St. Joseph’s School is a special school catering for students with Mild General Learning Difficulties under the patronage of the diocese of Waterford and Lismore. In St. Joseph's, we adapt the curriculum to meet the specific needs of each child. We support the pupil in reaching their full potential, boosting their self-esteem, developing their self-identity and becoming more independent.
The ethos of St. Joseph’s School creates a social environment to support individual development.
In St. Joseph’s School, pupils work with their personal strengths and challenges to develop personal skills, enabling them to work to the best of their abilities.
Each pupil is supported in taking an active role in every aspect of our curriculum, and each pupil is rewarded for all their efforts.
The pupil/teacher ratio is 11:1.
Our school is comprised of three sections - The Primary Section, The Junior Cycle Section and The Senior Cycle Section. Across these sections, we have three Autism-specific classrooms.
Primary Section of St. Joseph’s School
The Primary section of our school caters for the education of children aged between four and eleven years old with varying needs. The key principle of the Primary section is to focus on the pupil’s strengths while attending to their learning difficulties. We aim to assist each child by managing and devising strategies catering to their individual needs, so that they can progress at a rate that is appropriate to them.
There are currently five teachers and a variable number of special needs assistants in the Primary section of the school. A lower pupil/adult ratio allows for specialised and specific teaching to take place. Teachers develop individual plans that cater to the needs of each child to promote social and communication skills, independence, and academic growth.
Our curriculum is continuously evolving and adapting to meet the needs of our pupils. To assist with language development, we use a wide range of strategies, including Lámh (adapted from Irish Sign Language), a Visual Communication System and Speech and Language Therapist advice where available. The school adopts a total communication approach and time is always given to supporting student voice and creative expression.
In the Primary section of the school, the Primary School Curriculum is used and adapted to suit the individual needs of each child. Concrete materials are used to assist the children in grasping various concepts, and for laying the foundations for more abstract learning. The children’s attention span, motor control, imaginative thinking and academic growth are developed using the curriculum.
Promoting independence is significant in St. Joseph’s. The teaching of life skills is addressed in all areas of the curriculum. The children regularly visit and use different services within the community. This includes cafes, shops, the library and using the bus. The children will first practise (through social stories and role-playing in small groups); before visiting the services. Here, the children learn what behaviour is appropriate for each setting. They will practise interacting with other people while ordering and paying for food, paying for items in a shop and checking out a book from the library. The children learn about the importance of organisation, and money and time management. All these skills are incredibly important for assisting the children in becoming independent adults.
We try to make the child’s time in school as happy and enjoyable as possible, boosting their self-esteem. We want each child to reach their full potential and realise what they can contribute to their school and local community.
Autism Specific Classes
Although many of our students with Autism are based in larger classrooms, some may require an Autism-specific class. We currently have three such classrooms –Primary Kites, Junior Eagles and Senior Orange.
These Autism classes are set up specifically to cater for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. They have a maximum of six children, and an average of three adults which keeps the pupil/adult ratio low. This allows for specific and specialised teaching to take place at a pace appropriate for each child, as they may require predictability in time and space. They may need to know where a task will take place, when it will occur, and for how long. Structure is required to utilise the child’s visual skills, which helps them to focus on the relevant and meaningful information in their environment. The environment is structured and adapted to make it orderly and predictable. Routines are used and adhered to by the teacher and S.N.A.s to provide familiarity for the children, thereby reducing anxiety, and making the world more meaningful to them. Emphasis in these classes is on developing communication skills, self-regulation, and social interaction.
Integration is an integral component in our Autism-specific classes. The children will often integrate with other classes in the section for activities that the student enjoys such as Art, P.E., and Cooking. The level of integration depends upon the needs of each student and includes their unique abilities and interests. All integration programmes in St. Joseph’s encourage students to develop social skills and meaningful relationships.
The Junior Cycle Section
The Junior Cycle section of the school is currently divided into classes with students from following year groups:
Pre Junior-Cycle - introduction to the post primary section of the school
1st years - Introductory year to Junior Cycle curriculum
2nd years – L2LP, JCSP, and Junior Cycle in specialist subjects
3rd Year classes – completion of L2LP, JCSP and Junior Cycle programmes
Pupils range in age from 12 -15 years. A key emphasis in the school is working on each pupil’s life skills, social skills, and wellbeing. Pupils are also enabled to take on more responsibility for their own care and needs.
Junior Cycle
The Level 2 Learning Programme (L2LP) is the core programme followed. The L2LP is specifically designed for Junior Cycle pupils with learning difficulties. The L2LP Programme is experienced across Priority Learning Units (PLUs) and Short Courses.
Priority Learning Units
Short Courses
Personal Care
Numeracy
Communication and Literacy
Living in the Community
Preparing for Work
Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE)
Physical Education (PE)
3. History
The core subjects are taught by the class teacher, with specialist subject teachers coming in to support the teaching of Art, Woodwork, Gardening, P.E. and Cookery. The Junior Cycle Wellbeing programme is integrated through all classes and activities in school.
Every pupil has an opportunity to do well and achieve, regardless of their academic ability. This increases a sense of achievement and builds confidence and self-esteem. All areas ‘achieved’ and ‘experienced’ in the L2LP will be included in the Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement (JCPA). ‘Other Achievements’ and ‘Other Areas of Wellbeing’ for the years spent in Junior Cycle are also reported in the JCPA.
Our teaching is not solely driven by academic performance. There is a big emphasis on life skills and independence. All pupils in Junior Cycle engage with the Level 3 Junior Cycle programme – Art, Woodwork and Home Economics. The opportunity to engage in these subjects at state exam level is made available. In addition, CBAs (classroom-based assessments) are completed by all students, some at Level 2 and others at Level 3. Any state exams completed will be included on the student’s JCPA.
Junior Cert Schools Programme (JCSP)
The JCSP is also available to pupils. They can complete it to their own ability, complementing the L2LP. Statements across a wide range of subjects are selected for each child’s learning. This programme consists of short-term, specific targets, allowing the students to see the progress that is being made. Over a three-year period, any JCSP statements of learning are included on an individual JCSP pupil profile.
The Senior Cycle Section
St. Joseph’s Senior Cycle programme aims to assist our students to become independent and to give them direction, they can reach their highest potential and take ownership of their lives.
What is the Senior Cycle programme?
Key Skills
It is a two-year programme that extends from the Junior Cycle and focuses on the five key skills set out in the NCCA Senior Cycle Guidelines -
1. Information Processing
2. Critical and Creative Thinking
3. Communicating
4. Working with Others
5. Being Personally Effective.
These skills are important for all learners to reach their potential while in school and into the future. The development of personal, interpersonal and independent living skills is the focus of the Leavers’ Programme (e.g., skills such as budgeting, shopping and preparing simple meals independently).
Programme
The programme is designed to help students develop positive self-esteem and focus on their skills. The ability to manage free time and plan for activities which engage the students in interesting and stimulating activities outside school is vital to our students’ success. Students will regularly initiate social activities in school and outside of school.
There are six core subject areas (PLUs) in Senior Cycle: Communication, Numeracy, Personal Care, My Work Life, Wellbeing and Digital Literacy. To support the vocational aspect of Senior Cycle, students engage with Cooking for Life, Woodcraft, Let’s Create and Design and Enterprise. In addition, the P.E. and Choices modules facilitate students to explore other areas of interest in a community environment. Students participate in a work experience programme where they complete a short work placement in an area of interest to them. They also get to sample an adult service programme at a placement that is suitable for them.
This completes the two-year programme - promoting responsibility, teamwork, honesty, maturity, and initiative. It prepares the student and his/her family for transitioning to the next chapter, and life after school.
Senior Cycle Level 2 Learning Programmes
This year the Department of Education have released Senior Cycle 2 Learning Programmes designed as follow on programmes for Junior Cycle students in Ireland who are progressing from a Level 1 or 2 Learning Programme. This year St Joseph’s School are exploring the potential for incorporating these programmes fully/partially into our Senior Cycle section.