St. Mary’s College welcomes students with additional educational needs (AEN)
The Additional Educational Needs Department provides academic support tailored to suit the learning needs and styles of each student on an individual basis. We do this by early identification of educational needs, comprehensive liaison with parents/guardians, primary school staff, tutors and subject teachers.
The AEN department provides a safe, welcoming environment to support the needs of our students across the continuum of support in our school.
We recognise that learning differently causes students emotional difficulties and we see building trust with our students as the cornerstone of our department.
Who can access Learning Support?
- Students with a specific learning difficulty
- Students with a General Learning Difficulty
- Any student with a physical difficulty that impacts learning.
- EAL Students (English Additional Language)
- More able and gifted students
How is support administered?
- Co Teaching
All Junior Cycle students have Co Teachers for Maths and English.
- Irish Exemption Classes (Small Group)
These are classes formed to support students who are exempt from studying Irish.
- Short Term Support (Small Group)
For students who have poor executive functioning skills and are struggling in the classroom.
We are ably assisted by our AEN Leaders of Learning who are senior students. These students help to support junior students, especially first years as they transition from Primary to Secondary. They share strategies for learning with all students.
For further information, please email: Mairead Dayton mdayton@smcn.ie