Learning Support Department
Douglas Community School is committed to providing an education to all of its students. For some students additional support may be necessary. With the support of the Learning Support Department students with Additional Learning Needs are encouraged and supported to ensure that they fulfill their academic, social, and physical potential.
At Douglas Community School we know that no two students are the same, and sometimes a students’ progression through post primary education may require support along the way. We work closely with our schools educational psychologist, our SENO (special education needs officer) and the visiting teachers for the visually and hearing impaired to ensure we are meeting your sons’ needs.
Getting to know your son.
For us, the members of the learning support team, getting to know your son begins long before he becomes a member of our school community.
This begins at our open night, the learning support team takes time to meet you and your son, answering the questions that all parents have about his transition to post primary education. For some parents these concerns are often exacerbated by the presence of an additional learning need, but it is at this point, from this evening that together you the parent, the learning support team and most importantly your son start to formulate your sons education at Douglas Community school.
From there, your son will complete the CAT4 assessment. This cognitive ability test is a diagnostic assessment that is designed to help us understand how your son learns and it highlights any difficulties that your son may have.
Following this, we make our annual trip to our feeder schools. We are very fortunate to have over the years built up a fantastic relationship with the learning support teams and the sixth class teachers in our feeder schools. It is during these trips that we really start to get to know your son.
Finally all of our incoming first year parents are invited into the school to meet a member of staff where any additional information can be shared, this gives us a more complete picture of your son.
What if your son needs additional support?
Students who are experiencing learning difficulties may avail of learning support in a number of different ways. The following are some of the ways we can help your son.
In-class support.
One to one time for literacy, numeracy or subject specific support.
Small group tuition.
Social skills development.
Access to special needs assistants and learning support teachers.
EAL Students, Language support teachers provide additional language support for students.
Reasonable accommodations: for in school examinations and certificate exams. (RACE). Students with certain permanent or long term conditions, including visual or hearing difficulties and specific learning difficulties, may be able to apply to the State Exams Commission for a reasonable accommodation to be made to facilitate them in taking the examination.
We understand that your sons’ needs will change during his time with us, to this end we feel it is essential that we continue to liaise with yourselves to ensure that your sons’ needs continue to be met.
Finally, we at Douglas Community School pride ourselves on our holistic approach to teaching and learning, for the learning support department the most important facet of this is your sons’ voice. Initially we will ask him how can we support his learning? We will ask him what is working? We will ask him what is not working? When these conversations happen then we know we are supporting your son, but more importantly he knows he is being supported.
If you have any queries regarding Learning Support please contact The Douglas Community School, Learning Support TEAM.