PT ENGLAND SCHOOL POLICY
SPECIAL NEEDS
INTRODUCTION:
There are an increasing number of mainstreamed children with special needs in our schools. There is also an increasing number children who have unstable domestic circumstances and a great variety of learning and behavioural difficulties. This policy is intended to help the teacher, the parents and the students to cope with the stresses and difficulties this causes and to facilitate good learning.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To provide early recognition of special needs children.
2. To provide good support for the individual programmes needed by these children without marginalising the needs of the other children in the class
3. To involve the best possible agencies in the aid of each individual.
4. To combine the collective wisdom of experienced staff, to involve families and other community supports in any remediation that takes place.
GUIDELINES:
1. A special needs committee to be set up, composed of all Senr Staff plus RTLB’S and any other person who may contribute on an ad hoc basis. This committee to meet twice termly and evaluate progress of each child on Special Needs Register and devise developments for future programme. As part of this evaluation to determine that the other children in the class are not being disadvantaged by the attention given to the special needs child.
2. Outside Agencies which work with these children will be expected to attend and report at these meetings where practical and appropriate
3. All children are to be assessed no later than 3 months after initial enrolment or within 3 months of entering each new class, to determine whether they need further assessment or whether they should be entered onto the Special Needs Roll. Teachers may use the checklist supplied to facilitate this assessment. Submission for entry onto the Special Needs Register should be made on the form supplied and the committee will determine the enrolment and suggest subsequent programming aids.
4. The Special Needs Committee will make every effort to involve the child’s family in whatever programme or support that eventuates. The committee will also make every effort to involve the class teacher in any conference, family contact or support that goes on
5. Where possible home contacts and support will be offered by people who are culturally compatible with the people being supported
Formulated: 1994
Reviewed: 1999
2002
2005
2009
2013
2015
2018
2023
2025