Enriching the Learning Journey

Our Services

Explore our tailored educational services designed to support every learner's needs.

Gifted Education

Championheads provide specialist personalised tutoring and assessment for gifted students, through face-to-face and online education. We are highly skilled in attaining mastery of skills prior to acceleration. Gifted holiday sessions are also available in multiple interest areas.

Holiday Groups

Sessions are available for both Gifted Holiday Groups and General Holiday Groups to support academic enhancement, social growth, and community service.

NCCD and Gifted Education School Support

We provide assistance for schools to comply with NCCD requirements and in support of diverse learners. Gifted Education support and consultation assists staff when families are considering acceleration, radical acceleration, early entry, or differentiation. Click here for further information.

Assessments

Perhaps you are unsure if your child needs assessment. We can assist by providing & explaining testing options. Championheads offers a range of educational and psychological-based assessments to identify both giftedness & barriers to learning. Click here for more information.

Tutoring

General tutoring in all academic areas is available for students K-8. On occasion, small groups are offered as a tutoring option (suitable students will be advised of this option whenever this is available).

About Us

Gifted Education Nicole has multiple Gifted Education degrees and over 25 years' experience in Gifted Education. She has supported many students through acceleration, including Early Entry. Her academic research in Gifted Education, Middle School Gifted Education, Underachievement, Student Voice, and Twice-Exceptionality is globally significant. Her extensive knowledge in the gifted field, positively enriches learning and social-emotional outcomes for gifted students.

Disability Support Nicole has many years' experience in supporting, engaging, and championing students with disability. Positions held include, Head of Campus of a Special Education setting, Dean of Inclusive Education, Head of Teaching and Learning, and she has provided consultation to multiple school leadership teams on identification and effective and appropriate support of disability. Nicole has supported police with student reengagement to schooling. Nicole provided remote learning alternatives to face-to-face teaching during times of stress, illness or geographical distance.

Additional Achievements Nicole has been a NAPLAN marker; had a student placed 1st and 3rd in The Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition, plus 100+ Honours placements; an Ulimiliko Australian Writer of the Year; and an Australian Creative Writer of the Year. Nicole has been a finalist in the National Excellence of Teaching Awards, served on a University Senate, and contributed to National Curriculum implementation.

Underachieving Gifted Support

Gifted students sometimes underachieve, leading to lower attainment levels of which they are capable. Sadly, underachieving sometimes includes being in a classroom where the teacher may not understand a child's true potential.

At Championheads, we are skilled in recognising individual capabilities and identifying an appropriate next course of action in supporting gifted individuals to achieve academic fulfilment and academic success (and to engage their school in this understanding). If you feel your child is not performing at the level of which they are capable, they may have already become disengaged and are underachieving. Our gifted educational specialist has an undergraduate specialty in gifted education, a Research Masters in Underachievement and twice-exceptionality and is at completion of a PhD in Gifted Australian students and as such, is excellently positioned in reengaging your child in a love for learning.

Gifted Enrichment

In addition to providing set sessions, face-to-face and online support can be provided in multiple academic ventures. Please contact reception to discuss your request.

Weekly Gifted Individual Sessions

Individual sessions are not constrained by topic. Gifted students can individualise pace and density and often adjust learning toward their interest areas. These include:

• Targeted Phonics sessions (for young students)

• Writing enrichment sessions

• Mathematical concepts extension

• Condensing of the curriculum in any areas Years K-8.

• Likeminded Peers- This time is an opportunity for the gifted to embrace their talents and build confidence with likeminded peers. $65 per hour.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child cannot follow multiple instructions. Is this normal?

This depends on age and a number of factors. A 1hr consultation involving multiple areas of testing is a 1st step in determining the most appropriate steps forward.

My child makes an effort during Mathematics lessons, however they still cannot understand most of what is discussed in class. What next steps should I take?

This may be an area of learning difficulty, or it may be just that your child missed a core concept when it was taught, which has in turn impacted on further learning. If they have missed a substantial number of lessons, some weekly tutoring to overcome this area of weakness may be all that is required. We will likely be able to determine the most appropriate course of action with a 1-hour consultation, during which we will assess core areas of learning to outline variances of understanding. We will also investigate other learning aspects that may impact the ability to retain mathematical concepts.

My child is disruptive at school and finds school difficult. What can I do to support them?

Championheads' role in your child's support is to focus on the functionality of behaviour and find what, if any, impact their academic levels (either high or low) have on their current position. It could be as easy as filling learning gaps or requesting school-based change. Individual school support plans are sometimes helpful and we can assist you with this support or discuss options with your school if suitable. Once the data is gathered, it may be decided ongoing behaviour support may be suitable, for which, a referral can be completed to an experienced psychologist, detailing assessment results and actions taken.

Help! My child hates school.

If you've not been able to gain an understanding of why your child dislikes school, we may be able to assist you through discussion, assessment, and future planning. A 1-hour consultation is recommended, to which you should bring any school reports and previous testing (if applicable).

I know something is affecting my child's learning, but I am not sure what it is?

Our initial testing session will be able to ascertain our next steps through discussion and assessment. Please book a 1.5 hr session.

My child cannot read well.

More often than not, children who are struggling with reading, have additional barriers to their learning. Allow for a 1-hour consultation when booking. Ongoing support recommendations will likely include weekly tutoring sessions within the care plan. 30 mins tutoring sessions recommended (1 hour will be too long to concentrate for the struggling reader).

My child is not reaching what I know to be their potential.

If you believe your child should be doing better than they are, we can provide steps toward identifying any barriers to their learning. Championheads undertakes thorough assessment of anecdotal observations, formative and summative assessment, data analysis, and discussion. Sometimes it may be a very small barrier that is making a huge impact. Every child's experience is different. Call to make a 1.5-hour appointment. Please bring along any school reports you can easily access.

My child is in high school and their poor reading is affecting other subjects.

The first thing we need to put in place is individual or group support at school for exams. Our assessments may be able to provide initial data to support such inclusion. The next step is to ascertain what subject and topic areas have been affected by this barrier to effective learning and what needs to be actioned to support your child's learning. A 1.5-hour consultation is the first step toward providing and planning for appropriate support.

My child can concentrate at home in their interest areas, but their teacher reports they have trouble concentrating at school.

This scenario is common. An initial 1-hour booking is recommended for assessments and consultation.

Testimonials

See what our customers say about us.

...lots of amazing experiences...a wise mentor...helped me open up and really shine over the past 2 years. Thank you for helping me discover that there really is a purpose to my life....Thank you for teaching me how to dream, because not many teachers are able to teach their students this amazing and really useful skill...will always remember the excellent guide in the form of a teacher you were to me.

SJ

Student

Nicole's untiring enthusiasm and enlightened attitude toward teaching is something of a blessing, for those students fortunate enough to be in her class. (Child's name) has in the past 8 months blossomed from a quiet, unconfident girl to a delightful, enthusiastic, and most importantly, a confident student and young adult. Mrs Walters does the amazing job of making all the young people around her embrace their uniqueness and value themselves as important individuals and teammates.

Mrs M

Victoria

You see the gold in each young person that struggles at the deepest level in life and work out what it is exactly that young person needs to shine.

Mrs B

Newcastle

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You helped me open up and really shine...thank you for teaching me how to dream. SJ

SJ - Student

...you see the gold in each young person that struggles at the deepest level in life and work out what it is exactly that young person needs to shine.

Mrs B - Parent