Hamilton North School is a school which caters for students with special needs from five to twenty one years of age. We offer a functional curriculum designed for students who have needs that cannot be met by the regular school curriculum. Hamilton North comprises a base school plus satellite classes in primary and middle schools. This provides for students a choice and range of learning environments. With the co-operation of three regular schools, classes of Hamilton North students and staff are located in host schools. It is the policy of our school to encourage our students to interact with their peers in regular schools and with the community in general. The aim of our integration programme is to foster the social and functional development of our students by joining regular classes for specific activities in areas where they can achieve and also by allowing them access to normal social activities. The focus of our teaching is to provide Individual Education Programmes (IEPs). They are compiled by the classroom teacher in consultation with parents, caregivers and other professionals and supportive services, and are regularly reviewed, evaluated and updated. The education curriculum and programme for special needs students is broad and relevant to current and future needs which will include areas that will help the students learn to cope more effectively with the environment. We aim to guide each student irrespective of disability towards the realisation of his/her potential. Students with special needs include those with learning difficulties, behavioural problems, visual and hearing impairments, intellectual disability, developmental delay, speech/language delays, communication and learning disorders, physical and multiple disabilities.