Student Support Team in Coláiste Abbáin

 

The student support team is a student-focused mechanism put in place by Coláiste Abbáin in order to:

• Co-ordinate the support available for students in the school and facilitate links to the community and other non-school support services.
• Enable students with support needs to continue to access a full education and assist staff to manage those students effectively.

Guidance Counsellor

In Coláiste Abbáin our Guidance Counsellor works to support students during their time in school.  Class teachers, Tutors, Year Heads and other members of management may refer a student to the guidance counsellor.

The guidance and counselling service is in place in order to support the student. Problems of a personal nature will be dealt with in a confidential manner but in cases where the guidance Counsellor perceives that the student may be at risk to himself or herself or to others he will refer the student

Year Head

 

• Deals with any arising student behavioural issues on a daily basis.
• Liaises with teachers, Student Support Team Personnel regarding student wellbeing and engagement.
• Advises student and parents on best behaviour and encourages them to reach their full potential.
• Ensures any arsing concerns are communicated to management and dealt with proactively.

Special Education Needs Coordinator

• Plays a supportive role working closely with the subject teacher.
• Provides supplementary teaching to students with Special Educational Needs.
• Administers diagnostic tests to students referred to him/her.
• Develops suitable programmes for relevant students.
• Communicates information to parents and meet when necessary.
• Liaises with Principal, Deputy Principal, Year Heads, Subject teachers and Guidance Counsellor.

 

Home School Community Liaison Teacher

 

Our policy commitment in this area is to constantly work in partnership with parents/guardians to achieve the optimum quality of relationship – this will require respect, listening, patience and willingness to reach consensus through cooperation and collaboration.   The HSCL will communicate with management, teachers, the Student Support Team, and CGC in a sensitive and confidential manner with regards to the pastoral care needs of students as identified by parents, teachers or students themselves.

The School Completion Programme

 

The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a Tusla funded, Educational and Welfare Service for children and young people aged 4 to 18 years.   Students are referred to SCP by schools and other support services because of concerns about a student’s attendance, participation, and retention in school; or a young person’s re-integration back into education.

Behaviour for Learning (BFL)

 

• The BFL Programme Teacher has responsibility for the development of an academic, behavioural, social and emotional and well-being curriculum to meet the needs of targeted students who require behavioural support. The aim of the BFL is to enable students to fulfil their potential and achieve success at school.

The BFL Programme comprises of three levels of support.

• Level 1 – School-wide behaviour support.
• Level 2 Referrals- Group work – Preventative and early intervention strategies.
• Level 3 – Students receive an intensive individualised intervention. These students display challenging behaviour in most of their classes.

Senior Management

A member from Senior Management attends the weekly meeting to ensure effective communication takes place and the needs of all students are met.

 

Other supports

Class Tutor

• The class tutor will meet the students every morning before school starts.
• Checks the student diary regularly.
• Plays a major part in the Induction Programme ‘Get…Set…Go’
• Collects students’ absent notes and records them on vsware.
• Mentors students through the academic year.
• Reports breaches of the school rules on vsware.

Student Council

 

• Can help heightening awareness of students’ needs.
• A line of communication between the student body and the Principal.

 

Prefects

 

• Prefects are chosen from 6^th year students.
• They act as a liaison between staff and students
• They are role models for younger students
• They foster a sense of community and show leadership to other students.

Meitheal Leaders

 

• Every year senior cycle students interview to act as Meitheal Leaders. They are trained to act as a support to 1^st Year students to provide a line of communication between the teaching staff and the new students. It creates an atmosphere of friendship and trust. The co-ordinator is Mr O Connor.

Parents

• Co-operate with the Pastoral Care Programme
• Communicate students’ difficulties to the school
• Participate in activities organised by the school that are designed to increase the involvement of the parents in the child’s development.

‘’Ní neart go cur le chéile’’.

There is no strength without unity. We are always stronger standing together, supporting each other as a group or community.