Coláiste Éinde aims to support all students to reach their potential in an inclusive school environment.
We have a dedicated staff, who work with specialised Special Educational Needs (SEN) teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to ensure that all our students have access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. We acknowledge students’ strengths as well as their complexities.
For those students who have Special Educational Needs, whether they be educational, physical, psychological or social, we endeavour to ensure that their needs are met. We support students at both ends of the spectrum – gifted students and students with learning difficulties. Coláiste Éinde provides SEN support via high quality teaching and highest expectations to empower students to take responsibility for their own learning, thereby enabling them to experience success at Coláiste Éinde and beyond.
The SEN team comprising highly experienced qualified teachers and Special Needs Assistants works closely with the Home School Liaison Teacher and the School Completion Officer to maintain strong links with our feeder schools
We have a wide variety of mechanisms for meeting a range of special educational needs.
Some of the In-School Provision that we provide includes:
We also have an ASD Special Class (An Realt) and a Hearing Special Class.
Some of the most frequently asked questions from parents/guardians are answered in the following links. If you don’t find what you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact the SEN Coordinator directly.
How does the school identify students with SEN?
At Coláiste Éinde we seek to identify the needs of all our students through regular assessment. This helps us ensure all students are happy and confident in school and make good progress in their learning.
We also identify students’ needs through:
Once concerns are raised the SEN Coordinator will contact the student’s parent/guardian for consent to carry out further assessments e.g. WIAT III or WRAT 5.
Any support offered to students at Coláiste Éinde comes under ‘The Continuum of Support’.
For further information
How will the school prepare and support students transferring from primary school to Coláiste Éinde?
At Coláiste Éinde we understand that the transitions at any stage in a student’s career can be a very stressful time for students and parents/guardians alike:
How will the curriculum be matched to the student’s needs?
The learning needs of students will first be met through the high quality teaching delivered by their subject teachers. The subject teacher will differentiate the curriculum to meet the needs of each student. Therefore, where possible students are supported in class through team/support teaching, to provide greatest access to the curriculum. Some students may be withdrawn from class so that targeted teaching can take place. These arrangements are usually short term, flexible and monitored so that the student does not miss a lot of the curriculum from the subject that they have been withdrawn from. SEN students who do not study either Irish or a Third Language may be withdrawn from lessons on a more regular basis, to follow specific individual programmes. Students on the SEN register have a Student Support Plan which includes student voice, strategies to help them access the curriculum and support offered. The student’s subject teachers will have access to this and will use this to plan the curriculum to meet the student’s needs.
Students who have SNA access will have a care plan which will work towards building independence.
Additional specialist advice is sought when appropriate.
How will the school and the parents/guardians know that the support has made a difference to the student’s learning?
The progress of all students, including those with special educational needs, is tracked using the school’s assessment system.
Students are assessed regularly through:
How is the effectiveness of provision for students with SEN evaluated?
How does Coláiste Éinde involve other bodies in meeting the needs of students?
The school participates fully with all external agencies to ensure learners’ needs are best met. Below is a list of such agencies:
What are the entitlements for an Irish Exemption?
Arrangements for the exemption of students from the study of Irish was revised in 2019. Psychological assessments and cognitive ability scores are no longer necessary to process applications for the exemption from the study of Irish.
Section 2.2 of Circular 0053/2019 sets out the exceptional circumstances in which consideration may be given to granting a student an exemption from the study of Irish:
Or
Or
c. students who:
and
ii.) at the time of the application for exemption present with a Standardised Score on a
discrete test in either Word Reading, Reading Comprehension or Spelling at/below
the 10th percentile.
For further information
https://www.education.ie/en/Parents/Information/Irish-Exemption/exemptions-from-the-study-of-irish-guidelines-for-post-primary-schools.pdf
What is the criteria that allows students with SEN such as, those caused by visual impairment or dyslexia to access State Examinations on an equal basis?
Educational Psychological assessments are no longer a requirement to process applications for Reasonable Accommodations in the State Examinations. All testing is carried out in the school. Students need to meet set criteria to avail of Reasonable Accommodations in their State Examinations. Accommodations that were provided at Junior Cycle will be reactivated at Leaving Certificate (exceptions to this are the use of a scribe and the use of an individual centre).
For more information
