The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department in Gonzaga College SJ provides support for students with additional learning needs in line with the guidelines of the Department of Education.
Support from the Department of Education is allocated to students who qualify for resource teaching hours under designated categories of need. Applications for such support are submitted on an individual basis through the Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) assigned to the College by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). These applications are reviewed annually and may also be made during the school year, depending on circumstances.
Teaching support is allocated, where possible, according to the student’s learning profile and needs, rather than on the basis of a diagnosis alone. The level of support may therefore vary from student to student. Please note that while we greatly value recommendations from external professionals, these are considered advisory in nature. Where such recommendations do not align with our own observations and experience of a student in the school setting, they are treated as suggestions rather than definitive conclusions or automatic ‘entitlements’. For the purposes of accuracy and clarity, it is therefore essential that the College has input into any and all assessments, ensuring a process of triangulation that reflects the student’s full educational profile.
In addition, the College allocates funding from its own resources to provide support for students who do not meet the Department of Education criteria but who nonetheless would benefit from additional assistance. These students are supported through a combination of the SEN Department, the School Support Team (SST), and their classroom teachers, who hold primary responsibility for the students in their care.
The SEN Department also applies annually for Reasonable Accommodations in State Examinations (RACE) on behalf of eligible students. In some cases, parents may be asked to provide updated or additional professional reports to support these applications.
Finally, Gonzaga College SJ wishes to advise parents and guardians that the preferred and only school-endorsed pathway for ADHD assessment is through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This approach reflects national best practice and ensures that any diagnosis is carried out by a qualified multidisciplinary team with the appropriate clinical expertise.
Any queries regarding SEN support in the College should be addressed to Miss Morris, SEN Co-ordinator at SENCO@gonzaga.ie
