St. Gerard's Learning Support Programme provides appropriate instruction for students who have diagnosed special educational needs.

• As part of the school application process, parents are expected to provide the school with any relevant information regarding the special educational needs of their children.
• Educational assessment reports should be less than two years old.
• Means of further identification once a student has been accepted by the school include teacher referral for evaluation and/or standardised testing.
• Priority in admission to Learning Support is given to those most in need.

Identified students are given in class support and/or small group instruction on a pull­out basis either during non­-exam classes or during Irish if the student has an Irish exemption. Instruction is based on individualised plans that are drawn up in consultation with parents and students.

• Each plan identifies the student’s strengths, needs, concerns and goals and describes the steps that will be taken to help the student achieve those goals.
• A multi-­sensory approach to instruction is used.
• Resources include computer programmes, websites, films, audio books, supplemental texts and manipulatives.

The Learning Support Co­ordinator and Learning Support teachers work with subject teachers, form teachers, Year Heads, the Guidance Counsellor, Principals, Headmaster and parents in a whole­ school effort to provide the best possible education for each student.