A New School for Autistic Children

In January 2006, Woodbury opened its doors for the first time! This was the culmination of many years of hard work and we are thrilled that the school is now operating very successfully.

Our school is located at Balcombe Heights Estate, in Baulkham Hills, Sydney. Situated on the site of a former Masonic school for orphaned children, the school is in a very peaceful and attractive setting. In an area of community buildings and open space, the school buildings are separate from any other facility, providing an ideal setting in which to deliver our curriculum.

Woodbury is an independent school for children with autism. This is the first school of its kind in Australia, based on the principles and techniques of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). There are currently 78 other such schools worldwide. Our educational approach involves offering ABA programs to each child, as well as complying with all Board of Studies requirements.

Individualised, comprehensive programs at Woodbury

Woodbury offers an individualised program for each child, which covers all aspects of the child’s development.

Each child has their own specific set of educational needs, related to their learning style and their unique mix of abilities and deficits. Woodbury develops and delivers an individual program to match each student’s unique profile.

The school’s programs comply fully with NSW Board of Studies KLA outcomes, but also address all of the other skills a young person requires to function successfully and independently. We specifically target communication, social skills, play and leisure, independent living skills, motor skills as well as academic skills. This approach is aimed at addressing all of the child’s development needs in the one comprehensive program.

Most importantly, the school provides a positive experience for the children because it allows them to be highly successful, engaged and to receive high levels of positive reinforcement.

The school has a high teacher-student ratio. Students are initially taught one-to-one, then in small groups and then larger group settings, but only once they have developed the skills to do so.

The children who are able to attend the school range from ages 4.5 to 13 at the time of enrolment, incorporating both primary and secondary school programs. The curriculum ranges from foundation skills through regular K-10 curriculum as required.