Annual Report 2015 -2016 Knockavoe School Resource

Annual Report 2015 -2016 Knockavoe School & Resource Centre Strabane

Chairpersons` Address Dear Parents /Guardians Welcome to our Annual Report for the Academic Year 2015/16. Our school is delighted to have received an extension to our current accommodation to take account of additional pupil needs. Pupils are now able to enjoy a new sensory room complete with interactive OMI Projector and Music Waterbed. Our completed soft pour surface in the Trim Trail is a big hit with all pupils in their pursuit of health & fitness and ties in with our commitment to healthy living/lifestyles! Governors wish to extend their continued gratitude to the Principal, Teaching Staff, C/A`s, Building Supervisor, Secretary, Allied Health Professionals, Catering & Cleaning Staff, students and volunteers who contribute to the high standards and excellent education that is offered within Knockavoe School & Resource Centre on a daily basis. Yours sincerely, Joseph Davis Chairperson Board of Governors October 2016

Board of Governors 2014 -2018 Chairperson: Mr J Davis Vice Chair: Mrs A Mc. Connell DENI Teacher Representative: Mr J Callaghan Parent Representatives: Ms H Devine Mr J Davis DENI: Mr B O`Kane EA(WR): Mr T Mc. Bride Mr E Mc. Cay Mr D Hussey Principal/Secretary: Ms M Mc. Comish (non voting)

Governors Responsibilities Governors are responsible for the overall management of the school and their responsibilities include: • • Management of school budget Overview of curriculum Selection of staff and other personnel responsibilities Admissions Policy School maintenance Implementation of new legislation Fostering links with the local community and pursuing the objectives of mutual understanding Governors give their time freely to the school. They attend relevant training provided by EA during their term of office. Minutes are recorded of each meeting and forwarded to EA(WR); copies are kept in school. We would like to thank our Governors for their support, dedication, leadership and commitment to our school.

Staff Information Core staffing allocation • Principal and 15 fulltime equivalent teachers • 1 times 0. 5 Vice Principal -non teaching time • 1 times 0. 5 teacher &1 times 20 hrs teacher • 34 full time equivalent classroom assistants (approx. ) There are 116 pupils enrolled at Knockavoe. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs (SEN). There are 16 classes in the school. Primary Department-8 classes Senior Department-8 classes Principal: Ms Martina Mc. Comish Vice Principal : Ms G Dunne Head of Primary Dept : Mrs C Clements Head Of Senior Dept : Mr J Callaghan Literacy/Numeracy Coordinator : Ms C Mc. Gonagle Staff News-Happy retirement to Mrs Edna Friel C/A-we will all miss you! Welcome to new babies for Julie O`Neill, Emma Wallace, Wendy Scullion, Linzi Rodgers, Patricia Mc. Caw, Ashleen Edgar & Kelly Anne Sharkey!

School Information Secretary: Mrs M Mc. Cauley Clerical Support : Mrs S Wiley- Mc. Colgan (10 hrs. ) Building Supervisor: Mr R Mc. Granaghan Canteen Staff: Kitchen Food Rating : 5 Cook Supervisor-Mrs N Coyle Assistants-Miss G Baird Mrs M Mc. Callion Ms A Quinn Mr J Martin Cleaning Staff : P Bogle A Mc. Grinder M Conwell M Mc. Nulty A Doherty A M O'Neill

Transport Staff Bus Drivers Mr H Mc. Dermott Mr L Curley Mr I Barr Mr K Flanagan Bus Escorts Various taxi Firms are employed by M Mc. Callion EA to transport pupils. M Bogle E Doherty E Blee Transport is managed directly by EA (WR) office Contact details- Anne Kelly Omagh, Tel: 028 -82253018

Child Protection Information Designated CP Officer: Mrs C Clements Deputy Designated CP Officers : Ms G Dunne & Mr J Callaghan Parents/Guardians are issued with a leaflet every year outling Child Protection Procedures within Knockavoe. Staff attend CP updates every year and CP Officers, Principal and Designated Governor attend CP Training every 2 years. The Department of Education requires schools to remind all parents/guardians of the importance of notifying school when someone other than the usual person will be collecting a child from school. All visitors to the school must sign in & wear a Visitor Badge. Parents/guardians must wait in Foyer area until staff member arrives to meet them. All Volunteers and temporary employees are subject to Access NI Vetting Procedures before working within the school, in line with EA Guidelines. Parent Information Notice Board in Foyer Area. Fob Entry Swipe / Door Code System in place for all staff. Any concerns in relation to a CP issue should be reported to the Designated Child Protection Officer/Deputy Officers.

Pastoral Care Programs within both Primary & Secondary departments foster the development of the emotional and physical well being of every pupil. Our ethos of mutual respect, trust, caring and open communication among staff, parents, pupils and the wider community helps us to achieve this core priority. Pupils are listened to and educated within a safe nurturing, rights respecting environment. Counselling for referred pupils, provided by New Life, takes place weekly within the school. Counsellor is Mrs Anne Johnson. Extra Curricular Activities Residentials take place annually to Gortatole Outdoor Activity Centre(2 or 4 night) for pupils in the secondary department. Educational outings take place for all classes to local places of interest/cinema & play centres. Knockavoe Knights Football team train every Wednesday after school and participate in local and NI competitions. Visiting drama groups & music sessions take place. After school clubs take place every week with a planned programme of activities. Horse riding/football/orienteering/swimming/golf are some of our regular activities.

Curriculum Knockavoe School & Resource Centre is a member of DMLC. Knockavoe pupils have access to the NI Curriculum(modified to meet individual needs) and Quest for PMLD pupils. After School Clubs take place on a Tues from 3. 00 -4. 45 pm Sporting Activities, Educational Outings and Residentials also take place during the school year along with visits to places of interest. Workshops in Art/Music/Drama take place throughout the year for pupils. We encourage respect, independence, collaboration and development of new skills. Building self esteem for all pupils & young adults is a key element of our work. Work experience is a key element of FE. Inclusive opportunities are provided for all pupils in accordance with their ability and we seek to encourage, motivate and challenge our pupils as we meet their individual needs. On-going assessment informs teacher planning and learning & teaching are monitored to ensure consistency, relevance and achievement for all.

Primary Department Structure Class 1 Nursery C. Kerrigan T. Kennedy M. Grier A. Mc. Shane M. Parke K. Mc. Cauley L. Rodgers Class 2 E. Sayers C. Aiken S. Mc. Gonagle Class 7 Class 3 C. Green N. Gamble K A. Sharkey L. Mc. Nulty C. Clements C. Mc. Daid C. O`Brien R. Glendinning Primary Departmen t E. Friel F. Dunn (HCA) Class 6 M. Tunney C. Connolly A. Lynch G. Mc. Shane Knobbs Class 4 C. Martin/ G Dunne Class 5 W. Scullion A. Wasson L. Haslett R. Mc. Cauley L. Jack R. Dunbar K. Logue

Primary Department Overview 2015 – 2016 The Primary Department comprises 8 classes all of whom focus on 6 themes per year. Themes this year were: Our School, Food from around the World, Fairy Tales, Materials, Transport & Sports! These themes promoted self esteem and confidence, developed social communication and above all enhanced the importance of working as a team. Pupils travelled around different classes sampling culinary delights from India, China, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Ireland Greece! We were transported to Las Vegas, enjoyed a Mr Grumpy Boat Outing, experienced the mystery of Narnia with the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, explored Fairy Tales of the Gingerbread man, Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and the 3 bears. Lions of Zululand spent 2 days in Knockavoe and delivered workshops in art/music/dance & culture to pupils. They put on an amazing show for pupils, parents & invited guests! Check out our Website! Our motto of “Reaching for a brighter future” is reflected daily within the Primary Department as we assist pupils to experience all areas of the curriculum, overcome hurdles and challenges while developing Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, Communication skills. Pupils participate in swimming and horse riding and further develop fitness through Jo Jingles, Zumba, Fundamental Movement, Football and 2/3 day Residentials. Friendships and self-expression are encouraged to develop through Shared Play, African Drumming, Sensory activities and Drama to name but a few. Classes within the Primary Department worked either as a group/individuals to share resources, expertise and experiences to provide high quality learning and teaching experiences for all pupils. Staff, through developed Roles of Responsibility, liaised with colleagues to discuss, share and showcase good practise so all could benefit from the experiences of others. Regular department and class team meetings ensured good communication within and across the Primary Department. Nursery had a brilliant year welcoming all the new boys and girls to their class. They enjoyed an eventful year full of play and excitement. They explored different topics - their favourites being “Goldilocks and the 3 Bears”, & learning all about “Big, Small and Tiny”. The Farm was another favourite where they learnt all about different animals and farm machinery. We enjoyed Jo Jingles coming to school and the sensory play days in the hall where our families also came to play. We had regular outings to Melvin Hall where we had the opportunity to develop our skills of transitioning from one place to another, while having excellent fun in their large soft play area! Nursery had great fun at their Sports Day where they took part in different activities. June Graduation gave parents/guardians & staff the opportunity to celebrate all the pupils` wonderful achievements throughout the year. This has been a fantastic year for all in Nursery!

Class 1 have had a great year. We have been working hard to develop our independence through our PECs communication board and Makaton signs. This year we have enjoyed working on our pre-writing and pre-numeracy skills. We have been learning to use scissors to cut to a point, to use a marker and pencil to trace along lines and phonemes, and have had lots of fun experiencing Numicon in our sensory and messy play. We loved visiting Santa’s Grotto at Sure. Start Strabane and Oakfield House. Every other Wednesday we get to visit Melvin with class two; there are some beautiful under floor sensory lights here and two long slides which we all like to go down. Class one joined up with class two also to visit the Omagh Fire Station; everyone had the chance to try on a fire fighter’s helmet and pretend to drive the fire engine. Within school we have had the opportunity to join up with other classes to enjoy performances by Jim Devine, The Lions of Zululand, Snooze and Lullabug and Wiggle Giggle. There has also been sensory play in the hall. We enjoyed the snow and bubble machine and the different sensory trays set up for us to explore. This has been a fantastic year which we have all really enjoyed!

Class 2 have enjoyed a busy year of activities both in school and in the local Community. In the classroom the pupils were always eager to learn and they embraced ‘Numicon’ the new school initiative. The pupils used Numicon with the support of staff to explore and solve number problems. We enjoyed the topics Seasons, People Who Help Us, Space, Dinosaurs, Cultures and Mini Beasts. The pupils had fun taking Barney Bear, our class teddy, on adventures in school and to their homes. In school the pupils enjoyed Musical Pathways, Sport Coaching, Drama, Hula Hooping, Circus Skills , Attention Autism and African Drumming. Class 2 have enjoyed visiting new places in our Community and they have always been a pleasure to take out as a representative of our school. We took a trip to Strabane Library for their Going on a Bear Hunt Story Telling, we visited Santa in Oakfield, we took our teddies to Letterkenny Teddy Bear Hospital, we visited Omagh Fire Station, we enjoyed regular visits to Melvin Hall Soft Play and our end of year outing was to Art Space in Eglinton where we enjoyed a variety of Sensory experiences.

Class 3 Primary Dept cont`d Class 3 had an extremely busy year. We welcome a new pupil after Easter 2016, Kerrie. We all worked so hard and achieved 2 Quest Targets throughout the year. We expanded our curriculum and thrived during our Art sessions, Attention Autism programmes. We participated in the 10 year celebrations, loving lions of Zululand our particular favourite was Jim Devine. We developed through Replay Theatre Drama workshops and enjoyed sessions with Ulster Scots and Musical Pathways. We ended the year of with a fantastic trip with all parents and pupils to Artspace in Eglinton. Class 4: Class 4 have enjoyed a busy year filled with fun and learning. We enjoyed spending time getting to know our classmates and forging lasting friendships. We watched the seasons change and celebrated various events throughout the year. As we moved through themed learning cycles during the year we got the opportunity to learn, explore and play. We have reached milestones and made achievements, however modest or great, and we celebrated these appropriately. We continued to work on communication, self-help, behaviour management and self - expression and feel that all skills learned in these areas will serve pupils well both now and in years to come. We have taken every opportunity to go out and enjoy the fantastic facilities our local community has to offer as well as becoming more integrated within our own school community.

Class 5 We have been continuing our independence & doing our self-care. This year we have enjoyed using our numicon in Numeracy and also using Sounds Write in Literacy. We enjoyed getting the experience of the Attention Autism Bucket & getting to mix with different classes in Learning Through Play. We had lots of fun dressing up in school for fancy-dress day at Halloween. Pupils went to Oakfield Park to Santa’s Grotto which was so much fun as we had to get the train to see Santa and saw beautiful animals along the way. We went to Lurgybrack Park for our end of year trip. We joined other classes for one of our 10 th anniversary celebrations with singer Jim Devine! Everyone loved the sensory play day in the hall with the bubble machine and a lots of sensory trays for us to explore. This has been a very successful year which we all enjoyed! Class 6 had a fantastic year! They worked hard developing their learning across the curriculum. Sounds~Write Phonics Program has been further developed within the class and tailored to meet the individual needs of children – proving an amazing resource! We have covered many topics including Seasons, People Who Help Us, Dinosaurs and other animals, Cultures and Mini-beasts. Within these topics the children developed their knowledge, created beautiful pieces of Art work and made yummy treats in Cookery. We have had many fun days in and out of school! We enjoyed trips to the cinema and the Millennium Forum for Spring Fest and Ministry of Science Day. The children worked hard throughout the year building their reward chart and earned a few trips to Jumping Lanes and Frankie and Bennies for a beautiful meal! Well done everyone! In school we had exciting events such as, Ulster Scots, Jim Devine, Scallywag Puppets, Lions of Zulu Land, Film Festival and Zoo Lab. We shared wonderful events such as Culture Week, World Book Day, Autism Awareness and more!

Class 7 had a very busy and productive year. In September we enjoyed getting settled into our new routine and welcomed 5 new pupils to class 7. The pupils really enjoyed getting familiar with their new timetables and getting settled into their new routines. At Christmas pupils worked hard through all rehearsals for our nativity play. During their two performances at local churches they performed wonderfully as shepherds and Keelan Sharkey was amazing as Joseph. Through February and March class 7 prepared to take to the stage once again through their performance at “Let the Dance Begin” in Alley Theatre. The children represented the school really well throughout all practices and amazed all with their talents on the night of the performance! 2 pupils worked hard preparing to make the sacrament of Confirmation in May and we were very proud of them on the day. Throughout this academic year class 7 progressed well through the sounds- write phonics programme and through our numicon numeracy scheme. They loved exploring all our new topics and of course loved sampling their cookery skills each Friday. What a fantastic year with lots of new targets achieved and fun memories made. Good luck to all our pupils who have now progressed to year 8! Team spirit, respect, readiness to “have a go” and the building of each individual childs` confidence is paramount to all within the Primary Department. We encourage all our pupils, no matter what challenges they face and believe that: “All dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them”. We must assist our pupils to fulfil their dreams as we encourage, support and nurture them during their time within the Primary Department and prepare them for a seamless transition to the Senior Department.

Senior Department Structure FE P Doherty G Dunlop P Mc. Caw Carricklee C Grogan L Moore N Curran L Sweeney KS 3 Nurture S Seaney E Doherty L Callan Senior Department Yr 11/12 B E Wallace C Mc. Caul C Early Yr 8/9 L Gibson O Morrison A Doherty. Mc. Conomy Glenside Suite R Mc. Cafferty J Maybin L Callaghan N Stevenson Yr 9/10 C Mc. Gonagle G Mc. Bride Yr 11/12 A J Callaghan S Mc. Gill R Mc. Daid

Year 8/9 Senior Department Overview 2014 -2015 Throughout the year pupils worked extremely well in all curriculum subjects as well as in all extra-curricular activities. The children’s preferred learning style has been kinaesthetic. This teaching style has proved beneficial in developing the children’s academic ability as they were able to demonstrate great recall of facts especially within science, Geography and History. Pupils enjoyed developing subject knowledge through class outings to Ulster American Folk Park and the Giants Causeway. Pupils excelled in collaborating with outside agencies to develop the school profile. In February year 8/9 participated in ‘Let the Dance Begin’. This consisted of the children completing weeks of dance rehearsals with another school in the community. All children displayed excellent talent and skill and the highlight/ reward was when they performed solo dance pieces at the Alley Theatre to a delighted audience. The class demonstrated their musical talent by completing African musical lessons and dance class. They participated in Scottish dance lessons and went on to perform a range of dances during a celebration assembly. Well done for a great year of hard work and enjoyment! KS 3 Nurture A busy year in KS 3 Nurture Unit with activities both in school and the surrounding locality. We used the school mini bus to travel to places such as ‘The Swinging Bridge’ in Sion Mills & play parks in Strabane, Castle Finn and Omagh. We attended The Mayor’s Parlour, Derry, as part of the Student Council and were treated like Kings and Queens! We integrated with the Senior Club throughout the year and enjoyed socialising with other pupils, especially in Horticulture and Art. Sensory Art with Art Teacher Julie was a weekly activity that Joanne really enjoyed, particularly the pottery wheel. Joanne also availed of the fabulous sensory activities on offer in school – sensory room, reflexology and hand /foot massage enabling an invigorating and deep sensory experience. We completed several projects such as measurement, working with money, space and summer and enjoyed our weekly trips to music and cookery. Overall we had a fun and enjoyable year!

Year 9/10 had another action packed academic year. Pupils developed their knowledge and understanding across various academic areas such as Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, Science, Technology & Design, PE, RE, Environment & Society and LLW. They worked hard during life skills and learnt how to clean, iron, sort clothes and look after their own personal hygiene. Our pupils enjoyed lots of environmental outings to horse-riding, swimming, Castlederg High School for science experiments and we ended the year with a wonderful trip to the Giants Causeway. Great friendships grew within Yr 9/10 and these were nurtured over our Friday afternoon cups of tea where we reflected upon the week past and set new goals for the coming week. Every pupil was valued and respected and this ensured that success was enjoyed by all. Glenside Suite The pupils and staff were delighted to move to their new purpose-built classroom in the extension at senior department area of school. They quickly settled in to their new surroundings and loved looking on to the playground, field outside with the horse grazing and the bright windows to the corridor that allowed lots of light in! The highlight of their year was the additional new sensory room in the extension complete with interactive Bubble Machine , OMI Vista Projector and Sound Water Bed! Glenside continued to work on Quest & Q Skills using these fabulous resources!

Carricklee have had a very busy year since September! We welcomed two new pupils Keelan and Shakira throughout the year and Lloyd loved the new changes. His classroom became a lot busier but he has adapted well and loves his new friends. We also said goodbye to Rachel who has progressed so well she is now fully integrated into Yr 11/12 B! Well done Rachel we are so proud of you. Everyone in Carricklee continues to work hard – Keelan and Shakira are working through tasks in Numeracy, Literacy and ICT while Lloyd is progressing well through his ASDAN qualification. We had lovely experiences in Carricklee this year. We all enjoyed a great day at Fahan Beach-weather was super and everyone loved collecting shells, playing football on the beach and going for a lovely walk. Pupils got involved in Multi-Culture Week and enjoyed learning about Ireland, dressing up and tasting delicious food! Everyone had a great time at the Lions of Zululand workshops learning African songs and dances. YE Team at Foyleside!

Year 11/12 A enjoyed an extremely busy and productive year. The pupils had been working on a variety of different programmes during this year, including Independent Travel Training, Essential Skills in Literacy and Numeracy and we undertook new CCEA Entry Level Qualifications in Science, PE, Art and City & Guilds ICT. We also took part in AQA Design & Technology and competed in the Sentinus Formula 1 Challenge – Winning Best Overall Group and Best Oral Presentation. Each and every pupil worked to the best of their ability and achieved so much during this academic year. They were challenged in all their tasks, academic and vocational, and presented with an amazing attitude and aptitude for work. The class participated and contributed to the Young Enterprise Programme and were a credit to the school both within and in the wider community. Yr 11/12 B Pupils carried out Eco friendly re-cycling tasks and completed units from OCR Life Skills and also the Prince’s Trust XL program. They worked on French in ASDAN’s Transition Challenge programme and completed units – ‘Preparing for a healthy, active lifestyle’ and 'Participating in Sport' and 'Supporting our Community' in The Prince’s Trust XL programme. Pupils followed a cookery programme, where they had the opportunity to cook weekly and also experience Functional Life skills – ‘Comparing prices within local supermarkets’. Furthermore, they browsed through the newspapers looking for articles of interest and current affairs and wrote about them, so improving their literacy skills. The ‘Sounds Write’ program was another element of our literacy programme and assisted the pupils spelling and reading through phonics. Pupils took part in Disability NI Sports, workshops on Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol & Healthy Eating and Personal Hygiene as well as Community Coaches for sports. Work Experience took place in May and pupils participated in duties within the school environment.

Further Education (FE) In 2015/2016 pupils in the Further Education class continued to work towards accreditations in Essential Skills Numeracy and Literacy. Pupils undertook new entry level qualifications in Learning for Life and Work and Science. In Motor Vehicle Studies students focused on The 'Crashed Lives' project which aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by using real-life testimonies to emotionally engage target audiences with the realities of road tragedy and thus influence future decisions by road users. In tandem with our educational outings students took part in a project focusing on places in the community. Our travels took us to the Derry City Airport, the train station, local shopping stores and the DVLNI Centre.

Qualifications within Senior Dept Essential Skills Entry Level Numeracy Essential Skills Entry Level Literacy GCSE & AS Level ART GCSE Design Technology Occupational Studies NWRC City and Guilds START IT Entry Level Motor Vehicle Studies Driving Test Preparation QUEST – Curriculum for SLD and PMLD pupils Design Technology delivered to all pupils 11+years

Financial Report As a Special School within the EA(WR), our budget is partially delegated and the EA(WR) manage payment of salaries, maintenance, equipment and major resources. Knockavoe receives a budget every year to cover electricity, oil, waste disposal, water, grounds maintenance and classroom resources among other items. EA(WR) issue budget statements in relation to monthly expenditure. Any contributions to Friends of Knockavoe are recorded and managed by them. Chairperson is Ms Hayley Devine. All donations to the school are received, acknowledged and receipt issued. The school bank account is audited by the Governor with Financial Responsibility on a yearly basis and Internal Audit EA (WR) conducted an audit in Feb`15 and their report states that “Internal Audit considers that the findings represent a satisfactory level of assurance. ” and also in conclusion “Based on our review of the systems outlined in the audit scope, Internal audit is satisfied that in most instances established best practice and Board guidance is being adhered to. ” Final Audit Report presented to Governors on 14 th April 2015.

Budget 2014 -2015 KNOCKAVOE SCHOOL & RESOURCE CENTRE Budget 2015/2016 • Delegated • • • £ 164, 232 C&YP Funds NIL Newcomer Pupils N/A Traveller Children in Special Schools £ 4, 000 Extended Schools £ 10, 528 Entitlement Framework £ 4, 277 TOTAL £ 183, 037 WELB was replaced by the Education Authority, Western Region EA(WR), from 1 st April 2015 *Hard copies of this Annual Report are available on request from the School.