Our aim in Castleisland Community College is to provide an inclusive learning environment which will foster the academic, social and emotional development of all students and enable each to realise their individual potential. In line with our core values, provision for those with additional needs will reflect the diverse range of abilities of students in our school.
In Castleisland CC our approach to AEN is one of integration, with our implementation of supports based on the NEPS Continuum of Support.
Some key personnel in this approach include;
- The Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is the person who co-ordinates supports for those with additional needs.
- The ASD Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of supports for those who have been diagnosed as having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
- The Special Education Teacher (SET) is a teacher who has been allocated a significant amount of support hours as part of their timetable.
The school has a hard working and dedicated SEN Team. The role of this team includes developing, implementing and monitoring a whole-school approach to the education of students. Members of this team have the necessary experience and ongoing access to professional development to support the diverse needs of students. Our special education needs team takes a collaborative approach to ensure that those students with the greatest level of need have access to support from teachers with the necessary experience and expertise. This involves developing whole-school procedures for the identification of students for supplementary teaching, assisting in the implementation of whole-school strategies to enhance teaching and learning, and providing guidance to colleagues on the implementation of students’ support plans. The core team work closely with subject teachers, parents and with other support structures within the school, and members are often also part of the Student Support Team.