Global Videoconferencing at Colaiste Feirste

Using LearningNI to improve the IEP Process

The production of the necessary paperwork for our SEN students is enough to send even the most capable SENCo reaching for Bach’s Rescue Remedy! Ensuring that each subject teacher has contributed to each individual pupil’s IEP is a huge logistical task, considering the growing amount of children on the SEN register.

This year, our SEN department decided to further improve and streamline the IEP process and aimed to enable staff to contribute in a more effective and meaningful manner.

Following training through SENCO Induction and Development, we decided to use LearningNI. In March of this year, we set up an online course, and added the Special Needs register, all our IEPs and other relevant documentation. We also added a reference section to enable access to other relevant information.

We had two twilight sessions to inform staff and to show them how the new system would work. This allowed our staff time to look at the process and try it out.

When staff entered the course, they were able to access all the IEPs organised into KS3 and KS4 folders. One click and the IEP opened as a word document. By clicking on the comment box, teachers could add their comment regarding the individual pupil’s achievements and needs in their particular subject or pastoral area.

These comments are available along with the IEP thus providing staff with a cross-curricular overview of pupils’ achievements and difficulties. It also means that the IEP is a living, constantly updated document to which staff can contribute.

The feedback from our staff was overwhelmingly positive. One teacher stated:

“LearningNI has been very useful. I can easily track through pupil progress and staff contribution”.

Others commented on its ease of use and accessibility.

Comments and feedback from staff could be made throughout the year rather than a pressurised frenzy during review periods.

In addition, of course Big Brother is always watching! Staff who have not contributed can be tracked and then reminded to ensure full participation in IEP process.

Gillian MacLean and Elaine McCann
Priory Integrated College

Safer Internet Day 2012
C2k is supporting the campaign to make the Internet safer for young people in Northern Ireland. Safer Internet Day is on Tuesday 7th February 2012. The Internet is an exciting place and can be very educational, but sadly inappropriate content is easily accessible. Research has shown that the best way to avoid children accessing any of this material is to help them develop strategies on how to protect themselves.More...

LASCO Maths Challenge Winners
Street children brought into the equation for Maths Challenge: the Maths Challenge was held in aid of the Latin American Street Children Organisation (LASCO) - a charity which raises money to provide food, clothes and education programmes for Latin American children. More...

First LNI Expert Award achievers
The first three successful teachers in NI to achieve the prestigious LearningNI Expert Award were presented with their certificates by Mr Scott Naismith, Principal of Methodist College on 23 March 2011 at Methodist College in Belfast. More...