EDUCATION AUTHORITY Special Educational Services in the BELFAST REGION It is important to retain this booklet for your information throughout the statutory assessment procedure July 2015
INTRODUCTION Many children will at some time in their school career have special educational needs of some kind. In most cases these needs will be met by their school, sometimes with specialist help. In a few cases, the Education Authority may decide to draw up what is called a statement of special educational needs. This describes the child s needs and the special help to be provided. The statutory assessment process can be daunting for parents and it may help to talk to someone about the procedure or to access additional information. The following addresses and telephone numbers may be useful if you need advice about the statutory assessment procedure. Mrs Anne Patience - Manager of Statutory Operations Special Education Section Education Authority Belfast Region 40 Academy Street BELFAST BT1 2NQ Telephone No: 02890564120 Fax No: 02890564186 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK Mrs Mary Devlin Principal Educational Psychologist Educational Psychology Service Education Authority Belfast Region 40 Academy Street BELFAST BT1 2NQ Telephone No: 02890564033 Fax No: 02890564386 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK Ms Pamela Woods Chief Education Welfare Officer Educational Welfare & Child Protection Service Education Authority Belfast Region 40 Academy Street BELFAST BT1 2NQ Telephone No: 028 90564356 Fax No: 02890564398 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK 2
As part of the statutory assessment process the Education Authority is obliged to seek medical advice about your child. The Doctor who will carry out the medical assessment can be contacted at your local health clinic. The three clinics in the Belfast Region are listed below: BHSCT North / West Belfast Dr L Eardley Associate Specialist Child Health (Temporary) Carlisle Health and Well Being Centre 40 Antrim Road BELFAST BT15 2AA Tel No: 08453006650 / 02895046283 BHSCT South Belfast BHSCT East Belfast Dr L Eardley Dr L Eardley Associate Specialist Child Health Associate Specialist Child Health (Temporary) (Temporary) Bradbury Centre Holywood Arches Health Centre 1-17 Lisburn Road Westminster Ave North BELFAST BELFAST BT9 7AA BT4 1NS Tel No: 028 95042323 Tel No: 028 90563373 028 95047770 028 90563303 It is very important that you bring your child for the medical examination when an appointment is sent to you as the clinical medical officer must produce advice as part of the statutory assessment procedure. Non attendance at a medical appointment may result in a statement of special educational needs not being completed which may in turn prevent a child being placed appropriately or accessing support in his/her present placement. 3
Other Education Regions Addresses and Websites for information South Eastern Region Grahamsbridge Road DUNDONALD BT16 OHS Tel No: 90 566200 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK North Eastern Region County Hall 182 Galgorm Road BALLYMENA BT42 1HN Tel No: 25 653333 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK Western Region 1 Hospital Road OMAGH BT79 0AW Tel No: 82 411411 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK Southern Region 3 Charlemount Place The Mall ARMAGH BT16 9BA Tel No: 37 523811 Website WWW.EANI.ORG.UK 4
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE BELFAST REGION Belfast Hospital School Provides education for children while in hospital and/or while they are at home and assessed as not medically fit to attend school. Where possible some children are taught in groups in locations across the city. Clarawood Support Service (KS2) Provides support in mainstream primary schools for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and, where appropriate, part-time placement in Clarawood School. Education Other Than at School (EOTAS) Education is provided by teachers through Loughshore ERC, both on site and at times in various venues across the city for pupils of secondary school age. EOTAS is also provided for some pupils at Conway Education Centre, Newstart and Pathways. Harberton Nursery Support provides support in mainstream nursery for children experiencing difficulties with their social development. Harberton Support Service (Learning Difficulties KS1 and 2) Provides support in mainstream primary schools for children with learning difficulties and, where appropriate, short term placement in the Harberton Intensive Support Class for pupils with statements. Harberton Support Service (Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties) (KS1) Provides support in mainstream primary schools for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and, where appropriate, part time placement in Harberton Behaviour (LSC) Learning Support Class. Mitchell House Support Service Provides advice to all mainstream or special schools on meeting the needs of children with physical difficulties. 5
Park Outreach Support Provides support in mainstream secondary schools for children with moderate learning difficulties. Peripatetic Support Service This service provides support for children with specific literacy difficulties, hearing and/or visual impairment in mainstream schools. Preschool Home Intervention Scheme Provides advice and support to the families of pre-school children with significant developmental delay or learning difficulties. Secondary Pupil Support Service / Link The service will provide outreach support to pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in mainstream secondary schools, and, where appropriate, part time placement in a learning support unit, The Link. St Gerard s Support Service Provides support in mainstream primary and secondary schools for children with moderate learning difficulties, and where appropriate, part time placement in St Gerard s Intensive Support Class.. Regional Vision Resource Base This service, provided by Jordanstown School and by the Regional Vision Resource Base (RVRB) located at the Fortwilliam Centre, Belfast, provides specially adapted materials to meet the needs of children with visual difficulties. Specialist equipment and advice is also available at the RVRB Oakwood ASD Service (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) The ASD service provides advice and support to all schools. Oakwood Pre School Home Intervention Service This service provides advice and support in regard to pre school children with severe learning disabilities 6
Education Transitions Service This service provides advice and support to parents and pupils aged 14+ who have a statement of special educational needs in order to prepare for the transition to adult life. For further information please contact: 90564367 / 90564338 SEN ADVICE AND INFORMATION SERVICES There is a SEN Information and Advice Officer for the Belfast Region, Bernadette McIntyre, 02890564273 or email: Bernadette.McIntyre@eani.org.uk Further advice and information about Special Educational Needs for parents and schools can be accessed on the website http://www.education-support.org.uk If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you or put you in touch with the appropriate person to deal with your query. 7
SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN THE BELFAST REGION While the EA will always carefully consider parental preferences only the EA Region that issues the statement can determine the placement for your child. While other services and agencies may suggest a particular school, in order to avoid disappointment please consult with your statementing officer in the first instance. NB Please do not assume that your preferred, local special school will have places available. Where appropriate the Education Authority will always endeavour to place children at their nearest suitable special school. However in recent years demand has been such that this has not always been possible. In these cases a suitable special school in a neighbouring Region may be sought or a child may be placed in a Learning Support Class or a mainstream school with additional support To ensure that those in greatest need are provided for, special school placements are not normally confirmed until the end of May or during June. It is therefore important that you also nominate a second choice of place for your child should there be no availability in your preferred school. School Belfast Hospital School Principal - Mrs M Godfrey Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Falls Road BELFAST BT12 6BE Tel No: 90633498 Age 4 19 years Group Primary and Secondary (KS1 5) TOPS EOTAS, Secondary (KS1-4) Type Medical 8
School Cedar Lodge School Principal - Mrs L Little 24 Landsdowne Park North BELFAST BT15 4EA Tel No: 90777292 4 16 years Boys and Girls Age Intake Group Primary and Secondary (KS1 4) Type Delicate health, emotional, social and medical needs. School Age Intake Group Type School Age Intake Group Type Clarawood School Principal - Ms J Whyte Clarawood Park BELFAST BT5 6FR Tel No: 90472736 8-11 years Boys and Girls Primary (KS2) Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Fleming Fulton School Principal Ms K Hancock Upper Malone Road BELFAST BT9 6TY Tel No: 90613877 3 19 years Boys and Girls Nursery, Primary and Secondary (Foundation-16+) Physical disability, many of whom also have moderate learning difficulties. 9
School Glenveagh School Acting Principal Ms A Moore Harberton Park BELFAST BT9 6TX Tel No: 90669907 Age 7 19 years Group Primary and Secondary (KS2 16+) Type Severe learning difficulties School Greenwood House Assessment Centre Principal - Mrs K Calvert Greenwood Avenue BELFAST BT4 3JJ Tel No: 90471000 Age 3 7 years Group Nursery, Primary (Years 1 and 2) Type: Assessment & Speech and Language Disorder School Harberton School Principal - Mr M McGlade Harberton Park BELFAST BT9 6TX Tel No: 90381525 3 11 years Boys and Girls Age Intake Group Assessment Nursery, Primary (KS1 2) Type Moderate learning difficulties and complex needs Support classes for complex interaction of needs impacting on literacy and for social, emotional and behavioural difficulties 10
School Age Intake Group Type Mitchell House School (Acting) Principal - Miss L Matchett Marmount Holywood Road BELFAST BT4 2GU Tel No: 90768407 3 19 years Boys and Girls Nursery, Primary and Secondary (KS1-16+) Physical disability and moderate learning difficulties. School Age Intake Group Type Oakwood School and Assessment Centre Principal - Mrs T McCann Harberton Park BELFAST BT9 6TX Tel No: 90605116 3 7 years Boys and Girls Nursery and Primary (KS1) Assessments and severe learning difficulties School Park Education Resource Centre Principal Mrs R McCausland 145 Ravenhill Road BELFAST BT6 8GH Tel No: 90450513 Age 11 16 years (with some 16-19 years) Group Secondary (KS3, 4 and 5) Type Moderate learning difficulties and complex needs. 11
School St Gerard s School and Support Services Principal - Mrs S McIntaggart Blacks Road BELFAST BT10 0NB Tel No: 90600330 Age 3-16 years (with some 16-19 years) Group Nursery, Primary and Secondary (KS1-4) Type Moderate learning difficulties and complex needs, Support Classes for complex interaction of needs impacting on literacy. EOTAS Provision: Loughshore Educational Resource Centre Teacher in Charge - Mrs G Cameron 889 Shore Road Newtownabbey BT36 7DH Tel No: 90773062 Age 11 16 years Group Secondary (KS3-4) Type Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. 12
SPECIAL CLASSES ATTACHED TO MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS (Primary) School Currie Primary School Principal - Mrs A Galway 111-113 Limestone Road Belfast BT15 3AB Tel No; 90747982 Age 4-11 years Group Primary (KS1 and 2) Type School KS1 Speech and Language Class KS2 Learning Support Class Holy Trinity Primary School Principal - Mrs F Boyd Monagh Link, Turf Lodge Belfast BT11 8EG Tel No: 90616465 (Main School) 90612266 (Learning Support Classes) 4-11 years Boys and Girls Age Intake Group Primary (KS1 and 2) Type LSC Partial hearing unit Learning Support Classes (MLD) LSC (P1,2) LSC (P3,4) LSC (P4,5) LSC (P6,7) 13
School Age Intake Group Type St Teresa s Speech and Language Centre Principal Mr T Rodgers Head of Speech & Language Centre: Miss Nuala Campbell Glen Road BELFAST BT11 8BW Tel No: 90431871 4-7 years Boys and Girls Primary (KS1) 3 Speech and Language Classes School Age Intake Group Type Taughmonagh Primary School Principal - Mrs J Douds Findon Gardens Belfast BT9 6QL Tel No: 90669698 4-11 years Boys and Girls Primary (KS1-2) 3 LSC Speech and Language LEARNING SUPPORT CLASSES (Post-Primary) School St Vincent s Centre Head of Centre - Mr J McAuley Willowfield Drive Belfast BT6 8HN Tel No: 90461444 Age 11-16 years Group Secondary (KS3 4) Type 4, LSC SEBD 14
SCHOOLS AND LEARNING SUPPORT CLASSES OUTSIDE BELFAST USED BY BELFAST REGION School Cregagh Primary School (PHU) (SER) Principal - Mr Milligan Mount Merrion Avenue Belfast BT6 0FL Tel No: 90401246 Age 4-11 years Group Primary (KS1 + 2) Type Partial hearing units School Longstone School (SER) Principal - Mr T Howard Millar s Lane Dundonald BT16 0DA Tel No: 90480071 Age 4 16 years Group Primary and Secondary (KS 1 4) Type Moderate learning difficulties and complex needs. School: Parkview Special School (SER) Principal: Mr J Curran 2 Brokerstown Road Lisburn BT28 2EE Tel No: 92601197 Age 4 19 years Group Primary and Secondary (KS 1 4) Type Severe learning difficulties 15
School Tor Bank School (SER) Principal - Mr C Davis 5 Dunlady Road Dundonald BT16 1TT Tel No: 90484147 Age 3-19 years Group Nursery, Primary and Secondary (KS 1 16+) Type Severe learning difficulties School Hillcroft Special School (NER) Principal - Mrs R McFeeters 3 Manse Way Newtownabbey BT36 5UW Tel No: 90837488 Age 4 19 years Intake Boys and girls Group Primary and Secondary (KS 1 16+) Type Severe learning difficulties School Jordanstown School (NER) Principal - Mrs A Magee 85 Jordanstown Road Newtownabbey BT37 0QE Tel No: 90863541 Age 4 19 years Intake Boys and girls Group Primary and Secondary (KS1 16+) Type Auditory and/or visually impairment 16
School Rostulla Special School (NER) Principal - Mrs F Burke 2 6 Jordanstown Road BT37 0QF Tel No: 90862743 Age 4 16 years Intake Boys and girls Group Primary and Secondary (KS 1 4) Type Moderate learning difficulties and complex needs. School Thornfield Special School (NER) Principal - Mr C Burns 8 /12 Jordanstown Road Newtownabbey BT37 0QF Tel No: 90851089 Age 4 16 years Intake Boys and girls Group Primary and Secondary (KS 1 4) Type Speech and language difficulties School Camphill Community Glencraig Principal - Mr Reynolds 4 Seahill Road Craigavad, Holywood Co Down BT18 0DB Tel No: 90423396 Age 4 19 years Intake Boys and girls Group Primary and Secondary (KS 1 16+) Type Severe learning difficulties, challenging behaviour. Day and residential 17
Occasionally the Education Authority will seek placement for a child outside Northern Ireland. This will occur if no appropriate educational provision is available in Northern Ireland. Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Service (DARS) The Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Service (DARS) came into effect on 1 September 2005 and aims to resolve disagreements between the Education Authority or Boards of Governors of schools and parents about the way in which they carry out their responsibilities towards children with special educational needs (SEN) and to resolve disagreements between parents and schools about the provision being made for children with special educational needs. If you want support from the DARS service telephone 02837512383 and ask for the DARS Manager or contact the Belfast Region DARS Service, 02890564030. 18
Education Authority Belfast Region 40 Academy Street BELFAST BT1 2NQ Tel: 028 90564000 Fax 028 90564186 www.eani.org.uk 19