High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE)

In our classroom

At Nillo Infants School, a small, welcoming K–2 community with three classes—Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2—we believe every child has unique strengths and potential waiting to be discovered and nurtured. Our connected learning environment means every student is known individually by all staff, creating smooth transitions between years and fostering strong, supportive relationships. Here, we truly work together—as a collaborative community of teachers, families and students—to support each learner’s growth.

Identification of students’ high potential is a collaborative process. Staff engage in rich discussions and reflections, alongside valuable input gathered through family surveys and student voice. This shared approach ensures we recognise not only areas of potential but also individual interests, enabling tailored learning experiences that inspire and extend each child.

Our experienced teachers deliver individualised learning daily, using strategic groupings to develop every student’s unique strengths. Classroom activities are thoughtfully designed to engage and challenge all learners, fostering an inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment.

The importance of nurturing high potential and gifted education through an early years lens is central to our approach. Supporting growth across the four key domains—cognitive, creative, physical and social-emotional—lays the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

Our Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction works closely within classrooms to extend students, especially within the intellectual domain of English and Mathematics, ensuring higher-order thinking and academic growth are continuously encouraged.

We cultivate classrooms where students feel safe to take risks, think creatively and collaborate meaningfully with their peers. Flexible groupings, leadership opportunities and goal-focused feedback guide our students to reflect on their progress and grow with confidence.

Our practice is aligned with the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education Policy, promoting development across four key domains:

• Creative Domain: Encouraging original thinking, innovation and artistic expression.
• Intellectual (Cognitive) Domain: Providing deep learning experiences that promote higher-order thinking and academic rigour.
• Physical Domain: Supporting physical development, coordination and wellbeing through diverse activities.
• Social-Emotional Domain: Building confidence, resilience and empathy to nurture wellbeing and positive relationships.

At Nillo Infants School, we celebrate the potential within every child. Through our nurturing, inclusive community and strong partnerships with families, we are all committed to unlocking each learner’s potential—turning promise into achievement from the very first years of school and beyond.

Across our school

Beyond our individual classrooms, Nillo Infants School provides a wide range of opportunities across the whole school to support and challenge every learner. We are committed to fostering growth across all domains—cognitive, creative, physical and social-emotional—through diverse programs and activities that build skills, confidence and a strong sense of community.

Our students benefit from specialised sessions led by external providers, including Tennis, Cricket, Gymnastics and Swimming through the Sporting Schools Program, as well as musical development via the Kodaly Program. These programs bring expert coaches and instructors into our school, providing high-quality opportunities for students to develop specific talents.

In addition to these external offerings, our school runs a range of enriching activities throughout the year. These school-based programs include STEM challenges, robotics lessons, arts & crafts, cultural experiences and many more. These varied opportunities allow all students to explore their interests and extend their learning in hands-on, engaging ways.

As a small school, we embrace the strengths of our unique setting by enabling our Year 2 students to take on leadership roles often undertaken by Year 6 students in larger schools. Through buddy programs, leadership in assemblies and daily responsibilities around the school, our young learners develop important social-emotional skills such as empathy, resilience, collaboration and a sense of responsibility.

Throughout these experiences, ongoing feedback from students, families and staff is actively sought to continually improve and tailor our programs. This collaborative approach ensures we maintain a vibrant learning community where every learner’s voice is heard and valued.

Together, these across-school opportunities contribute to a rich and balanced learning journey—one that is uniquely shaped by our small K–2 setting.

Across NSW

In addition to classroom and whole school opportunities to encourage and enrich student learning, we also offer our students the opportunity to participate in a range of statewide learning experiences including:

• Premier's Sporting Challenge
• Premier's Reading Challenge
• Public Speaking Competition