Special Educational Needs

Introduction 

We are a dedicated TEAM ensuring that the right help is offered at the right time.  We believe that every child is entitled to the best possible education.         

We aim: 

• To identify pupils who require support for education, behavioural or emotional reasons. 
• To decide the type of support that is appropriate for each individual. 
• To fulfil the requirements of pupils who have a statement of Special Educational Needs. 
• To provide a supportive environment so that each pupil feels they are valued, thus enhancing their self-worth as a pupil of  St Michaels.   
• To support and enable each pupil to  become a confident and independent learner, in order that they can make the most of the opportunities that St Michael’s has to offer.    

What we do: 

Our work is wide and varied and we are committed to: 

Reading Club 

To speed the progress of pupils who have reading difficulties the SEN–Team supervises reading sessions regularly throughout the week for pupils at Key Stage 3. 

Homework

Club Homework club is supervised by Mrs Mulock Monday to Thursday at 3.30 to 4.30pm.      

Special Arrangements for Examinations  

We ensure that we apply to the examining board for Special arrangements for pupils with a disability/learning difficulty, a temporary disability as well as pupils for whom English is an additional language (EAL). Provision may include extra time, a Reader or a scribe or both (amanuensis).   

New Pathways 

The Department has run for several years a supportive Parental Group whose children experience difficulty with reading. The meetings are usually held annually.  

The Purpose of the meetings is to:

• To support and enable each pupil to  become a confident and independent learner, in order that they can make the most of the opportunities that St Michael’s has to offer.
• Offer practical advice on how parents can productively help their children.
• Provide parents with a better understanding as to the causes of their child’s difficulties.
• To offer advice on how best they can help    their child with reading and spelling.
• To keep parents well informed about their child’s progress.     

The SEN Team  

Special Needs Co-ordinator

• Mrs Zammit

Individual Support Teachers

• Mr Woods
• Mr Cronin 
• Sr Rita         
• Mr Bryan  
• Ms Ficker – EAL Co-ordinator (English as an Additional Language)  

Teacher Assistants:

• Ms.  Dernell
• Ms. Karbownik
• Mrs Mulock 
• Mr Mulock
• Mrs Campbell
• Mrs Smith
• Miss Charles
• Mrs Lynch

The SEN-Team knows and understands the needs of your child are very individual!

We appreciate that you the parent or carer will have a valuable understanding of your child’s needs. 

For this reason we welcome your involvement in your child’s education and will listen carefully to what you have to say.   

Additional Support 

The SEN-Team, for most part works with pupils on the Code of Practice List. 

The SENCO liaise with subject teachers and Heads of year to ensure that provision is made for those pupils at school Action and co-ordinates the work of outside agencies to meet the needs of those pupils at School Action Plus.

The needs of pupils on the Code of Practice list are many and varied but broadly we cater for pupils who experience difficulty in school due to: 

• Learning issues
• Behavioural/ emotional issues
• Medical issues
• Physical issues
• Hearing impairment
• Visual impairment
• Speech and communication issues  

LSU – Learning Support Unit 

The Learning Support Unit is operated on a daily basis by the L.S.U manager Mrs Knowles and is overseen by the Assistant Social Inclusion Director, Mrs Freegard. 

The L.S.U has been established to promote the inclusion of young people who are: 

• experiencing social, emotional and /or behavioural difficulties which are causing disruption to the teaching and learning process for themselves and others in their classes
• disaffected or otherwise excluded from engaging in the education process.

The provision offered by this facility is very much viewed as a preventative and not a punitive measure.  

The Additional Support (SEN) Dept and the LSU work closely together to address the needs of pupils exhibiting behavioural and emotional difficulties.