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You are here: Home > Information > Information for Teachers, Schools and Colleges > Learning Supports Available in School

Call: 01 6790276 Email: info@dyslexia.ie

Learning Supports Available in School

Class/Subject Teacher

The first line of support for a student with dyslexia is the class teacher.  The class teacher or subject teacher has an essential role to play in being aware and considerate of each student’s strengths and weaknesses. Even if students attend learning support or resource classes, they still spend the majority of their school week in the general classroom.  Classroom and subject teachers are expected to differentiate their teaching to accommodate the varying needs of the pupils in their classroom.  Teachers may also be able to give some additional support in the regular classroom to students with learning difficulties such as dyslexia.  Reasonable accommodations in the classroom can also be negotiated, e.g. a reduced number of spellings to be learned, advance notice of reading passages. Special attention often needs to be paid to supporting self esteem.

Learning Support Teacher

Students with SLD/Dyslexia, which is not severe enough to qualify for Resource teaching or a Special Reading School/Unit, may receive supplementary support in their school from the Learning Support teacher, formerly called the Remedial teacher.  This help is usually in a small group setting, and is usually organised on a withdrawal basis from the regular class.  Generally, students whose reading and spelling falls below the 10th percentile (and with discretion up to the 12th percentile) are entitled to help from the Learning Support teacher.

Special Education Circular 02/05 (DES Circular sp02_05) can be downloaded for further information on the organisation of teaching resources for pupils who need additional support in mainstream primary schools.

Resource Teacher

Resource teaching is specialised one-to-one tuition which is available to students who have been diagnosed by a psychologist with a specific learning disability, who have average or above average intelligence, and whose basic skills in reading, writing or maths fall at or below the 2nd percentile. The maximum number of hours of resource teaching available to such students is 2.5 hours per week, i.e. one 30 minute class per day. Students who are above the 2nd percentile are the responsibility of the Learning Support and/or the Class teacher.  Resource teaching is only offered to such students at second level, as at primary level students with dyslexia, under the general allocation system, are catered for within the school by the Learning Support teacher, as part of the schools allocated special education teaching hours.

Reading Schools

The special reading schools are full-time national schools, provided by the Dept. of Education and Skills and so are free of charge.  The regular school curriculum is followed, with the exception of Irish. The current Pupil-Teacher ratio is 9:1 in these classes.  Children usually attend for one to two years only and then return to their own school.  It can be difficult to secure a place in these schools. Application must be made by the psychologist who assessed the child, supported by a recommendation from the child’s own school.  The usual criterion for admission to a special reading school is average/above average intelligence, and a significant discrepancy between intellectual ability and literacy levels – generally pupils need to have literacy scores at approx. the 5th percentile or lower.  The pupil should have completed 2nd class or be at least 8 years old and not more than 12 years old.  Applications should normally be made before March for consideration for a place starting the following September.

The Reading Schools are as follows:

  • Catherine McAuley N.S., Baggott Street, Dublin 2. Tel. 01 6615645.
    Website: www.catherinemcauleyns.ie
  • Oliver Plunkett School, Alma Place, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. Tel. 01 2808824.
    Website: www.stoliverplunkett.ie
  • St. Rose’s N.S., Balrothery, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Tel. 01 4517933.
    Website: www.stroses.net
  • St. Killian’s School, Westgate Road, Bishopstown, Cork. Tel. 021 4865839.

Website: www.stkillianscork.scoilnet.ie

Reading Units Within National Schools

A number of National Schools now have reading units, where one or more classes are devoted to students with specific reading difficulties.

Some of the schools with Reading Units are as follows:

  • Oliver Plunkett N.S., Malahide, Co. Dublin. Tel. 01 8453272.
    Website: www.stops.ie
  • St. Thomas’s S.N.S., Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Tel. 01 4526555.
  • St. Mologas N.S., Bremore, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. Tel. 01 8413133.
  • Scoil Colmcille, Newbrook Rd., Donaghmede, Dublin 13. Tel. 01 8477300. www.scoilcholmcillesns.com
  • Holy Family S.N.S., Forest Fields, Rivervalley, Swords, Co. Dublin. Tel. 01 8406334. www.holyfamilysns.ie
  • Ennis N.S., Ennis, Co. Clare. Tel. 065 6829158. www.ennisns.ie
  • Holy Family S.N.S., Ennis, Co. Clare.  Tel. 065 6828893. www.hfss.org
  • Scoil Caitriona, Renmore, Co. Galway. Tel. 091 753613. http://scoilchaitrionajnr.blogspot.com
  • St. Oliver’s N.S., Ballycasheen, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Tel. 064 32047.
  • Scoil na mBraithre, Galvone, Limerick. Tel. 061 418616.
  • St. Aidan’s N.S., Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Tel. 053 9244441.
  • Scoil na Toirbhirte, Roxboro Road, Limerick. Tel. 061 311286.
  • Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, Co. Donegal. Tel. 077 62450. www.scoiliosagain.ie
  • St. Paul’s S.N.S., Rathmullen, Drogheda, Co.Louth.  Tel. 041 9833681. www.stpaulssns.com

This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, we would advise you to contact the Dept. of Education and Skills or your local school inspector for up-to-date information.

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