Glenmore National School

Special Needs Policy
Glenmore National School

"Children with special needs will be educated in accordance with the level of resources provided by the Department of Education and Science to the Board of Management" - Equality Policy, Glenmore N.S. School Plean Scoile.

We understand the term Special Needs to be that as defined by the D.E.S. in Circular 8/99. Children with Special Needs are allocated Resource Teaching by the D.E.S on the basis of reports furnished by appropriate specialists.


Identification of Children with Special Needs

Concerns about children arise in a number of ways:
1. Parents inform the Principal or Class Teacher of a concern they have regarding their child.
2. Teachers may have a concern regarding a child in their class.
3. Concerns may arise following standardised testing and consultations with Learning Support Teachers.

Procedure

" Having consulted with the teachers and parents involved, the Principal or Teacher designated the duty will seek appropriate assessment. This will involve arranging for an assessment by or through N.E.P.S. The procedures laid down by the D.E.S. and N.E.P.S. will be strictly followed.
" Following the receipt of the Assessment Report application will be made to the D.E.S for Resource Teaching if this is deemed necessary.
" Upon allocation of Resource Teaching the principal and teacher will meet the parents, child and other personnel and then draw up an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Prior to the drawing up of the I.E.P. the parents will fill in the Special Educational Needs Profile with the Teacher. The aim of the IEP will be to support as far as possible the integration of the child with special needs into the mainstream setting. The child will work with the Resource Teacher for the allocated time but a copy of the IEP will be given to the Class Teacher so as to continue the work within the classroom setting. The IEP will be added to the class file. IEP's are reviewed regularly.
" Parents are encouraged to meet the Resource Teacher as continued input from home is vital if progress is to be made. The Special Needs Team meets regularly to review all the pupils and meetings of the team take place with the Principal.



Timetabling

Class teachers of children with special educational needs are asked to timetable subjects so that the child receiving Resource Teaching misses as little as possible. Special attention is directed to the timetabling of Religion, Arts, Music and Physical Education.

Attendance

The Resource Teacher records the daily attendance of pupils and in the event of a pupil not appearing at the time allocated makes contact with the class teacher.