OUR SELF-EVALUATION REPORT AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN

2019-2020

In the last year, we have looked at teaching and learning in our school to find out what we are doing well. This is what we discovered:

* Literacy: Some work has begun on the new OL curriculum and in particular through the investment and use of the Starlight Programme in the Junior School. Oral language opportunities have increased with the results being evident from the vocabulary development/ acquisition in the Junior School orally.

*Numeracy: Power Hours in the Senior side of the school have supported and promoted the enjoyment of Maths amongst pupils. It is providing an opportunity for small group learning and support whilst ensuring that activities are varied and suit the needs of the learners in the group.

*SESE: Work completed on the planning of History, Geography and Science has resulted in a comprehensive document for whole school planning in this area to ensure a spiral curriculum.

*The Arts: Children are exploring a variety of musical genres through music generation and the strand of composting has been explored and enjoyed by all classes this year.

* SET: Interventions are working well to support pupils in the area of Literacy in particular such as LLO and Reading Buddies

*Other: The variety of afterschool’s activities is improving and the children are enjoying them, in particular the school Discos

 

This is what we did to find out what we were doing well, and what we could do better:

–           Oral Language in the Senior side of the school require investment and input to ensure continuity amongst the whole school

–           In class support for Maths would be beneficial for the Junior side of the school in the form of Maths Power Hours

–           Playtime arguments/ incidents are absorbing a large amount of teaching time each day

–           The wellbeing and the safety of the children at playtime is a concern given the lack of space to play and the number of incidents/ accidents at playtime in the space provided

This is what we are now going to work on:

– Making the playground a safer space

– reducing the number of incidents during and after playtime

– Having more activities available for playtime

This is what you can do to help:

– Speak with your child about playtime and who they play with

– Encourage your child play with those in their own class only

– Support the PA and BOM in their fundraising initiatives for new equipment where required

– Staff will teach playground games that can be adapted to suit a variety of classes

– School will run a skipping workshop to give children a healthy activity to play either in isolation or in small groups at play time

– School will assess the possibilities for split breaks at playtime to reduce the number of children on the yard

Here is some information about how we are carrying out our work and about what the Department of Education and Skills requires us to do.

School time and holidays

The Department requires all primary schools to have 183 school days each year.

The Department sets out a standardised school year and school holidays.

This year we took all our school holidays within the permitted time.

The Department sets out arrangements for parent/teacher meetings and staff meetings. This year we had parent/teacher meetings and staff meetings, all in line with the Department’s regulations.

Looking after the children in our school

The Department requires schools to follow the Child Protection Procedures it has set down. Our board of management has agreed in writing to do this.                                   YES

All teachers know about the Procedures and we have told

all parents about them and how we follow them.                                         YES

Our Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is  Marie Coen

and our Deputy DLP is                        Ita Finnerty

Enrolment and attendance

The Department requires schools to have and publish an admissions policy, to record and report attendance accurately, and to encourage high attendance and participation.

We have an admissions policy and it is published.                                         YES

We keep accurate attendance records and report them as required.          YES

We encourage high attendance in the following ways:

• Having activities from outside tutors taking place on Mondays and Fridays to encourage children to come to school
• Motivation and reward for those who are in on time each day into class

This is how you can help: Bring you child to school on time every day.

Positive behaviour for a happy school

The Department requires schools to have a code of behaviour, and asks us to consult parents and children about it. We do this.                                                   YES

Our code of behaviour describes and supports positive behaviour.             YES

We have a very clear and high-profile anti-bullying policy in our school.     YES