Mr PEARSON (Essendon) — My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Education. The action I seek is for the government to fund a flexible outdoor learning centre at the Ascot Vale Primary School for children with special needs. I am so fortunate to have a great school like Ascot Vale Primary School in my electorate. Ascot Vale Primary School was established in 1885 and was also the school that William Scurry attended. As members may well know, Mr Scurry developed the self-firing rifle that was used in the evacuation at Gallipoli. The school’s principal is Sue Osborne, who is a fantastic principal and educator and has done a magnificent job with the school.

Like many schools in our community, Ascot Vale Primary School has students with autism spectrum disorder. It has identified a way in which the needs of these students can be catered for. Ascot Vale Primary School has an existing courtyard to the east of unit 3 which is currently linked physically and visually. However, it is not utilised as a learning space and is underutilised as a play space. The school would like to ensure that this courtyard can provide a quiet, inviting, safe and contemplative space allowing students an opportunity to escape the noise of a large classroom and still be part of the learning indoors. It will create a therapeutic environment which is easily accessible and monitored by staff and will accommodate sensory overload needs, support emotional wellbeing and provide a flexible outdoor learning space which can be accessed by all members of the school community, not just those in unit 3. So I call on the minister to fund this fantastic initiative.