Welcome to An Choill Bheag!!
An Choill Bheag was first opened in September 2018. The inaugural class comprised of a mixture of junior and senior pupils. However, in September 2019 we opened a second ASD class – ‘An Choill Mhór’ – which now caters for our senior ASD pupils.
A regular school day here in An Choill Bheag can be quite action-packed and busy. We do lots of nice activities, including Art, Occupational Therapy, Fine Motor Work, Cookery and Circle Time, to name but a few. We also integrate with the mainstream classes as often as possible.
The 'An Choill Bheag' Classroom
We use the TEACCH approach with our pupils. This is a structured teaching approach which was specifically developed for pupils with autism. As well as Academic Skills, like Literacy and Numeracy, we also work on Communication, Self-Care/Living Skills and Social & Leisure Skills.
Some of our pupils are pre-verbal so we use a range of different forms of communication within our classroom, including PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) and Lámh (which is a form of sign language).
It is also very important that we cater for the sensory needs of our pupils. We have a lovely little sensory room in our school, where our pupils go for a daily sensory break. We also timetable a sensory play activity most days.
'Five Little Ducks'
Water Play - Sensory Activity
Every week we join with An Choill Mhór for a social activity together. Sometimes the activity is school-based, like Cookery or Movie Day, but as often as we can we like to get out and about in the community. We love going on the bus to different places like to the playground, the cinema, Leisure Max, horse riding and to the pool or the beach.
'Horsey, Horsey'
Railway Yard Gallops
'An Extra-Special Cookery Day'
Christmas 2019
We also join up with the mainstream classes from time to time for out-of-school trips. Last year we went to Ballycross Apple Farm, Wexford Library, Wexford Garda Station and to Wexford Arts Centre with the mainstream classes.
'On our best behaviour'
Wexford Garda Station - Spring 2019
'Engrossed in books'
Wexford Public Library - Spring 2019
'Am Lóin'
Wexford Arts Centre - Spring 2019
An Choill Bheag School Tour
Woodfield House - Summer 2019
We in Ballymitty N.S. pride ourselves on being an inclusive school and we love having an autism unit attached to our school. We look forward to moving into a purpose-built unit in the coming years ahead.