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Board of Management 2023-2027 To be appointed by Patron Ability West In School Management Team Principal - Sarah McGinley Deputy Principal - Siobhán Butler Assistant Principal II - Jane Hanniffy Assistant Principal II - Patrick Ruane Assistant principal II - Laura Walshe |
Our School Story
It's a special school in many ways, not only do we have 74+ pupils with special needs attending the school, it is a place where families, friends and staff come together daily to encourage the rounded growth and development of these amazing pupils.
We boast the most up-to-date teacher led educational programs in our junior and senior schools, facilitated by 16 +teachers and 27+SNAs alongside the most modern research being used to inspire and guide our team of multidisciplinary support staff from Ability West. There's 6 + other staff at school between the office, the nurse, the kitchen and maintenance team keeping us all organised and running the show backstage.
We have a team of 18+ bright bubbly and dedicated bus escorts & drivers supporting our pupils during their daily commute. We have a number of volunteers who facilitate our swimming program.
We welcome the Jes transition year students who have a huge impact on our fabulous pupils by supporting our swimming lessons and art classes as well as playing playground games with us.
We have a parent body from 70+families who constantly remind us how grateful they are of our special school both during their child's attendance and afterwards when we welcome past pupils for our weekly school disco run by some of our past & present staff.
We boast the most up-to-date teacher led educational programs in our junior and senior schools, facilitated by 16 +teachers and 27+SNAs alongside the most modern research being used to inspire and guide our team of multidisciplinary support staff from Ability West. There's 6 + other staff at school between the office, the nurse, the kitchen and maintenance team keeping us all organised and running the show backstage.
We have a team of 18+ bright bubbly and dedicated bus escorts & drivers supporting our pupils during their daily commute. We have a number of volunteers who facilitate our swimming program.
We welcome the Jes transition year students who have a huge impact on our fabulous pupils by supporting our swimming lessons and art classes as well as playing playground games with us.
We have a parent body from 70+families who constantly remind us how grateful they are of our special school both during their child's attendance and afterwards when we welcome past pupils for our weekly school disco run by some of our past & present staff.
Curriculum: Junior School
Aistear
Aistear is the early childhood curriculum framework which provides direction in planning and implementing enjoyable and appropriately challenging learning experiences that afford children the opportunity to grow and develop as competent and confident learners within fulfilling relationships with others.
Aistear is the early childhood curriculum framework which provides direction in planning and implementing enjoyable and appropriately challenging learning experiences that afford children the opportunity to grow and develop as competent and confident learners within fulfilling relationships with others.
Primary Curriculum
All subjects in the National Primary Curriculum with the exception of Gaeilge are taught. Curricular plans for each subject are drafted and reviewed by the teaching staff and approved by the Board of Management.
Special emphasis is placed on Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) as one of the primary aims of the school is to develop the independence of our pupils.
Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) are drawn up for all pupils by the class teachers in consultation with parents and the multi-disciplinary team.
To ensure that all pupils can access the curriculum individual learning styles are accommodated and supported by programmes such as TEACCH, P.E.C.S, Floortime, HANEN, Social Stories, LÁMH.
Additional support is provided by a Speech and Language Therapist, a Physiotherapist and occasional input from an Occupational Therapist
All subjects in the National Primary Curriculum with the exception of Gaeilge are taught. Curricular plans for each subject are drafted and reviewed by the teaching staff and approved by the Board of Management.
Special emphasis is placed on Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) as one of the primary aims of the school is to develop the independence of our pupils.
Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) are drawn up for all pupils by the class teachers in consultation with parents and the multi-disciplinary team.
To ensure that all pupils can access the curriculum individual learning styles are accommodated and supported by programmes such as TEACCH, P.E.C.S, Floortime, HANEN, Social Stories, LÁMH.
Additional support is provided by a Speech and Language Therapist, a Physiotherapist and occasional input from an Occupational Therapist
Curriculum: Senior School
Junior Cycle Level 1
Level 1 Learning Programmes (L1LP) will target the very specific group of students with particular educational needs. The programme will be capable of personalisation to suit the individual needs of the target group of students.
These students are small in number and are almost exclusively in Special Schools. They all have student support plans and often have complex and multiple cognitive and functioning needs. Their learning tends to be targeted at a very early developmental level.
The students in question may experience difficulty understanding the world around them and their place in it. They may also have issues with expressive and receptive communication skills.
The Level 1 Learning Programmes are made up of six Priority Learning Units (PLUs) which explicitly identify and develop the key areas of learning needed to prepare the students for their future lives.
Level 1 Learning Programmes (L1LP) will target the very specific group of students with particular educational needs. The programme will be capable of personalisation to suit the individual needs of the target group of students.
These students are small in number and are almost exclusively in Special Schools. They all have student support plans and often have complex and multiple cognitive and functioning needs. Their learning tends to be targeted at a very early developmental level.
The students in question may experience difficulty understanding the world around them and their place in it. They may also have issues with expressive and receptive communication skills.
The Level 1 Learning Programmes are made up of six Priority Learning Units (PLUs) which explicitly identify and develop the key areas of learning needed to prepare the students for their future lives.
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Personal Care and Wellbeing
- Being part of a Community
- Numeracy
- The Arts
- Physical Education
Junior Cycle level 2
Junior Cycle Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs) have been designed for a small minority of students with particular special educational needs. These programmes are a new and welcome addition to help to continue to provide meaningful learning and learning experiences for students who have general learning disabilities in the higher functioning moderate and low functioning mild categories. They are designed only for those students who are not able to take the existing Junior Certificate, and can suit both special school and mainstream settings. These programmes are set in the context of the principles, key skills and 24 statements of learning that frame the new Junior Cycle.
The Priority Learning Units include:
The Senior school also decided to keep following the primary school curriculum for drama,music, visual arts while SESE subjects (History, Geography and Science) will be intergrated into the new Junior Cycle Programme.
Junior Cycle Level 2 Learning Programmes (L2LPs) have been designed for a small minority of students with particular special educational needs. These programmes are a new and welcome addition to help to continue to provide meaningful learning and learning experiences for students who have general learning disabilities in the higher functioning moderate and low functioning mild categories. They are designed only for those students who are not able to take the existing Junior Certificate, and can suit both special school and mainstream settings. These programmes are set in the context of the principles, key skills and 24 statements of learning that frame the new Junior Cycle.
The Priority Learning Units include:
- Communicating and literacy - Covers both verbal and non-verbal ways of receiving and giving information. Reading and writing are also further developed.
- Numeracy - Develops awareness of patterns and relationships in shape and number as well as skills in estimation, measurement and problem solving.
- Personal care - Deals with health and wellbeing, covering areas such as healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.
- Living in a community - Students develop strategies to establish and maintain positive relationships with people around them. Seeking help and advice as well as dealing with conflict are included here.
- Preparing for work - Assists students in making the transition from school to further education, training or employment
The Senior school also decided to keep following the primary school curriculum for drama,music, visual arts while SESE subjects (History, Geography and Science) will be intergrated into the new Junior Cycle Programme.
Photos of our building and grounds
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Some History of our School
St Joseph's School was officially recognised by the Department of Education in January 1964. It was established by a recently formed voluntary organisation The Galway County Association for Mentally Handicapped Children (now Ability West) in response to a need to provide for children and adolescents who were not being catered for in the state system.
The school started in rented accommodation on the Newcastle Road and then moved to the prefabricated buildings pictured here which were located in Snipe Avenue.
The school expanded and remained in temporary accommodation until 1993 when, after a long campaign, a new school was erected on the Thomas Hynes Road. We now boast a large contemporary school which accommodates our pupils in a spacious warm welcoming environment.
The school started in rented accommodation on the Newcastle Road and then moved to the prefabricated buildings pictured here which were located in Snipe Avenue.
The school expanded and remained in temporary accommodation until 1993 when, after a long campaign, a new school was erected on the Thomas Hynes Road. We now boast a large contemporary school which accommodates our pupils in a spacious warm welcoming environment.
