The AEN/SEN department in Coláiste Iósaef aims to provide an effective and comprehensive support service that will enable students with educational needs to access the curriculum and achieve their full potential.
The Role of the AEN/SEN Department
The special education team provides assistance to students, through early identification, specialist tuition and close liaison with parents, subject teachers, class tutors, year heads and parents/guardians.
The Special Education Teacher Core Team consists of:
- Ms. Audrey Meehan – Special Education Co-ordinator
- Ms. Karen O’Driscoll – Special Education Co-ordinator
- Ms. Siobhan Cronin
- Ms. Aishling McCarthy
- Ms. Leslie Ivory
- Mr. Brian Sexton
Who is eligible for supports?
Students who are supported by the Learning Support Department include individuals who have been identified by a psychologist or health care professional as having a Specific Learning Difficulty (e.g. Dyslexia), Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (Dyspraxia), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD /ADHD), Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech and Language Difficulties, mild General Learning Difficulties or those whose learning has been affected by a Physical Difficulty.
Other students who are struggling with the demands of the curriculum may also be eligible for short-term interventions.
How are support classes organised?
In Coláiste Iósaef, students with a range of learning difficulties are integrated into regular mixed ability classes and are either withdrawn for extra tuition or provided with in-class support by our Learning Support team. If the student has an Irish exemption, extra classes are usually offered at this time. Students who take a full range of subjects are generally seen on a rotational basis.
Resource teachers and Learning Support teachers take students individually or in small groups to develop skills in literacy, numeracy and to offer subject-specific support; to develop social skills, organisational skills and/or study skills and in some cases to help with assistive technology. A small number of students may also be eligible for support from a Special Needs Assistant. The level of support depends upon the level of need.
Special Needs Assistant
In general terms the SNA acts in a care and support role that is non-teaching in nature and works under the guidance and supervision of the Principal and/or class teacher.
Our SNA’s are:
- Ms. Caroline Moloney
- Ms. Josephine Furlong
- Ms. Susan Moran
- Ms. Aine Baer – Rang Oisin
- Ms. Teresa Kelly – Rang Oisin
- Ms. Anne O’Connor – Rang Fionn
- Ms. Pauline Muir – Rang Fionn
- Ms. Kellie Corbett – Rang Danu
