St. Paul's Secondary School, Oughterard

Special Education Needs Model in St Paul’s

The model of support followed in St Paul’s is called The Continuum of Support. It is a problem-solving model of assessment and intervention that enables us to gather and analyse data, as well as to plan and review the progress of individual students.

Using the Continuum of Support framework, we can identify students’ educational needs, to include academic, social and emotional needs, as well as needs associated with physical, sensory, language and communication difficulties.

Many students will have their special educational needs identified prior to their transfer to St Paul’s. It is important that we gather information on students’ learning from primary schools and from parents in order to plan provision and to ensure continuity and progression in the students’ education. The introduction of educational passports for primary students and transition planning for students with high level of need  has made for a smoother transition for 6^th class students into our school

The Continuum of Support provides a framework for the  SEN department to identify and respond to students’ needs in a flexible way. This process is also supported through engagement with external professionals, as required. The following levels of support are applied in St Paul’s.

For example, a student who is mildly dyslexic and who is following a full curriculum, he/she  receives support through the class teacher differentiating the material and/or the approach. (Support for some)

For students  who are taking a reduced curriculum, support is given in small groups or one to one as appropriate. Individual programmes are put in place in the planning and intervention phase. SNA support is a vital part of our continuum particularly for the students who need organization and emotional support. We also operate co- teaching practices in particular in practical subjects. This involves a SEN teacher supporting the class teacher in delivering the subject in mainstream classes. (School support for some) For a small number of students who require significant support and an alternative to the Junior and Leaving Cert curriculum we have the school support for few. St Paul’s has introduced the level 2 programmes for junior cycle students.

At all times we welcome parental involvement as we see the support is for both the home and school environment. But above all St Paul’s is a caring inclusive school. We strive to provide a safe ,happy inclusive environment where the strengths of the students are emphasised. We focus on helping each student become independent learners, responsible for their own learning so that after 6 years in school they are ready to move to the next stage of their lives.