Swords Community College welcomes students with Special or Additional Education Needs (SEN) and in line with the EPSEN Act (2004) recognises “the need to provide that the education of people with such needs shall wherever possible take place in an inclusive environment”
We recognise each student as a unique individual with different talents and needs. We endeavour to meet their physical, intellectual, social, emotional and care needs through our student focused programmes. We aim to enable students who require support for their learning to enjoy equal access to the curriculum as far as is practically possible and to enable them to fulfil their potential. The promotion of self-esteem is an integral part of the students’ learning experience.
The Board of Management and the staff of the College will do everything possible to identify, plan and provide for the special or additional needs of students seeking admission to the College. Every effort will be made to provide an integrated and inclusive education. The College will use the resources, both financial and personnel, provided by the Department of Education and Skills to make reasonable provision and accommodation for students with special or additional educational needs.
We emphasize the importance of fulfilling the individual needs of the student and of assisting that student’s progress through the academic and social mainstream of the school. We operate a mixed ability programme so students in need of help are withdrawn from class in small groups, sometimes on a one-to-one basis and can be involved in a team-teaching classroom also. Great care is taken to plan the withdrawals so that the student does not fall behind in her/ his work in other subjects. Also, through the pastoral care system in the school, all students with special needs are part of a base mixed ability class and are valued, contributing members of the school community.