Children with Special Education Needs
The preamble to the Education Act, 1998 makes specific
reference to provision for the education of persons with disabilities or special
educational needs, and a stated objective of the act is to “give practical
effect to the constitutional rights of children, including children who have a
disability or other special educational needs” (Part 1, section 6 [a] ). The
purpose of this document is to outline the policies which are being implemented
in this school to ensure that adequate provision is made for pupils with special
educational needs.
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Definitions
A precise definition of special educational needs is
difficult. For example, in the Warnock Report (1978), it is stated that one
fifth of the general population of mainstream schools might have special
educational needs of some kind during their school lives.
Such a broad definition of special educational needs has major
implications for practice and for resource provision. However, the more general
understanding of pupils with special educational needs is that they encounter
barriers to learning. The Report of the Special Education Review Committee (SERC,
1993) defined areas of special educational needs under four broad headings:
- General learning disabilities
- Emotional and behavioural disturbance
- Language and communication difficulties and disorders
- Physical and sensory disabilities
System introduced in June 2004 and Revised in February
2005 for the Allocation of Resources to Pupils with Special Educational Needs
(Circular SP Ed 02/05)
-
There is a general weighted
allocation to all schools to cater for pupils with low achievement (i.e.
function at or below the 10th percentile on a standardised test of reading
and /or mathematics) and higher incidence SEN (borderline mild general
learning disability, mild general learning disability and specific
learning disability). The weighted allocation for our school based on an
enrolment of 466 was 3.33 posts.
-
Individual allocation of pupils with
lower incidence SEN will continue to be made through the Special Educational
Resource process (individual applications supported by relevant professional
reports).
The Categories of Special Educational Needs are listed
in tabular form
Disability
|
Disability Code
|
Hours of SET support for each disability
|
Physical disability
|
1
|
3
|
Hearing impairment
|
2
|
4
|
Visual impairment
|
3
|
3.5
|
Emotional disturbance
|
4
|
3.5
|
Severe emotional disturbance
|
5
|
5
|
Mild General Learning disability
|
6
|
Weighted model
|
Moderate general learning
disability
|
7
|
3.5
|
Severe/ Profound General Learning
disability
|
8
|
5
|
Borderline General
Learning Disability |
9
|
Weighted model
|
Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders
|
10
|
5
|
Specific Learning disability
|
11
|
Weighted model
|
Assessed Syndrome
|
12
|
3 to 5
|
Specific Speech and Language
Disorder
|
14
|
4
|
Multiple Disabilities
|
15
|
5
|
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General Learning Disabilities
Students with general learning disabilities form the most
numerous student cohort in special needs education, and in former times, these
children were referred to as being `mildly mentally handicapped’. Children
with a mild learning disability (or general learning disability) typically have
verbal and performance IQ scores in the 50 to 70 range. In recent years, there
has been a movement away from labelling based solely on psychometric assessment
with the result that definitions are less clear-cut. A pupil will be considered
to have a general learning disability if:
- He /she has a significantly greater difficulty in learning
than the majority of children of his /her age
Characteristics of General Learning Disability
The most common learning characteristic of children with a
general learning disability is that they have difficulty mastering academic
content. They may also display one or more of the following characteristics:
- Delayed conceptual development
- Limited ability to abstract and generalise
- Difficulties with memory
- Slow speech and language development
- Limited social skills
- Inappropriate or immature personal behaviour
- Limited attention span and poor retention ability
- Decreased motivation
- Poor self-concept
- Low self-esteem
- General clumsiness
- Emotional disturbance
- A minority may have varying degrees of hearing or visual
impairment
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Moderate Learning Disabilities
Students with moderate learning disabilities have an IQ
score in the range of 35 to 50. They may also have additional disabilities such
as physical impairment, emotional disturbance, sensory losses or behavioural
problems.
Characteristics
- Delay in reaching developmental milestones
- Speech or communication problems
- Poor-co-ordination /mobility
- Low cognitive ability
- Poor attention span
- Poor perception and memory
- Poor social skills
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Specific Learning Difficulty
A Specific Learning Difficulty is defined as impairments
in areas such as reading, spelling and mathematics which are not attributable
primarily to hearing loss, impaired vision, emotional problems or below average
ability.
Characteristics of a Specific Learning Difficulty
- Delays in acquiring language or speech
- Shortcomings in the understanding and /or remembering of
common sequences such as the days of the week or tables
- Confusion with directions such as left or right
- Confusion with letters and words that are alike (e.g. b
/d, p /q), mixing up sounds of words, unable to match sounds with their letters
- Poor pencil grip, awkward handwriting and difficulty with
copying from a book or from the blackboard
- Verbal IQ is below their performance IQ
- While some pupils with major problems in one area (reading
/spelling / writing) may cope well in other areas (e.g. numeracy), overall
attainment levels of pupils with a specific learning disability are generally
below average
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Principles of Special Education
The principles underlying education for students with
special educational needs do not differ from those that are relevant to all
students. The Primary School Curriculum (1999) states that:
All children have a right of access to the highest-
quality education appropriate to their needs. This includes children whose
disabilities or circumstances inhibit their effective participation in the
education that is normally provided for children of their age… it is important
that a range of educational provision is available that is flexible enough to
cater for the special needs of individual children at the various stages of
development. (p. 29)
Aims
- To enable the student to live a full life and to realise
his potential as an unique individual through access to an appropriate broad and
balanced curriculum
- To educate pupils with special educational needs along
with their peers where ever possible, giving due consideration to the necessity
to meet their individual needs
- To enable the student to function as independently as
possible in society through the provision of such educational supports as are
necessary to realise that potential
- To identify pupils with special educational needs as early
as possible in their primary school career
- To involve fully the parents of pupils with special
educational needs, and to seek their close co-operation.
- To meet the needs of the pupils by the most efficient use
of all available resources
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Policies and Procedures
The following policies and procedures are intended to show
the structures and systems that are in place in St Colmcille’s BNS with regard
to special needs provision, and how the aims are translated into practice.
1. |
The Principal monitors the annual intake to ensure that
pupils with Special Educational Needs have not been refused admission or
discriminated against because of their special needs. The Principal and the
Special Needs Resource Co-ordinator (one of the Assistant Principals) meet with
the parents of any prospective pupil who may special educational needs.
|
2. |
The duties of the Resource Teachers were amended in September
2005 so that each Resource Teacher has responsibility for a specific cohort.
This new arrangements mean that there is no longer a Learning Support Teacher
nor are Traveller pupils given separate support in a group of Travellers. The
Resource Teachers and the Resource Teachers for Language Support (RTSL) work
closely with the Principal and all mainstream class teachers to ensure that:
- The curriculum being followed allows for adequate
development in each curricular area
- The curriculum makes provision for individual
differences
- The curriculum offers equality of opportunity and
access to the different curricular areas
- The curriculum is reviewed regularly as part of the
whole school planning process to ensure that it is relevant to the
children’s needs, and is perceived as such by the parents of the children
|
3. |
The Resource Teachers
offer advice to class teachers with regard to employing differentiated
teaching methods and resources. It is important that advice is available
to mainstream class teachers to help remove any anxieties that teachers
may have in this regard. Provision is made within the time-table (1 ½
hours per week) for a meeting of Resource Teachers to discuss teaching
strategies and modes of assessment. Resource Teachers are
time-tabled for whole class teaching on a regular basis so that mainstream
class teachers have the opportunity to work with pupils with special needs
in small groups.
|
4. |
The Resource Teachers
work with the mainstream class teachers and parents in developing
Individual Education Plans (IEP).
|
5. |
Provision is made within the time-table (1 period per
month) for the Resource Teachers to provide feedback to mainstream class
teachers with regard to the progress of individual pupils. This feedback will
also be provided in writing to the mainstream class teachers when the Individual
Educational Plan for each pupil is being reviewed.
|
6. |
The Resource Teachers provide support for pupils in
mainstream classes as often as is possible and appropriate. For the most part,
this support will be provided in small groups. It may also take the form of some
whole class teaching on certain occasions by the Resource Teachers.
|
7. |
The Resource Teachers
provide advice to parents with regard to the transfer of pupils with
special educational needs to post-primary school, and if requested to do
so, provide information for the post-primary schools to which the pupils
transfer.
|
8. |
Educational provision for pupils with special educational
needs is achieved through full inclusion in mainstream classes. Adaptation of
the curriculum and teaching strategies are required to match the children’s
aptitudes and abilities.
|
9. |
The process of
identification of pupils with special needs starts in Junior Infants. This
screening is done by the Special Needs Resource Teacher observing pupils
in the Junior Infants Classes. Specific requests for support for pupils
from teachers and parents will also be considered by the Principal and
SRT.
|
10. |
The school will have a
formal assessment of a pupil organised so that the identification of the
special need and intervention may occur as soon as possible.
|
11. |
The effectiveness of
assessment and intervention will be influenced by the active involvement
of the parent(s). Parents are always contacted prior to a psychological
assessment of a pupil being undertaken, and their permission sought. This
dialogue with parents will contain an explanation of the purpose of the
assessment. When the results of the assessment are known, they are
discussed with the parents, and the permission of parents is sought with
regard to intervention by the Resource Teachers. The progress of the
pupils is discussed regularly with the parent(s). |
12. |
The Principal and Resource
Teachers liaise with the following outside agencies in order to maximise
the support for pupils with special educational needs:
-
National Educational
Psychological Service (NEPS)
-
Visiting Resource Teacher for
Travellers
-
Visiting Teacher for Children
who are hearing impaired
-
Eastern Health Board
-
The Special Educational
Section of the Department of Education and Science
-
The Inspectorate of the
Department of Education and Science
-
Visiting Speech Therapist
-
Integrate Ireland Language and
Training
-
Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Child Guidance Clinic
-
St Francis Clinic, Temple St.
|
13. |
Teachers have access to a wide
variety of resources to meet the needs of individual pupils. Among the
resources are the following:
-
A wide range of books,
materials and tasks to suit pupils of differing abilities (available
from the various Resource Teachers)
-
IT facilities in the
IT Room, a PC in each classroom and a number of PCs in each of
the Special Educational Needs Resource Rooms
|
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Roles and Responsibilities for Special Educational Needs
Provision
The Board of Management
- The Board of Management discharges its statutory duties by
ensuring that its enrolment policies and general resource provision enable it to
meet its responsibilities with regard to pupils with special educational needs
- The Board of Management will review special needs
provision each year as part of the School Development Plan
The Principal Teacher
The Principal Teacher has responsibility for:
-
Ensuring that the Board of
Management is informed with regard to special educational needs provision
-
Day to day management of special
needs provision and systems
-
The recording and storing of reports
-
Co-ordinates liaison with outside
agencies or support services
-
Contacting the social services to
report a concern about a child’s welfare
-
Has overall responsibility for the
development and implementation of school policy on learning support
-
Works with teachers and parents in
the development of the school plan on learning support
-
Monitors on an
on-going basis the implementation of the school plan on learning
support
-
Monitors the selection of pupils for
supplementary teaching
-
Has overall responsibility for
co-ordinating learning-support
-
Monitors the implementation of a
whole-school assessment and screening programme to identify pupils with low
achievement
-
Keeps teachers informed with regard
to external assessment services and the
procedures to be followed in initiating referrals
-
Helps teachers to increase their
knowledge and skills in the area of learning support, by facilitating
school-based in-service and by encouraging teachers to avail of relevant of
in-career development opportunities
-
Meets with the learning support
teacher on a regular basis to
discuss the implementation of the school plan on learning support
-
Establishes school policies and
procedures which enable parents to become involved effectively in the
provision of learning support
Co-ordination of Special Needs Applications: Ms Angela
Noonan
Special Educational Needs Team
The Special Education Needs Team in our
school consists of the Special Education Needs Co-ordinator, 3 Resource
Teachers, 3 Language Support teachers for pupils for whom English is not their
first language and four classroom assistants.
Special Educational Needs Team
The Special Education Needs Team in our school consists of
the Learning Support Teacher, a Resource Teacher for pupils with special
educational needs in senior classes, a Resource Teacher for pupils with special
educational needs in junior classes, a resource teacher for Travellers and a
classroom assistant. The school is in the process of appointing a part-time
teacher to provide support for pupils for whom English is not their first
language.
The Special Educational Needs Team has responsibility for:
-
The day to day operation of the
School’s Special Educational Needs Policy and for the co-ordination of
provision for pupils with special educational needs
-
Maintaining liaison with the support
services and the visiting teacher services
-
Liaising with parents of pupils with
special educational needs
-
Contributing to staff in-service and
training
-
Co-ordinating elements of the formal
assessment of pupils’ attainments (Micra T, Sigma T, Young, Thackray and
Thackray, Aston Index, MIST, Belfield Infant Assessment Profile, Daniels and
Diack Spelling)
-
Advising teachers with regard to the
resources and strategies for teaching pupils with special educational needs
-
Advising the principal with regard
to the purchase of appropriate resource material
-
Drawing up Individual Educational
Plans for pupils with special educational needs in consultation with class
teachers
-
Whole class teaching on appropriate
occasions
-
Providing a time-table as early as
possible in the academic year to show where special educational needs
support is received. This time-table should be agreed with the principal
teacher and distributed to all relevant mainstream class teachers.
Time-tables will be drawn up in such a manner as to ensure that when pupils
are being withdrawn from class, they are not missing out on the same
curricular area(s).
Mainstream Class Teachers
-
The primary responsibility for each
child with SEN rests ultimately with the mainstream class teacher. Central
to this responsibility is the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) which is
drawn up collaboratively by the class teacher, the child’s parents and the
support teacher.
-
On specific time-tabled occasions,
mainstream class teachers and resource teachers will exchange roles so that
the mainstream class teacher will have an opportunity of teaching the
children with special educational needs in a small group setting
-
Implement teaching programmes which
optimise the learning of all pupils
-
Implement school policies on
screening and selecting pupils for supplementary teaching in English, and
scoring appropriate screening measures
-
Differentiate the class curriculum
appropriately to meet the needs of all pupils
-
Advise on the selection of pupils
for diagnostic assessment
-
Discuss the results of screening
measures with resource teachers
-
Review the progress of each pupil
receiving learning support
-
Makes parents aware of school’s
concern about a child’s progress
-
Outline school policies and
procedures regarding the administration of diagnostic tests by resource
teachers and seeks the approval of the pupil’s parents for such an
assessment to be undertaken
-
Outline to parents the support that
is available in the school
-
Bring to the attention of the
resource teacher any concern with
regard to a pupil having a general or specific learning disability
Special Needs Classroom Assistants (SNA's)
-
The Special Needs Classroom
Assistants provide support for the pupils who have special educational
needs, and are allocated to specific, named pupils. The support which
SNA’s give will usually take the form of assisting the pupils with the
work which they have been set by their class teacher and /or resource
teacher.
-
SNA’s will assist in the
preparation of materials for lessons
-
By assisting in the supervision of
pupils with special educational needs during break periods
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Identification and Assessment of Pupils with Special
Educational Needs
Principles
Pupils who are thought to have special educational needs
are identified and assessed as early as possible. Referral for assessment can
come from a number of sources, e.g.
- Class teacher
- Parental request
- Resource teacher tracking and observing individual pupils
in class
Early identification, assessment and provision for a child
with special educational needs are very important for the following reasons:
- It can minimise the difficulties that can be encountered
when intervention and provision occur
- It can maximise the likely positive response from the
child
Criteria for referrals
A child proposed for referral to special needs resource
teacher should have a medical, social and psychological assessment to ascertain
whether there are any physical, environmental or intellectual factors which may
be contributing to his educational problems. Among the reasons for referring a
child are the following:
- Poor or slow speech.
- Poor progress at school.
- Problems with reading.
- Problems with number work.
- Poor concentration.
- Anti-Social behaviour.
Procedures
- Check with Principal, previous class teacher or resource
teachers to see if any information exists concerning the pupil’s difficulties.
- Contact parents to obtain permission for referral to the
National Educational Psychological Service. The principal will contact the
National Educational Psychological Service.
- Class teacher is asked to write a report prior to the
assessment being undertaken
- A copy of the psychologist's report is forwarded to the
Principal and to the child’s parents.
- Reports on prospective referrals for resource teaching are
forwarded to District Inspector by the principal.
- Inspector will advise Principal teacher regarding
placement.
- Parents' consent must be obtained before a child is given
tuition by resource teacher
Note re Learning Support
Since September 2005, pupils who require additional
learning support have been combined with pupils who have been statemented, so
that one resource teacher has responsibility for a cohort which may include
pupils who require additional support for reading and mathematics, Traveller
pupils and pupils with special educational needs. These new arrangements have
not altered the entitlements of pupils who require learning support.
Principles of Learning Support
-
The learning support programme in St
Colmcille’s BNS is designed to ensure that all pupils achieve basic
literacy and numeracy by the time they complete primary education
-
Resources are directed
towards pupils in the greatest need
-
There is intensive early
intervention with the emphasis being on prevention of failure
-
Pupils encountering learning
difficulties are supported by a team approach which involves the pupils,
class teachers, resource teachers, parents and relevant support personnel
such as psychologists and speech therapists
-
Learning support programme provides
for the lowest achieving pupils in the school especially those who are
performing at or below the 10th percentile on the Micra T
-
Intensive prevention (junior infants
to 2nd Class) and early intervention (senior infants to 1st Class)
programmes including supplementary teaching implemented
-
Supplementary teaching provided for
the minority of pupils in the senior section of the school (2rd to 5th ) who
are performing on or below the 10th percentile on the Micra T.
-
Duration of period for which a pupil
receives additional learning support is monitored closely, but it should not
exceed three years unless in
exceptional circumstances
-
To develop and implement Individual
Educational Programme (IEP) for each pupil in receipt of supplementary
teaching, based on an assessment of needs and a specification of targets for
the pupils. These programmes are drawn up and implemented collaboratively by
the pupil’s class teacher, resource teacher and parents
Aims of Learning Support
-
To optimise the teaching and
learning process in order to enable pupils with learning difficulties to
achieve adequate levels of proficiency in literacy and numeracy before
leaving primary school
-
To enable all pupils to participate
in the full curriculum for their class level
-
To develop positive self-esteem and
positive attitudes about school and learning in pupils with learning
difficulties
-
To enable pupils to become
independent learners
-
To provide supplementary teaching
and additional support for pupils in English and Mathematics
-
To involve parents in supporting
their children’s learning through effective parent-support programmes
-
To promote collaboration among
teachers in the implementation of whole-school policies on learning support
for these pupils
-
To establish early intervention
programmes
Expected Outcomes of Learning Support
-
Improved learning by pupils whose
achievement is at a very low level in English and Mathematics
-
Enhancement of basic skills and
learning strategies to a level which enables pupils to participate in the
full curriculum
-
The achievement of an adequate level
of competence in literacy by these pupils before they leave primary
education
-
The application of independent
learning strategies by these pupils resulting in a commitment to, and
involvement in their own learning, positive attitudes to school and high
levels of self-esteem
-
Partnership between class teachers,
resource teachers and parents in planning and implementing supplementary
teaching programmes for these pupils
-
The implementation of a tracking
system at whole-school level to monitor of these pupils
Whole School Planning and Organisation for Learning
Support
Strategies for Preventing Learning Difficulties
-
School plan for English contains
agreed approaches to language development and to other aspects of English in
order to ensure continuity and progression from class to class
-
Additional support provided for
pupils who need it
-
Parents involved in paired reading
and other strategies to support pupils’ learning
-
On-going structured observation
(class teachers and resource teachers) and assessment of the language and
literacy of pupils in infant classes to facilitate early identification of
possible learning difficulties
Strategies for Implementing Early
Intervention Programmes
-
Principle of early intervention
underpins school policy on learning support
-
Programmes are set within specific
time-frame (13 weeks approximately)
-
Supplementary tuition given daily
-
Strong focus on oral language and
phonemic awareness
-
Pupils engaged in oral and silent
reading of texts at appropriate levels of difficulty and comprehension of
those texts is monitored
Procedures and Criteria for
Identifying and Selecting Pupils for Supplementary Teaching
-
Administration, scoring and
interpretation of standardised screening measures, or of appropriate
checklist (EYES, BIAP, Thackray and Thackray, Young, Aston Index). This can
be administered by class teacher or by resource teachers
-
Selection of pupils for diagnostic
assessment by the resource teachers
-
Administration of diagnostic tests
by resource teachers
-
Nature of intervention determined
-
Learning targets identified and
Individual Education Plan developed
Procedures and Criteria for
Continuing /Discontinuing Supplementary Teaching for Pupils
-
Progress of each pupil in receipt of
supplementary teaching reviewed at the end of each instructional terms (13
weeks)
-
After consultation with class
teacher and parents of pupil, a decision is taken about the level of support
to be provided for the next instructional period
-
IEP to be revised after review
Strategies for Communicating
Information
-
Parents contacted by class teacher
with regard to concerns about pupil’s progress
-
Following diagnostic assessment,
resource teacher discusses the outcome of the assessment and the type of
intervention best suited to the pupil’s needs
-
Regular communication between the
resource teacher and the pupil’s parents is maintained during the period
of supplementary teaching
-
Regular communication between class
teacher and resource teacher) during each instructional term. Period
allocated on time-table for this purpose
Procedures for Monitoring the Progress of Individual Pupils
-
Ongoing monitoring of each pupil’s
progress in relation to short-term objectives. Period allocated on weekly
time-table for this purpose
-
More detailed review at end of 13
weeks. This process will involve resource teacher, class teacher and
principal.
-
Individual Profile and Individual
Education Plan maintained
Time-tabling and Work-Schedule of the Resource
Teachers
Principles
-
Supplementary teaching is in
addition to the regular class teaching in English and Mathematics
-
Pupils should not miss out on the
same curricular area each time they receive supplementary teaching
-
Flexible approach to time-tabling
-
There is not an over-emphasis on
withdrawing pupils from their classrooms
-
Time is allocated to non-teaching
activities such as conducting diagnostic assessments, record-keeping,
consulting with parents, teachers and outside agencies.
-
Priority given to pupils who are
performing at or below 10th percentile in English reading
-
Other pupils (up to 12th percentile)
may be selected for supplementary teaching for short period
-
Maximum group size of younger pupils
(1st and 2nd) is 4 pupils
Supplementary Teaching: Selection and
Implementation
Preliminary
Screening (by class teacher)
â
Selection for
Diagnostic Assessment
â
Diagnostic
Assessment
â
Programme Planning
â
Programme
Implementation
â
Programme Review at
End of Instructional Term
â
Discontinuation of
Supplementary Teaching or Continuation of Supplementary teaching for a
Further Instructional term |
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Curriculum Guidelines
Key skills and key learning areas
Curriculum provision, both in content and methodologies
should minimise rather than emphasise difference while at the same time
facilitating inclusion in mainstream education.
Development of enabling skills |
Attending |
Responding |
Interacting |
Curricular Area |
Communication and language |
Mathematics |
SESE |
SPHE |
PE |
Arts Education |
Life Skills |
Communication Skills |
Personal and creative skills |
Physical skills |
Mathematical skills |
Key Skills
There are particular skills that enhance lifelong
learning. For students with general learning disabilities these skills must be
reinforced frequently. Progress however small must always be recognised and
valued. The skills will be developed through age-appropriate content,
methodologies and approaches.
Enabling Skills
The three enabling skills essential to all learning are
attending, responding and interacting. They can be developed to encompass
- Responding to and interacting with people and objects
- Social interaction with others
- Taking part in group activities
- Focusing on tasks
- Collecting and organising information
The main purpose of developing these skills is to enable
students to become independent learners.
Life Skills
Life skills are those skills that cross the boundaries of
subjects and the school day. They
are essential for all facets of a person’s life and include the following:
Communication Skills
These skills range from awareness of people and the
environment, making eye contact and using gesture, signs and symbols to
listening, speaking, reading and writing. (* A fuller note on stages of reading
competencies is contained at a later stage of this document)
Personal and social skills
These skills range from basic personal hygiene and
self-help skills, awareness of own feelings and social interaction with others,
to conflict resolution and dealing with moral issues
Aesthetic and creative skills
The broadening of experience and the raising of levels of
awareness to expression through visual arts, music and drama.
Physical skills
These skills range from basic mobility and gross motor
skills to specific skills required for writing, sports or leisure activities.
Mathematical skills
These are the skills needed to develop sensory awareness,
perception of colour, pattern, shape and position, sorting, grouping,
classifying, practical problem-solving involving a variety of mathematical
skills and social mathematics including time and money.
Key learning areas
The detail of the content will be developed at school
level appropriate to the particular students, but the general vocabulary used to
describe the content is common to all.
Important Issues
- The provision of relevant, age-appropriate content,
methodologies and approaches that address the needs of the student (a more
detailed note is included at a later stage with regard to provision for
individual differences)
- The use of ICT as a cross-curricular tool (cf. School
Policy Document on ICT)
- The contexts in which learning takes place – previous
and present experiences, expectations of enjoyment and competence, effort
after meaning, shared knowledge
Communication and language
Communication is an essential element of the education of
students with general learning disabilities. The importance of oral language is
pivotal, and the language needs of children are central to the development of
the oral language programme. An emphasis on the social function of language and
the development of a social sight vocabulary, the ability to read for meaning
and functional writing skills are integral to the pupils’ education. The
effective assessment of the strengths and needs of the pupils is an essential
factor in developing a functional means of communication for individual
students. The framework of the communication curriculum includes the following
areas:
Receptiveness to communication
This will range from alerting the student to the immediate
environment to enabling him to understand symbols, hand signs, oral language and
written language. Perceptual and discrimination activities will bring the
students towards an understanding of symbolic representation and lead to reading
both for enjoyment and for information. Oral language activity in response to
listening to stories, to texts read aloud and to texts read by the student will
be directed at developing comprehension skills.
Competence and confidence in communicating
Activities for developing understanding of concepts and
imitation of actions and sounds are recommended. Strategies for encouraging
meaningful written work which include the use of ICT will be explored. As
reading and comprehension skills develop, the child will be enabled to read and
write independently and to use these skills in functional and imaginative
situations.
Mathematics
Pupils should have opportunities to develop the
communication skills necessary for the formation of early mathematical concepts
and to use mathematical language accurately. Play is an essential part of the
pupil’s early mathematical development. He should be given opportunities to
develop and apply his early mathematical skills and understanding in directed
and undirected play. The social value of mathematical education is of prime
importance to students with general learning disabilities. Activities that
encourage the use of social
mathematics in real-life situations and in solving real problems will be
included.
Social, environmental and scientific education (SESE)
From their earliest experiences in developing a sense of
place and space and investigating their physical and natural surroundings,
students can come to some understanding of their place in the world, both in
their immediate environment and in the wider world.
Social, personal and health education (SPHE)
SPHE involves fostering personal development by helping
the pupil to reach a greater understanding of himself and of his relationship
with family, friends and other people in the school and in the community. This
area of the curriculum will aim to develop in the pupil an appreciation of the
importance of family, friends, school and the community. It will also explore
social communication and the responsibility that goes with being part of a
group.
Physical education (PE)
Physical activities provide opportunities through which
pupils can improve fine and gross motor co-ordination, concentration, listening
skills, self-esteem, self-confidence and the ability to co-operate and
communicate with others. Structured play can provide opportunities for the early
physical development of body awareness, spatial awareness and safety.
Arts education (music, visual arts and drama)
In a mainstream setting, arts education provides a
non-threatening collaborative experience where pupils can enjoy a more inclusive
educational experience and interact fully with their peers. (More detailed notes
on each of these curricular areas are in the process of being prepared).
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Provision for Individual Differences (Differentiation)
Determining the appropriate level of provision for
individual differences requires knowledge and understanding of the pupils, their
strengths, and weaknesses, their interests and enthusiasms and a detailed
analysis of their particular needs. Careful observations by the mainstream class
teacher and the special needs resource teacher, together with help and advice
given by psychologists and other outside agencies play a major role in obtaining
this knowledge and understanding.
Provision for individual differences involves four main
components, Resources, tasks, support and group structure.
1. |
Resources should:
- Have appropriate readability level. Worksheets
and resources are tested for reading ages.
- Be easy to use. Worksheets and instructions are
word processed. Instructions are given in a variety of ways, e.g.
verbal, pictorial and written.
- Be well designed. Pupils are provided with full
colour text books and worksheets and booklets which have been produced
in the school
- Show continuity and progression within the
curriculum.
- Be kept in well-managed storage and retrieval
systems. Our resources are well-managed and ordered by the Special
Needs Resource Team. Videos, texts and computer programmes are
centrally stored and filed.
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2. |
Tasks should :
- Show variety throughout a
topic.
- Be matched to pupils’ abilities. Differentiated
worksheets and books allow the school to offer the pupils an
appropriate learning pace and content.
- Have a structure that enables pupils to stay on
task.
- Match the pupils’ interests
- Allow the teacher to build a learning route
through a topic. (Continuity and progression)
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3. |
Support will be:
- From the mainstream class teacher
- From the special needs resource teacher
- From the learning support teacher
- From the special needs classroom assistant
- From parents
- From other pupils
- From appropriate resources – texts, PC, CDs,
tape recordings, videos, worksheets and texts.
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4. |
Group structure can
support provision for individual differences if
- We examine the structure of the teaching
groups. We reserve the right to alter the structure of a
teaching group either temporarily or permanently.
- We teach pupils in small groups. During some
class work, pupils may be given the opportunity to work
collaboratively.
- We are flexible within the group when setting the
task and responding to individual needs
- We allow individual work.
Pupils will be able to develop their independent methods of
working if some aspects of the course are taught in this way. The less
able and confident pupil will benefit from the privacy if he is making
errors. The more able will benefit from the intensity of such work.
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Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of the teaching and
learning process. The range of assessment tools includes:
- Teacher observation
- Teacher-designed tasks and tests
- Work samples, portfolios and projects
- Norm referenced and criterion referenced tests
- Diagnostic tests
- Standardised tests
- A minimum of one period per week is allocated for
testing of pupils with special education needs. This time allocation may be
greater at the initial stages when base-line assessments are being obtained.
Assessment has the potential to develop a positive self-image in the pupil
as a result of the positive and constructive feedback. It is essential that
the assessment techniques acknowledge the student’s participation in
activities and his attitude to learning.
- Results of assessment are reported in a way that is
useful to parents, pupils and teachers
- Assessment enables the school to build up a profile for
each pupil with special educational needs
- Assessment records must be easy to interpret, useful,
manageable and not administratively burdensome
- The use of diagnostic tests enables specific learning
difficulties to be identified and tackled
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Learning to Read – 4 stages (Reason and
Boote)
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MEANING |
PHONICS |
FLUENCY |
Stage 1
Early Development |
- Enjoys and joins in reading and discussion of stories
- Understands vocabulary of reading and writing
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- Recognises rhymes and rhyming words
- Blends sounds into words
- Can play 'I spy'
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- Matches words by sight
- Matches letters by sight
- Identifies some words by sight
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Stage 2
Beginning to read and write independently |
- Expects own reading to make sense
- Uses context and initial letters in working out meaning
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- Can read and write single letter sounds
- Can read and write words such as it, at, hat, sun, dog, lid, net,
cup, red, bus
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- Reads some 100 words fluently from initial books
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Stage 3
Becoming competent |
- Uses context to understand and predict meaning and to help with more
complex phonics
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- Can read and write words with:
- Consonant blends
- Consonant digraphs
- Vowel digraphs
- Silent 'e'
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- Extensive and increasing sight vocabulary from books read
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Stage 4
Basic competencies achieved |
- Context and phonological cues are used automatically in combination
- Selected books suitable to interests and needs
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- Reads and writes words with more advanced phonics
- Silent letters
- Longer word endings
- Polysyllabic words
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- Reads and writes all commonly used words with ease
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Exemption from the study of Irish (Circular 12 /96)
It is as fundamental principle of the primary school
curriculum that due allowance should be made for individual pupil differences in
ability, interests and circumstances. In accordance with this principle, the
primary school programme in Irish is designed to meet the learning needs of a
wide variety of pupils. The question of the need to grant exemption from the
learning of Irish should arise only in rare and exceptional circumstances.
Pupils in the following circumstances may be allowed
exemption from the study of Irish in national schools:
- Pupils whose primary education up to 11 years of age
was received in Northern Ireland or outside Ireland
- Pupils who have re-enrolled in primary school provided
that at least 3 years have elapsed since their previous enrolment in the
State and the pupil is at least 11 years of age on re-enrolment
- Pupils who have a Specific Learning Disability of such
a degree of severity that they fail to reach expected levels of attainment
in basic language skills in the mother tongue
- Pupils who have been assessed as having a General
Learning Disability (mild mental handicap) and are failing to attain
adequate levels in basic language skills in the mother tongue. The
evidence of such a disability must be furnished by a qualified psychologist,
and a full report furnished by the school.
- Pupils from abroad who have no understanding of English
when enrolled, would be required to study one language only.
- Children of foreigners who are diplomatic
representatives in Ireland
- Children from other
countries in whose case the Minister is satisfied that are resident
in this country as political refugees.
Pupils from the above categories may be allowed to
remain in the class during the Irish lesson so that they may have an opportunity
to gain a knowledge of spoken Irish and to participate in the learning
activities. Alternatively, other arrangements may be made such as allocating
school work in other subject areas.
Procedures
- A written application for exemption will be made by a
parent or guardian to the principal. This application will specify the
grounds on which exemption is sought. It will be accompanied by documentary
evidence of age and previous schooling
- Parents will be required to furnish a report from a
qualified psychologist
- The school authorities will satisfy themselves as to
the documentary evidence submitted and prepare a full report in consultation
with relevant teachers
- A decision to grant exemption will be conveyed to the
parent or guardian by way of a written certificate signed by the principal.
The certificate will cite the sub-paragraph under which the exemption is
being granted.
- A copy of the exemption will be sent to the DES within
one week of granting the exemption
- A copy of the exemption certificate should be sent to
the relevant post primary school when the pupil has completed his primary
education
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Individual Education Plans (IEP)
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Date: |
___________________ |
Pupil's Name: |
___________________ |
Date of Birth: |
___________________ |
Address: |
___________________ |
Phone No.: |
___________________ |
Class Teacher: |
___________________ |
Special Needs Teacher: |
___________________ |
Date of Psychological Assessment: |
___________________ |
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Nature of the pupil's difficulty |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
List principal concerns which will be the
subject of this IEP (Academic, social and emotional development) |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
Positive aspects of the pupil's learning and
behaviour |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
Other relevant information (medical/pastoral) |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________ |
Pupil's Name: __________________________
Targets |
Activities |
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Evaluation and Review
Monitoring Arrangements |
Evaluated at end of each week |
Full review at end of term |
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Signatures |
Date: _____________________ |
Pupil: __________________________________ |
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Class Teacher: _________________________ |
Resource Teacher: _____________________ |
Principal: ______________________________ |
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