For parent Natalie S, the decision two and a half years ago to move her son Lachie from a mainstream primary school to a specialist school partway through his second year of schooling, has proven to be the right choice for her child and family.
“Lachie has settled in beautifully at Emerson School,” Natalie says. “He just loves going to school. Every day for him is an exciting adventure heading off to Emerson on the bus.”
The initial decision was not easy for Natalie, who describes her son as “very gentle, happy and sweet.” Her concern about moving him from a familiar environment into something completely unfamiliar meant she needed time to process the idea before committing.
“I’m a strong advocate for my son and wanted a safe, happy environment where he could thrive,” she says. “I appreciated the fact that Emerson didn’t pressure me to decide immediately and confirmed that we would not be locked in if I changed my mind down the track.”
Her preconceived notions around what the classroom and other students might be like in a special school, had her hesitating, but she has been very happy with Lachie’s time at Emerson.
“The reality is completely different to my imaginings. The kids are well-behaved, the class sizes are small, which is great, and overall, it has been a hugely positive experience for Lachie. In the mainstream setting, with so many kids, he was just getting lost.”
Natalie has a good friend whose brother attended Emerson many years ago, and who still returns regularly to the school to play in a Past Students’ band. That positive feedback, plus assurance from Lachie’s classroom aides at his previous school, led to her touring Emerson and ultimately making the decision to move her son here.
She attributes the school’s success to the culture of positivity and happiness evident within the Emerson community. She believes that is due in large part to the many staff who have been here for so long and are clearly happy to be at work.
“Having staff who want to be there not only provides consistency for the kids but also creates a positive energy felt by students and families. That positivity is a huge contributor to Lachie’s joy at attending school each day.”
With two other boys in their family (an eight-year-old at a mainstream primary school and a 13-year-old at a mainstream high school), Natalie is particularly grateful for the fact that Lachie loves catching the bus to and from school. “The school bus truly is a godsend!” she says.
[interviewed May 2026]
Photo credit: Photo provided by parent Natalie with permission to use granted
