Early Focus

EARLY FOCUS was established in our school in 1997 by Sr Rita Wynne. The project recognises the importance of relationship and nurture in providing support to children in order to support their continued holistic and educational development. Melissa Hogan , a teacher on staff, has coordinated the project since 2001. Early Focus outreaches to the whole school community, including children, parents ,guardians and staff. Each year, within the school setting, Early Focus provides a programme and an approach to work based on identified needs. The project adapts according to the needs as they arise, using a combination of individual, small group and whole class approaches to promote and encourage a systemic approach to wellbeing within the school environment. The work is based on an annual programme of actions agreed at the Management Group. Early Focus works under the auspices of the Board of Management of St James’s PS and works in collaboration with SCP and the SCP Coordinator to optimise attendance participation and retention for all children involved.

 

Early Focus is part funded by the Department of Education and also with the support of a US based philanthropist who believes passionately in the work we do each year.

 

At its core Early Focus promotes and cultivates a CULTURE of CARE for the pupils, parents and staff of the school community in providing a holistic and nurturing support service, responding to the needs as they arise. This recognises the value of having in place a safe and nurturing environment to support those children whose development has been stalled because of distress etc.

 

The Facebook page for the project is : “Early Focus Project Basin Lane”

 

In addition to providing one to one and small group with for identified children (also children that present in crisis from time to time) , Early Focus along with the Management of St James’s PS and the HSCL service of St James’s PS promote and provide the following:

 

  • Promotion of everyday practices across the school community (movement breaks / story massage / regulation activities / the morning run etc

  • A Trauma Informed approach to education and wellbeing in our school community

  • Provision of accommodations and wellbeing resources in each classroom

  • Emotional literacy print-rich environment

  • Wellbeing literacy packs in each class (books)

  • Variety of Wellbeing resources on our shared google drive

  • Themed weeks to promote wellbeing

  • Weekly Wellbeing sessions with Niamh Kavanagh – all class groups

  • Informal  Zoom sessions with Una Curran – all class groups

  • Creativity in the Classroom – artist in the classroom in collaboration with the class teacher ( 8 class groups each year)

  • Samba with Simeon Smith – all class groups

  • Cranio Sacral Therapy  with Mary Nolan for students, staff and parents 

  • Tendrils for Transitioning to Secondary school with Bernadette Larkin ( 6th class only)

  • Corridor trails / wall prompts

  • Brain calm programme / Primary Movement Programme (SET / SNA facilitated when needed)

  • Provision of Story Massage Training for staff

  • Fundraising to support all the work we do in the school – our latest being the development of the Bank area behind the school – sensory garden / veggie garden / Astro running track etc)