Specialist Provision (aka The DEN)

Departmental Staff

Specialist Provision Lead: Mrs Marion McMahon

Specialist Provision KS4 Co-ordinator: Mr Jonathan Brown

Teaching Team:

Mr Mark McKenna

Mrs Tracy O’Hare

Mrs Carmel Robinson

Miss Niamh Watters

 

Key information on the Specialist Provision Department:

The Specialist Provision is an intrinsic component of our Whole School Special Educational Needs Provision in St. Paul’s High School Bessbrook.

We currently have a five class provision which consists of the following:

 

The Specialist Provision Department aims:

  • To ensure that all learners with special educational needs (SEN) received the support they require to achieve their full potential alongside their peers.
  • To provide a positive and supportive learning environment, where all learners are encouraged to learn together and participate fully in school life.
  • To provide individualised support and interventions to meet the individual needs of each learner.
  • To promote the social and emotional well-being our learners, helping them to develop positive relationships, self-esteem and resilience.
  • To equip learners with the essential life skills, preparing them for life beyond St. Paul’s High School.
  • To collaborate with outside agencies to provide comprehensive support for all our learners.

This holistic approach to the education intends to provide opportunities for each learner to achieve full potential in a caring, and supportive environment.

 

Curriculum- KS3:

Our KS3 curriculum is aligned with the KS3 curriculum which learners in the mainstream provision follow. However, we implement a flexible approach to learning which caters for all abilities and pace of learning in each teaching group.

Our KS3 classes follow a three-year programme, in which our students are taught core subjects within the learning support department by a member of our staff, while a range of subjects are delivered by subject specialists.

 

Subjects taught within the department:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Learning for Life and Work
  • Environment and Society
  • Religion
  • Languages
  • Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL)

Subjects taught by subject specialists outside of the department:

  • Art
  • Drama
  • Home Economics
  • Music
  • P.E.
  • Science
  • Technology

In addition, we provide small group intervention for our learners. We work with all subject teachers to identify pupils who would benefit from bespoke support to access learning across the curriculum.

 

Curriculum- KS4:

The programme of learning in KS4 is bespoke to the level of need and also the areas of interest. Here is a list of qualifications which are available to the learners:

  • Entry Level English
  • Entry Level Maths
  • Entry Level Life Skills
  • Occupational Studies
  • ASDAN- Life Skills and Personal Development
  • Training for Business
  • Princes Trust Personal Development
  • GCSE Preparing for Adult Life (PAL)

Pupils enrolled in the Specialist Provision also have the option of completing GCSE courses in the mainstream provision. We would closely with parents and learners to plan and deliver this together.