Primary Panel Discussion

• Social skills - Social skills are an area that can be overwhelming as a SET but through assessment and teaching can make a difference in the life of the person we are working with. We will look at how to plan to intervene with social skills and outline some helpful resources to help.
• Dyslexia-Supporting you to support others! - In today’s webinar Caitríona will be sharing her experience as a Dyslexia Specialist on how you can best support children presenting with literacy difficulties. She will be highlighting the importance of building a support network around the child and tackling some tough questions SEN teachers are often faced with in terms of using the word ‘Dyslexia’. Her aim is to support you to support others, by being honest and confident in your approach.
• Assessment in SEN (Primary School) - During this webinar, Laura will be focusing on the topic of assessment within SET. While this is a vast area, Laura will concentrate on the 5 domains of support and guide attendees towards  some of the most recommended assessments. The aforementioned domains are; literacy, numeracy, communication and language, personal and social development and physical/motor development. Laura will emphasise the importance of profiling our learners before deciding which assessments to use. She will then briefly discuss 2-3 assessments for each domain and provide information on where to obtain these assessments and other resources. 
• Planning & Coordination- Principals of Collaborative Professionalism, Continuum of Support Framework, Effective Communication with Stakeholders, Essential Planning & Review Documents.  

Bio of Presenters

Annette Ormond, Grad Dip. SEN, M.Ed. ASN.

I am a primary teacher working in schools for the past seventeen years. During this time I have worked in mainstream, in SET and in a special class for students with ASD. I am a passionate lifelong learner and am currently completing a Masters in Educational Leadership in Waterford Institute of Technology and studying towards a degree in psychology with the Open University. I have completed many different courses in many areas of educating children with Special Educational Needs and I have significant and varied experience in the area. I believe wholeheartedly in the difference we can make in the lives of people with many additional needs through our understanding and our knowledge. I have worked with the Dyslexia Association of Ireland for the past eight years, am working with Hibernia College training newly qualified teachers and this year will join UCD as a tutor on the SNA course. I was awarded the IATSE Testimonial and Award for excellence in Support Teaching in 2017 when studying in University College Dublin.

Caitríona Soraghan

Caitríona is a primary school teacher who has fourteen years teaching experience in a Gaelscoil at all class levels, including seven years in the area of Special Educational Needs. Caitríona recently completed a Masters in SpLD/Dyslexia (1st class Hons) qualifying as a Dyslexia Specialist with an APC (Assessment Practising Certificate). She is passionate about changing the path for those with literacy difficulties by empowering them, their parents and their teachers.

Laura Meehan

Laura qualified as a primary school teacher in London in 2011. After completing her NQT year there she returned to Ireland where she has worked as both a class and SEN teacher. She currently works in a large Dublin primary school with over 500 students. She has over 6 years of experience in SET and has recently completed the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive Education, Learning Support and Special Education (GDILS) with DCU. Laura has completed a series of professional development courses in the area of SEN and also completed training with the Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) in 2018. She has a particular interest in the areas of dyslexia and ASD and ensuring the inclusion of all learners in the mainstream classroom.

Dr Celia Walsh