Bachelor of Special and Inclusive Education

This degree contains 100 days of professional experience in a school setting. These placements are integrated into EDUC106, EDUC206, EDSP388, EDUC306 and EDSP411.  All professional experience placements in a school setting must meet the following requirements to be counted for placement. The school must:

  • Assess teacher proficiency against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers;
  • Use NESA approved syllabuses or equivalent Australian syllabuses;
  • Be a NESA registered or a NSW Department of Education school (or equivalent interstate settings). For information regarding international schools, please read the OPL's Important Information.

All placements must be in a mainstream classroom unless otherwise specified.

Before undertaking the final placement, all Teacher Education Students in this degree must complete and pass both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students.

Please select your unit from the list below to see more in-depth information about your placements in this degree:

EDUC106 (PrEx Online 10 days)

The unit EDUC106 is an innovative approach to the observation placement undertaken by teacher education students by introducing them to foundational theories, principals and skills for effective student and teacher learning. It meets the requirements of 10 days of professional experience by allowing students to observe structured lessons taught by classroom teachers. No school is organised for this placement. More information regarding this unit and its assessment and professional experience requirements can be found on the Course and Units Catalogue.

EDUC106 Teaching Development 1: Online PrEx 10 days

EDUC206 (PrEx 15 days)

This 15 day placement is integrated into the unit EDUC206. The placement component requires students to complete an assignment while on professional experience as part of the unit. Teacher education students should consult the Course and Units Catalogue for more information regarding the assessment component and other requirements of the unit.

Specific Requirements


This is a 15 day block placement in a primary school setting where the teacher education student will be assessed against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Teacher education students may be placed in classrooms with another student as part of the Triadic Model for professional experience. EDUC206's Specific Requirements outline how the Triadic Model will work in a classroom.

Teacher education students who undertake the placement individually will follow a different set of Specific Requirements.

EDUC206 Specific Requirements (PDF, 997.31 KB)


Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream primary classrooms

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Work in a tutoring agency
  • Working as an au pair
  • Employment as a governess (or equivalent position)
  • Employment as teacher's aide (or equivalent position such as a Learning Support Officer).
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements
  • Library placements
EDUC306 (PrEx 20 days)

This 20 day placement is integrated into the unit EDUC306. The placement component is in a primary Special Education setting or mainstream primary school where students (pre-service teachers) will be assessed against the standards in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Teacher education students should consult the Course and Units Catalogue for more information regarding the assessment and other requirements of the unit.

Specific Requirements


This is a 20-day block placement in a mainstream primary school or primary Special Education setting where the pre-service teacher will be working with a student or students with identified special needs.

EDUC306 Specific Requirements  (PDF, 311.84 KB)


Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream primary classrooms
  • A Special Education school
  • A Special Education unit
  • A Special Education development unit
  • An inclusive school environment that includes students with identified special needs


Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Settings without students with identified special needs
  • Tutoring agencies
  • Schools or agencies not using appropriate NSW or Australian curriculum
  • Work outside of a school setting
  • Employment as a governess (or equivalent position)
  • Employment as teacher's aide (or equivalent position such as a Learning Support Officer).
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements
  • Library placements
EDSP388 (PrEx 20 days)

This Placement and Special Education
This placement is embedded in the unit EDSP388. The placement component is in a Special Education setting where students (pre-service teachers) will be assessed against the standards in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Specific Requirements


This is a 20 day block placement in a Special Education setting where the pre-service teacher will be working with a student or students with identified special needs.

EDSP388 Specific Requirements (PDF, 840.15 KB)


Placements that can be accepted

  • A Special Education school
  • A Special Education unit
  • A Special Education development unit
  • An inclusive school environment which includes students with identified special needs


Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Settings without students with identified special needs
  • Tutoring agencies
  • Schools or agencies not using appropriate NSW or Australian curriculum
  • Work outside of a school setting
  • Employment as a governess (or equivalent position)
  • Employment as teacher's aide (or equivalent position such as a Learning Support Officer).
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements
  • Library placements
EDSP411 (PrEx 35 days)

This 35 day placement is integrated into the unit EDSP411 and is the final placement for this degree. The placement requires students to complete the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment while on professional experience as part of the unit. Students should consult the Course and Units Catalogue for more information.

Specific Requirements


This is a 35 day block placement  in a primary school setting where the teacher education student will be assessed against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Teacher education students will undertake this placement individually as outlined in the Specific Requirements. In schools with applicable agreements, this placement can progress to an Internship once all conditions have been met.

EDSP411 Specific Requirements  (PDF, 1347.24 KB)


Graduate Level Placements


This is the final placement where the teacher education students is assessed against all of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate level as per the requirements of NESA.

During the final professional experience placement, Teacher Education Students are required by NESA to complete a Graduate Teaching Performance Assessment (GTPA). For more information please see the Final Placements and the GTPA page.

Teacher education students will be advised about the details of what is required to complete the GTPA in their final trimester of study. It will involve gathering evidence to demonstrate the impact on the learning of three students in the class with different ability levels.

Primary teaching courses include an AITSL primary teaching specialisation in English/Literacy. Some courses also include a NESA primary teaching specialisation in Mathematics, Science and Technology, and Language.

Depending on your course, your GTPA must focus on your teaching specialisation:

Bachelor of Special and Inclusive Education (Primary) - you MUST focus your GTPA on the primary English KLA


Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream primary classrooms


Teacher education students may only complete one placement in a  Distance Education, or Special Education setting in EDUC206 or EDUC306. Please refer to EDUC206 and EDUC306 for more information.

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Any placement type that varies from a mainstream classroom setting.
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements