Curriculum

Four sensory boards developed with community artists were installed in the upper corridor.

Two teachers participated in 'Quest' working group - developing a PMLD teaching and assessment tool.

A revised curriculum implementation team was initiated, and will oversee phased implementation over the next three years.

The Speech and Language Therapy Team organised practice sessions on Makaton during the school year.

School documents and curriculum materials are now being distributed via email.

The School's intranet's shared area has been reconfigured to host a range of resources and school materials.

The annual report format has been revised in line with the anticipated changes with the revised curriculum.  It is now available on the shared area, along with all other school documents.

£4300 has been secured from DENI to support FE links in motor mechanics with St Brigids College and the NWIFHE.

The school has secured £7500 in funding from the WELB Children and Young People's funding package to support life skills and other training programmes.

£4600 has been allocated from DENI to support the development of the revised curriculum over the next year.

Three whole school training days enabled the teachers and classroom assistants to get an overview of the main changes in emphasis and practice associated with the revised curriculum.  School Improvement Days (SIDs) focused on 'Assessment for Learning' and 'Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities.'  Sharing of classroom practice on these days involved the analysis of videos of teacher/pupil interaction and teacher note-taking methods.  A School Improvement Day (SID) was held in June that focused on ICT.

Four SIDs were hjeld in the last week of august.  Training was delivered on: PMLD provision, CPR, Core Policies, Quest for Learning Assessment and Guidance Materials, and ICT.

Ursula Sheerin provided a workshop for staff on the use of visual cues to support communication.

Nick Tomlinson and Pauline McGeown provided training at the NI launce of Quest for Learning.  Two staff from the school also attended as well as SALT  This document is now recognised as a tool for assessment and learning for PMLD by ETI (Inspectorate).

End of year reports were issued to all parents

Early Years and KS2 teachers attended primary training days focusing on Assessment for Learning, Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities, and Personal Development and Mutual Understanding.

Early years classroom assistants attended a 1 day course on Revised Curriculum implementation.

Teachers and classroom assistants, working with pupils with PMLD attended intensive interaction training led by Dave Hewitt, and disseminated learnings at staff meetings.