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Loreto - Special Educational Needs Department

Loreto Secondary School values each student for herself without consideration of intellectual or other ability. Appreciation of personal goals and diversity of ability is part of our Loreto ethos. Special education in the school is guided by these values.

With guidance from the Department of Education, our SEN department facilitates the meaningful inclusion of students with SEN. At Junior Cycle, Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs) and qualification are targeted at a very specific group of students who have general learning disabilities in the higher functioning moderate and low functioning mild categories. These students are small in number and all have Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Their Learning Programmes are built around Priority Learning Units (PLUs) that develop the basic, social and prevocational skills of the students involved. This programme in turn feeds into Senior Cycle where the needs of each student will be discussed & planned for in providing for a tailored curriculum at Senior Cycle. Both the traditional Leaving Certificate & Leaving Certificate Applied (1215 student applications required to run this programme) can form the next step for students studying a combined Level 2 & Level 3 Junior Certificate.

We undertake a step by step process for each student involved. The initial step includes a meeting with the SEN Co-ordinator, the student’s primary school teacher and the parents or guardians prior to the commencement of the academic school year. This meeting is designed to ensure a successful and happy transition into secondary school.

On commencement of the academic year an Individual Education Plan is prepared for each student based on their needs. The factors employed in the preparation of the IEP include information gathered from professional reports, primary schools, parents and students.The IEP is designed to

support our SEN students when they part take in our mixed ability mainstream classes. The students are given the opportunity to access the curriculum using suitable support systems. The level of support can vary from classroom differentiation, which can include team teaching to small group tuition. The mainstream teachers work with the SEN team of resource teachers to ensure that all students are taught in an inclusive educational environment that meets their individual needs.

All our SEN students are provided with assistive technology to allow them to access the curriculum. Where applicable, applications are made by the school to the NCSE to acquire laptops which are used in class for note taking and recording key assignments. The laptops are also used to access relevant software to meet the needs of our SEN students.

The SEN team include the invaluable personnel of Special Needs Assistants who look after students who have significant medical needs or who have a significant impairment of physical or sensory function.

Our SEN students are provided with shared special centres for school run exams and our SEN Co-ordinator facilitates applications for Reasonable Accommodation for Certificate Examinations (RACE) for students who have permanent or long term difficulties that they believe will significantly impair their performance in state examinations.

Our SEN Co-ordinator is part of the school Care Team, encompassing Senior Management, Guidance Counsellors and Year Heads. The above school personnel meet weekly to communicate concerns that may arise and discuss ongoing support for the students involved.

Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator: Imelda D’Arcy

Email: imeldadarcy@loretofermoy.ie | Tel.: 025-32124

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