Education - Ennis National School

Primary School Curriculum

The Primary School Curriculum outlines what children learn in each subject, the approaches and methodologies used and how children’s learning progresses through the primary school.

The Primary School Curriculum aims to:

Develop each child’s potential to the full
Encourage in children a love of learning
Help them develop skills they will use all their lives

Learn More about this on the Primary School Curriculum website

The curriculum is learner-centred. It emphasises the importance of literacy, numeracy, and language, while at the same time responding to changing needs in science and technology, social personal and health education, and citizenship. The curriculum is presented in 7 subject areas comprising 11 subjects.

As well as learning new ideas and finding out new information in the different subjects of the curriculum, children develop important skills such as communicating, estimating, problem solving, working scientifically, designing and making.

The curriculum specifies the amount of time to be allocated to each curriculum area. Each teacher devises an individual timetable to ensure that each subject gets its allocated time and also to ensure access to school resources such as the general purpose room, computer room and school field.

Our pupils are taught in their single class groups, with all children studying the same area. However, work is appropriately differentiated (either simplified or extended) to match all ability levels.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

All children are valued, respected and welcomed to the school whatever their additional educational need. We will support their learning and ensure they are fully included in all school activities, making full use of externally provided facilities where appropriate.

Prevention and early intervention is the cornerstone of special education provision at Ennis NS. Close collaboration and consultation between class teachers and the special education team, together with ongoing assessment will identify pupils in infant classes who may be in need of additional support.

Children are assessed annually from first class to establish their educational needs. Standardised assessments are carried out in Maths and in English by class teachers.

Support will be provided for children who need it by our support teachers. Should your child require any special assistance, be it short term or long, a member of staff will be in contact with you and invite you to the school to discuss your child’s needs.

The school also has the services of an educational psychologist, who works closely with the school in assessing children who might be experiencing difficulties in learning.

The school also works closely with Health Service Executive personnel and services such as Clare Early Intervention Services.

Irlen Screening

One of our teachers is a qualified and experienced Irlen screener. Children who are found to have these light-based difficulties can be provided with colour overlays, and, if deemed helpful, referred onwards to an Irlen specialist for Irlen lenses/glasses.

Counselling

Ennis National School is most fortunate to have the expertise of a psychotherapist in supporting children who are experiencing emotional trauma. This therapy is delivered through the medium of Play Therapy, Art Therapy and Counselling. Children are usually taken individually in a safe environment within the school where they are provided with the space and utmost privacy to express their needs and feelings. Child Counselling is funded by the Family Support Agency and is available free of charge to those in need.

Gifted, Able and TalentedClare Crusaders

Gifted, Able and Talented

Our school will have, at any time, a number of able, talented or gifted pupils. We recognise academic and practical performance as well as those who show outstanding artistic, musical and creative talent, physical skills, leadership qualities and the ability to process ideas and information.

Clare Crusaders

We are fortunate to have the services of an Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist provided by Clare Crusaders on a weekly basis.