Chalcot Lodge Primary School is one of 93 schools across Victoria sharing in $15 million to build all-access play areas, sensory gardens and outdoor learning areas to support students with disabilities and additional needs, under the latest rounds of the Andrews Labor Government’s $30 million Inclusive Schools Fund.

Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, said Chalcot Lodge Primary School is receiving $175,500 to create a new inclusive learning area including an outdoor sensory garden for its students. The project will extend the interior spaces of the library, incorporating a variety of materials, vegetation, colours & textures to stimulate all the senses. Includes suspended play nets, grassy hill, tunnel and covered teaching space with performance area.

The new outdoor learning space will provide an alternative learning environment that will deliver great benefits to the students at Chalcot Lodge. Sensory gardens help enhance memory, concentration and problem solving skills as well as improve speech and language. This new area will promote improved mental health, social interaction and wellbeing for the school’s students.

The Inclusive Schools Fund is helping government schools better support the social and educational needs of young people with a disability.

Since it was established by the Labor Government in 2015, nearly 90 creative projects to build inclusive play spaces, outdoor learning areas, sensory gardens and calm spaces have been delivered.

The Inclusive Schools Fund is part of the Government’s Special Needs Plan for Victorian Schools, which is ensuring that students with disabilities get the same opportunities as other students.

Inclusive education is about ensuring that all students, regardless of disabilities or other differences, are able to fully participate, learn, develop and succeed in Victorian government schools. ​

More information about these projects is available at: www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.