ability to spontaneously self-initiate play
• Sequencing play actions logically
• Using objects as something else (object substitution or symbols in play)
• Engaging with a doll or teddy character outside of themselves
• Integrating their play so a clear play script is evident
• Role play
• Socially interacting using play