Head teacher Jeff Bailey and his staff are the driving force behind the success of the program.

The school draws children from throughout the Illawarra

"We've got eight classes, two of which are autistic, two multi-categorical, one emotional disturbance and three are intellectually moderate," Mr Bailey said.

"It's been running for many years, since before I started. We believe ours is the largest unit in the Illawarra."

"It is like a school within a school; it is so large. This is the most children we've ever had enrolled," he said.

"When I started, there were only two special education teachers and classes only up to year 10. It's grown dramatically."

The teaching staff is made up of 22 teachers and teacher aides.

Educators have either completed, or are completing, a Masters degree in special education.

"The teachers we have here are a really dedicated team. They have the kids' best interests at heart," Mr Bailey said.

"The push for this program to expand has come from principal Rick Coleman. I could have all the ideas in the world but without the support from him it wouldn't happen."

Mr Coleman said he believed the special education support unit was enormously beneficial for the entire school.

"The fact is, the program offers another support for the high percentage of children living in the area who need special education support," he said.

"While it meets the needs of the students, it is also good for the kids enrolled in mainstream education."

Outside key areas of the curriculum, the program also incorporates life skills into its weekly timetables.

Students go out for the day for travel training, such as catching a bus, and take part in the permit culture program - a hands-on vegetable patch.

"The kid's plant seedlings which they then harvest and prepare meals from. They can then take those skills home to their families," Mr Coleman said.

Mr Bailey said the integration of these students was a vital part of the program.

"The kids go through to year 12 and get their HSC under the life skills program.

"There are no examinations; it's ongoing assessment from years 7 to 12.

"The main aim is for these kids to have the same opportunities as you or I. Some kids have ended up working [as] mechanics or [in] private enterprise," Mr Bailey said.