Speech and Language Unit
The language class in St. Anne’s is a class for seven children who have a specific Speech and Language Disorder. What is a specific Speech and Language Disorder?
This means they can have difficulty understanding language and also have a difficulty saying what they want. Some of the children may have difficulty pronouncing sounds and can be difficult to understand. Can you imagine what it would be like not to be able to understand what people say to you? Imagine you are in a foreign country and people are talking to you but you are unable to understand them.
This is what it can be like sometimes for children with specific Speech and Language Disorder:
Imagine not being able to say what you are thinking or feeling?
This would make you feel frustrated, upset and angry.
The children in the Language Class do the same subjects and school work as everyone else. They are in the class so that they can
get extra help from their teacher, Speech and Language Therapist and Special Needs Assistant. This will help to improve their understanding
and speaking and help them communicate.
The children usually stay in the class for two years and then go back to their local school.
SL and Junior Infants Tour
Mrs. Mc Elwaine’s and Ms. Bric’s classes went to Mellows Activity Centre in Athboy on the 14th of June for their school tour. It was a lovely day and the children enjoyed many activities such as bouncing castles, go-carts and the pet corner which had ponies, pigs, hens, rabbits and many more animals. They also planted in the greenhouse, visited the composting area and had a wonderful picnic.
June 2008
It’s a busy time of year in the Speech and Language Unit. Teacher has been out visiting our 2 boys and 2 girls discharged last June 2007 in their local schools at Duleek; Wilkinstown; Drogheda and Monasterboice. They have settled very well into the mainstream classes, have made great friendships and are progressing with their learning very steadily. Their teachers are very proud of how they have made the transition and we applaud the children and their parents for all the energy and effort they invested to get them to the point they are at to-day.
Meanwhile the current class are getting ready to discharge three students. These students will have spent 2 years in the unit by June 2008 and all the assessments and report writing are underway furiously! We will then liaise without teaching colleagues in Oldcastle, Julianstown and here in St. Anne’s to make preparations to welcome these students into these mainstream classes. These children will then help themselves make the transition by visiting their new school / class and teacher and spending 1 day per week at this location. This helps forge links with their new surroundings that will support them then the reality of the move presents in September 2008.
Our four remaining pupils are busy finishing their programme of work for Year 1 and will ready themselves to welcome three new pupils in September to fill the vacated places. These three lucky pupils are selected during the May 7th admissions committee meeting where all those candidates on the SHE Speech and Language waiting list are discussed and given a priority rating for vacancies within our unit or the double unit at St. Mary’s Primary School, Trim.
Soon after, a visit is arranged for the new children to meet their new friends at their new school / therapy location and another set of friendships is initiated. Because the children have met us and spent some time with us in class with parents and then without parents they are eager to get started after the holidays with a whole new busy routine.
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